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STAGES / ETAPAS
STAGE / ETAPA 1
BRAGANÇA - FREIXO DE ESPADA-À-CINTA / 142KM
STAGE / ETAPA 2
FREIXO DE ESPADA-À-CINTA - GUARDA / 113KM
STAGE / ETAPA 3
GUARDA - PENHAS DA SAÚDE / 95km
STAGE / ETAPA 4
PENHAS DA SAÚDE - CASTELO DE VIDE / 166km
STAGE / ETAPA 5
CASTELO DE VIDE - ÉVORA / 171km
STAGE / ETAPA 6
ÉVORA - ALBERNOA / 103km
STAGE / ETAPA 7
ALBERNOA - MONCHIQUE / 138km
STAGE / ETAPA 8
MONCHIQUE - SAGRES / 95km
THE RACE
Crossing Portugal in 8 days, north to south; finishing in Sagres - the southern west point of Europe; 1000 km of off-road racing across forest tracks, gravel roads and steep single tracks on clifftops.
Racing from hotel door to hotel door, overnight stays in the best hotels in the region, excellent food and relaxed atmosphere all around.
No signs, ribbons or arrows to indicate the way. Intuitive flawless GPS guiding. You can never get lost and you are always sure you are following the right race track.
An innovative way of racing where each participant follows a virtual marked track on the screen of his GPS receiver.
Always racing across very isolated and peaceful landscape and in self sufficiency, no aid stations and all external support is forbidden
Staged in-line race; one stage a day; one category only classifying racers individually; allowances for age and gender
Fabulous prizes: 1st prize 2 350 Euros
Each participant gets free t-shirts, a certificate, the full route GPS tracks and an online gallery of photos he can download.
Special racing jerseys for all Finishers.
Special prices for participants on the acquisition of Garmin GPS receivers.
Shortest stage - 95km; longest stage - 162km; average stage - 125km; a total of 17 000m Vertical climbing.
Registration opens via this site at 00:00 (local time) on 1st of October 2015.
ENTRY FEES
RACERS PACKS
BASIC PACK - 1.699€
Includes race participation, 9 nights in a shared room, 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners, the transfers from Lisbon -> Bragança and from Sagres -> Lisbon
SINGLE PACK - 2.199€
Includes all the Basic Pack but in a Single room
SERVICE PACKS
BIKE D'LUX - 229€
Daily washing, drying and lubrication of the rider's bike and all labor costs of eventual bike repairs needed at the end of each stage
PACK MASSAGE - 209€
Includes a daily massage at the end of each stage, except the last one (in the last day, the massage is the Ocean and the free beers at the beach!)
COMPANIONS PACKS
COMPANION BASIC PACK - 999€
Own transportation. Includes shared room with the racer, 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners and transfers from Lisboa -> Bragança and from Sagres -> Lisboa
COMPANION FULL PACK - 1.595€
Includes the Basic Pack, but we will arrange all transportation with a tour-guide.
Notes:
- All meals are "all you can eat"
- All prices include VAT
- For more details see the rules
LOGISTICS FAQ
Q: HOW CAN I GET HOME FROM SAGRES?
A: Transportation from Sagres to Lisbon is included in your registration fee. We will provide transportation back to Lisbon, to all participants, on Monday 16th May 2016 at 10:30, arriving at Lisbon airport at around 14:30.
If you prefer to get home by yourself there are regular buses from Sagres – you can get information from the town council’s website:
http://www.cm-viladobispo.pt/portal_autarquico/vila_bispo/v_pt-PT/menu_turista/turismo/como_chegar/
Q: ON WHAT DAY AND AT WHAT TIME WILL WE TRAVEL FROM LISBON TO BRAGANÇA BEFORE THE RACE AND THEN FROM SAGRES BACK TO LISBON FOLLOWING THE RACE?
A: Departure from Lisbon will be at 7:00 on Saturday 7th May 2016.
We will travel back to Lisbon on the Monday 16th May 2016, leaving Sagres around 10:30. The earliest we will get to Lisbon is by 14:30, so please do not book a flight earlier than 16:30.
