The first Lagos Bike Adventure is about to hit the ground: it is scheduled for April and, says the organisation, it is intended to be “a test of quality and not quantity”. A maximum of 250 participants will travel the county’s trails on mountain bikes and electric bicycles for a total of 161 km.
It is “an unprecedented test in the Barlavento Algarvio area”, underlines in a statement the municipality of Lagos, which supports the initiative, being open to federated and non-federated athletes. The race is divided into three stages, with a prologue through the historic area of the city of Lagos; an 83km route follows the next day through several parishes and with the right to the “unique landscapes of the mountains and the National Forest of Barão de S. João”, crossing the municipalities of Monchique, Aljezur and Vila do Bispo; on the last day there will be 74.5 km along the coast and through the interior of Luz to Aldeia da Pedralva with re-entry in Lagos.
In addition to national participants, the event wants to “attract” fans across borders“making participants aware of the best that the city and municipality of Lagos has to offer, from a tourist point of view”, including gastronomy and “accommodation of excellence” (the hotels Vila Galé, Tivoli Lagos, Marina Rio and the accommodation of the Lagos Military Mess).
Lagos Bike Aventura wants to attract cyclists across borders
CM Lagos
The highlight of the event will be the MTB Center in Lagos, dubbed the Cyclin’Lagos Center, which has “over 300km and extension in the middle of the Mata de Barão de S. João, with nine routes of different lengths and difficulties”.
Registration for the Lagos Bike Adventure, which takes place between the 14th and 16th of April, informs the organization, is open until the 31st of March, on the website www.stopandgo.netand have a cost of 60 euros per athlete (ages open, masters and grand masterswith GPS guidance).
The race is part of the National Cycling for All Programme, of the Portuguese Cycling Federation and is organized by the Popular Group of Portelas and the Association of Friends of Almádena, with the support of the municipality, the Cycling Association of the Algarve, the Parish Council of S Gonçalo de Lagos, Union of Parishes of