Q: I AM TRAVELLING TO/FROM PORTUGAL BY PLANE AND WILL HAVE A BIKE BOX/BAG TO TRANSPORT MY BIKE. WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS DURING THE RACE?
A: We will take care of it for you. We will have a van or a truck that will carry your bike box/bag from the Start to the Finish. Please warn us if you are bringing a bike box/bag so we make sure we have enough space for it.
Q: DO I NEED TO BOOK MY OWN HOTEL EACH NIGHT?
A: We book the rooms for you for every night from 7th May to 16th May 2016. All these 9 nights are included in the paid entry fee.
Hotels in Lisbon before and after the race are not included, but we can book these rooms for you in Hotel Sana Malhoa (http://www.malhoa.sanahotels.com/en/) which has very special rates for the event.
Q: WHICH MEALS ARE INCLUDED IN THE FEE?
A: You are entitled to 9 evening meals from Bragança on the 7th May to Sagres on the 16th May and 8 after race meals on the race days.
On every race day, close to the Finish line, the Organizers will provide a pic-nic lunch which includes food rich in ingredients best known for aiding recovery.
Q: CAN I CAMP?
A: The race philosophy is “hotel-to-hotel”. We believe you suffer enough during the day and deserve a warm shower and comfortable bed at night!
Q: WHAT KIND OF LUGGAGE SHOULD I BRING?
A: The least possible! We will give a race bag to each racer, with generous capacity, for you to fill up with all your gear, and this is the only bag the Organization will transport for you during the race. Please remember we will be carrying 130+ bags each day, not just yours! So please take that in consideration and reduce the total weight as much as possible.
This high quality bag is not returnable. It is yours and a race souvenir.
Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO DO ABOUT MY BREAKFAST/EVENING MEAL?
A: Nothing . Breakfast is provided in all the hotels each morning and we will book the evening meals for all the riders. Please make sure the organization knows, well in advance, if you have special dietary requirements/allergies.
Please note that it is not always possible to cater for vegetarians who eat neither meat nor fish. This is not common in Portugal and a proper meal without these 2 ingredients can sometimes be very hard to organize. If this is your case you may consider bringing some dietary supplements.
Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO CARRY DURING EACH STAGE?
A: Everything you will need during that stage. In the majority of the days the course does not pass through but tiny villages where you won’t normally find anything to suit your immediate needs, so you should have everything you need with you right from the Start.
Q: HOW IS THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE DURING THE RACE?
A: The weather in Portugal on those dates is usually mild, nevertheless warm (higher than 25 C) or cold days (lower than 15 C) can occur.
Most probably we will have days of clear skies, however it won’t be much of a surprise if in one or two days we get rain and cold, alternating with showery and cloudy days - it did in some of the previous years, and a lot of people were not prepared for it.
The race goes to altitudes close to 2000m in Serra da Estrela, so expect very low temperatures up there and you may need to carry extra clothing as protection for the cold on that particular day.
Q. DO I NEED TO CARRY ALL MY FOOD AND WATER DURING THE RACE EACH DAY?
A: There will be stages where it is possible to buy food and drinks in the villages the race passes through. However in some stages this is not the case, thus you should plan what to carry on a day by day basis in accordance with the briefing notes given for each stage, the weather forecast and your particular needs. In order to help you during the race, we have indicated POIs with all the places where you will be able to buy food and drinks. These special points will also be signaled on the special race maps downloaded to your GPS.
Q: IN RACING LONG DISTANCES I NORMALLY TAKE ENERGY BARS AND ISOTONIC DRINKS. WILL THESE BE AVAILABLE DURING THE RACE OR MUST I BRING THEM ALONG?
A: Next to the Finish Line or in the Race hotel, The Organizers will put up a race shop everyday where not only energy bars and isotonic drinks, but also others things like; spare tubes, nappy creams, tires, CO2 canisters, tire pumps, racing shirts and shorts, racing socks, recovery drinks, etc, can be bought.
Q: IS IT EASY TO FIND ATM MACHINES IN THE PLACES WE STAY DURING THE RACE?
A: ATM machines are very abundant in Portugal. Normally every village has at least one. However at the end of race day 6 we will be staying in a hotel that is not near a village, thus an ATM machine is not available in the vicinity of the hotel.
Q: IF I USE ANY HOTEL SERVICE, HOW AND TO WHOM DO I PAY FOR IT?
A: The Organizers do not pay for any extras in the hotels. The hotel will have an extras bill per room to be paid in full by the responsible occupants on checking out. Only accommodation, breakfast and dinner is part of the contracted entry pack, everything else is considered an extra.
Q: IN THE RACE REGULATIONS IT SAYS I MUST HAVE A MOBILE PHONE AND IT MUST ALWAYS BE SWITCHED ON, BUT I DON’T WANT TO USE ROAMING ALL WEEK.
A: We ask riders to always have their phone switched on for security reasons. We will never call a participant unless we have an emergency. Many international racers opt to buy a Portuguese SIM card for their phone during the race to avoid the cost of roaming.
You can buy one right off one of the Portuguese Mobile Service Providers in the arrivals hall of the airport.
Q: I AM PLANNING ON TAKING MY LAPTOP WITH ME, WILL THERE BE AN INTERNET CONNECTION IN THE HOTELS WE ARE STAYING AT?
A: Yes, in most of the hotels there is either free or paid wifi, or internet access booths in the lobby. In emergency cases you can always ask the Organizers for access codes to join the race mobile internet network.
Please remember that, during the race, all your belongings must compulsory be transported inside your race bag. Also take in consideration that the Organizers cannot be held responsible for any damage to whatever electronic or other equipment you carry inside your race bag.
Q: SHOULD I BRING SPARE PARTS FOR MY BIKE?
A: No and Yes. We will set up a repair facility close to the finish line each day. We will have most of the common spare parts for bikes like tires, tubes, cables, chains, chain rings, cassettes, wheels, spokes, brake pads, handlebars, headsets, grips, saddles, seat posts (common sizes), disc brake rotors (common sizes and bolt patterns), derailleurs, pedals and several other minor things.
We will not carry any specific spares for rear suspension bikes, like shock absorbers, bushes, bearings etc.
Q: I HEARD THERE WILL BE A MASSEUR ACCOMPANYING THE RACE. HOW DO I BOOK MY MASSAGE?
A: Masseurs will be available after each stage each day. Massages will be provided either in a tent near the finishing line, or in a hotel room, we will tell you where to go at the finishing line each day. If you are interested you should buy the massage pack available when registering, which costs 209.00 euros and guarantees 7 massages during the race. If bought on site during the race each 25-minute massage will cost you 40 euros.
Q: CAN COMPANIONS ACCOMPANY THE RACE, OR DO THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE FINISHING LINE?
A: Yes, if your companions have registered, they will get all the race information paperwork; maps, CP positions, classifications etc. Every day there will be a touristic program set up for them with a designated guide who will drive them to the points of interest along the race route.
If your companions have not signed up with us, they can get all the information about the stages in your race documents and follow the race independently.
In both cases, however, it must be remembered that companions cannot provide any assistance to the racers at any point while they are racing - this could lead to the racer being disqualified from the race.
Q: CAN MY COMPANION JOIN ME FOR ONE OR MORE NIGHTS WITHOUT PAYING THE COMPANION PACKAGE?
A: Yes, companions can join you. If you want them to stay in the same hotel, please tell us know when you register, or as soon as possible. We will book hotels and evening meals for all companions staying at the race hotels and all payments for lodgings and meals must always be made to the Race Organization.
MECHANIC FAQ
Q: IS THERE ANY KIND OF MECHANICAL SUPPORT DURING THE RACE?
A: Yes. The organization of the TransPortugal Race by Garmin will have a mechanical team at the end of each stage to give support to the bikes.
Also during the course of every stage, among the athletes there will be a staff rider with mechanical skills and a 4x4 vehicle to assist if necessary. Please remember that if you request assistance to the organization during the stage you will suffer time penalties (check the rules carefully).
Q: WHAT IS THE COST OF THAT SERVICE?
A: There will be a special Service Package called “BIKE CARE D-LUX” that a competitor may sign in for when registering in the race which reliefs the racer from all the work involved with the bike maintenance. This package costs 229.00 euros and includes a daily bike washing, drying and lubrication and all labor costs resulting from all the eventually needed repairs. The racer will hand over his or her bike at the end of each stage and the Organization will take care of it till the next morning.
Any repair work required by the riders who have not contracted the Technical Service Package
mentioned above will be charged at an hourly rate of 30 euros.
Regarding the time allocation of the Race Mechanical Department those who signed in advance this “BIKE CARE D-LUX” pack, will have priority over those that have not.
In all cases parts and accessories must be paid for by the participant.
The use of the water pressure washing machines is free but priority is given to bikes belonging to those who pre-contracted the service.
Q: DO I HAVE TO CARRY ANY SPARE PARTS WITH ME?
A: We will try to make available, for eventual repairs, the widest variety of bike components.
Nevertheless it will not be possible to ensure that we carry stock of every single part, considering the variety of bikes and different components present in the race.
Having said that, we strongly advise participants to bring some of the more specific components for their own bikes, such as; rear suspension repair kits, rear dropouts, seat post clamps and any “not-so-common” part.
We stock a large amount of brake pads, but it’s always a good idea to bring some of your own.
Needless to say some of the most important bits should be carried with you during the stages
(brake pads, dropouts, etc...), the rest you can leave in your bag.
The organization will not carry any bulky bike part, such as wheels or frames that does not normally fit inside the regular athlete´s race bag.
Q: CAN I BUY REPLACEMENT PARTS DURING THE RACE?
A: Yes. We’ll have an official race shop every day at the end of each stage where you can buy some components/accessories as well as nutrition products. Here is a list of what can be bought locally:
- Chain lube
- Tubes
- Tires
- Patching kits
- Pumps
- CO2 cartridges
- Tire sealant
- Nutrition bars and gels
- Recovery / isotonic drinks
- Nappy cream
- Etc
Q: WHICH TIRES DO YOU RECOMMEND?
A: The TransPortugal Race by Garmin course has a wide variety of terrain. From old Roman and medieval cobblestone roads to sharp or loose rocks paths alternating with fast rolling hard pack dirt roads and some technical single-tracks, we have it all!
An “all-around” tire (whatever that is) would be the best option although the choice must be made according to each rider’s riding technique and race objectives.
Proper tubeless tires with a glycol base self-sealant liquid are a “must have” and are in fact a much better option to the tubeless ready tires with latex based self-sealant. The later being a much lighter setup is only recommended to light riders who have good riding skills.
Please check Keith Bontrager’s opinion in his diary, at the cycling news website, written as a balance of his participation in a previous edition of this race: http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/riders/2006/diaries/keith/?id=keith0604
Just to close this tire issue we must say that maybe 50% of all technical problems occurring in the race resulting in loss of performance, are tires or tubes related.
The other 50% are gear / shifting problems, but we’ll get to that point.
Q: SHOULD I HAVE ANY PARTICULAR CONCERN WITH MY BIKE BEFORE THE RACE?
A: TransPortugal Garmin is an individual stage race, 8 days / 1000km with a total climbing of more than 17.000m. It is extremely important that every bike has a comprehensive full service in preparation for the race. Coming for a podium position or just for “fun”, the worst thing that can happen to any racer is to be forced to drop out because of “that” bike part you thought it “might” hold, didn’t.
We strongly recommend:
- New chain / gear set
- New inner and outer cables
- New tires.
- New brake pads
- Service forks / shocks, pedals, bottom bracket, wheels.
For those who bring a full suspension bike either replace or bring a new set of bearings / bushes for the rear triangle and shock.
Although obvious for most of you, it’s never too much repeating;
Do not make major changes in your bike before the race, especially if that has any impact with the way you ride and or position on the bike.
It’s not the best time to try that new saddle or pair of pedals you read so favorable about, in your favorite Internet bike forum.
Nor you should change the stem from 90mm/10º to 100mm/-5º just because it’s more racing.
Least but not last, take your bike for a long ride after you picked it up from the bike shop you has it serviced before the race.
If anything has to fail, let it fail while you still have plenty of time to get it fixed.
Q: WHAT’S THE BEST BIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSPORTUGAL GARMIN RACE?
A: Based on previous editions observations we can say that there isn’t an ideal bike configuration for this race, or on the other hand, there are many.
It all depends on one´s goal. If winning the race is your prime objective, then a rigid light bike would be the perfect weapon.
On the other hand, if finishing inside the cut off time without a lot body pain, is what goes for you, then a not so light full suspension may be the best option.
Regarding frame materials, carbon fiber and its new production technologies, has, in the recent
past, proven to be the winning formula both for FS and HT bikes.
Titanium for a rigid bike is a classic for long distances and its plush ride adds comfort when you
spend many hours on the saddle.
Aluminium for a rigid bike is probably the least recommended material due to its harsh response
to rough terrain, imposing a lot of body fatigue which one wants to avoid as much as possible in a long staged race like this.
Please, don’t go rushing to the shop to buy a new bike. This is a personal opinion and as you know this is a very sensitive subject.
More important than the frame material is the component choice.
The relation between weight and reliability of the components chosen is very important to assemble a good bike capable of racing flawlessly the entire route of TransPortugal Garmin yet providing true racing feeling.
Enjoy your rides and get in touch if you need any kind of help.
GPS FAQ
Q: DO I HAVE TO USE A GPS IN THE TRANSPORTUGAL?
A: Yes. It is mandatory to use a GPS. The route is not marked, indicated or signaled on the terrain. The only way you can know the route is from the tailor-made map of the TransPortugal Garmin route the organizers will upload on to your GPS. Also the Race Rules specify that you must hand your GPS in to the organization after crossing the finishing line each day. If you haven’t got one, then your stage will not be validated and for the general classification you will be attributed a void stage and the maximum allowedtime for that stage.
Q: I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ORIENTEERING. HOW CAN I KNOW IF I AM ON THE RIGHT TRACK IF I ONLY HAVE A GPS?
A: There is nothing simpler. You don’t need to know anything about orienteering, nor you need to be an expert on GPSs. The only thing you do need to know is that when you look at the screen you are the arrow and the race course is a fat black line. As long as you keep the arrow on the line, then you are on course.
We even tested a GPS with a 4 year old and within a minute he was able to follow the right track.
Using a GPS there is no chance that you will get lost, and the additional information that appears on the screen means you don’t even hesitate when you come to an intersection or crossroads. Your performance on the trails will be exactly the same as if you were following course markers, with the added benefit that you are unlikely to ever take a wrong turn, and you will never get lost, unlike when you are following a
marked course.
Q: DO I HAVE TO USE A GARMIN GPS, OR CAN I USE ANY OTHER MAKE?
A: The tailor-made map of the TransPortugal Race by Garmin route is made for Garmin units, other GPS units will not accept this map.
Q: WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GARMIN GPS UNIT?
A: The GPS must have a colored screen, be capable of reading memory cards downloaded with maps and have a minimum recording capability of 10,000 track-log points. An USB interface is also a basic requirement.
Q: DO I HAVE TO HAVE MY OWN GPS?
A: Yes, each racer is responsible for providing his own GPS.
Q: CAN I BUY A GPS UNIT FROM THE RACE ORGANISATION?
A: As part of their support to the race, Garmin offers a significant discount on the purchase of a GPS from us, which is 20% off the official Garmin price list.
Q: I WANT TO BUY A GPS NOW TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE WITH IT BEFORE THE RACE, CAN I BUY A GPS ALREADY, OR IS THE SPECIAL OFFER ONLY AT THE TIME OF THE RACE?
A: Once you are registered in the race and have paid you entry fee, you can buy your GPS with the race discount.
Q: I LIVE OUTSIDE OF PORTUGAL, IF I BUY A GPS NOW CAN YOU SEND IT TO ME?
A: Yes, we will send it to your home address. In this case you will have to pay postage and packing.
Q: HOW DO I ATTACH MY GPS TO MY BIKE?
A: Garmin makes brackets for each of their GPS models. For their new models line of products the bracket is quite adequate and sufficiently sturdy to withstand and hold the GPS in place even if you ride on the jerkiest of the trails.
Nevertheless it is always advisable to implement some form of preventing the accidental loss of the GPS in case this is to come off the bracket during the race. In most cases a loose piece of string tied tight around the handlebar does the job.
Q: WILL I NEED TO HAVE A DETAILED MAP OF PORTUGAL PRE-LOADED INTO MY GPS UNIT? WILL ONE BE PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION? CAN I GET BY WITHOUT IT OR IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE IT?
A: No you don’t need to bother with any of that. The organizers will provide to each participant with a memory card to replace the original one. This card will contain the Race Maps. These contain the Portuguese detailed maps, topographical maps, the race route and race info. You will have a lot more information on this card than on any available software on the market.
Q: WHAT MODEL OF GARMIN GPS SHOULD I USE, WHICH ONE IS BEST SUITED FOR THE RACE?
A: As Garmin distributors in Portugal, we Organizers, who are also experienced riders, have the opportunity to test several models of GPS and extensively use them in the race route throughout the year. In the most varied and adverse situations we have evaluated all variables and concluded that the Oregon series of GPS is, at this moment, the best GPS for this race. The Oregon is the most adequate and the one that better ensures that the racer’s performance is not affected by using a GPS as the race track guidance method.
There are other models that may well do, however they won’t be as efficient and may therefore negatively impact the racer’s overall performance in the race trails. In TransPortugal Garmin the GPS is the fundamental piece of equipment, above any bike component, even above the bike itself, therefore neglecting to consider its quality and adequacy to this race by choosing a lower grade device, is not the best way to approach the preparation for the race. Considering our knowledge of the race and the data we prepared to download to the athletes’ GPS, we hereafter forward a list of GPS sorted by their race suitability:
1st - Oregon 600 ou Oregon 650
2nd - Oregon 450 ou Oregon 550
3rd - Dakota 20
4th - Etrex 30
5th - Edge 1000, Edge 810 or Edge 800
Please think carefully on this sentence:
- We believe that the racer who chooses an Edge 800, 810 or Edge 1000 instead of the Oregon 650 for instance, will lose a lot more in the race than opting on an SLX rear derailler for his bike instead of an XTR.
We do hope you all follow our advice and get an Oregon.
Q: WHAT ARE THE GPS SETTINGS NEEDED FOR THE RACE?
A: The Organizers will provide a small configuration manual for mentioned GPSs with the ideal settings for the race. This will help the racers make sure their settings are in accordance with what is best for the race. Furthermore we will also prepare a specific GPS PROFILE preset with the most adequate settings for the race, which can be downloaded to the participants’ GPS on Day 0 in Bragança.
Q: HOW DO I KNOW THAT THOSE SETTINGS ARE OK IN MY GPS? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE, BEFORE I START.
A: The Race Program for 7th May 2016 (Day 0) foresees a special period of time for the athletes to train on the first part of the Race track. This is great and should also be used to get acquainted with the GPS and its settings for the race.
Q: DO I HAVE TO TAKE SPARE BATTERIES WITH ME, OR CAN THESE BE BOUGHT LOCALLY?
A: Except for the Edge 800, 810 and 1000, which has but an internal lithium battery, all the other above mentioned GPSs take a pair of double A alkaline or rechargeable batteries. For these you should at have at least 2 pairs of batteries. You can bring them with you or buy from the Organizers when you get here. We will have them
on sale during the race. We do recommend rechargeable NiMh batteries of at least 2500mA of capacity. From our experience, based on experimentation, the best commercially available AA batteries, at the moment, are the PANASONIC Eneloop. These will be the ones we will have on sale during the race.
Q: ARE GARMIN GPS COMPATIBLE WITH MAC COMPUTERS?
A: In short the answer is yes, they are compatible. We can point you to relevant sources of information if this is an issue for you!
http://ciclonatur.pt/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=75&lang=en
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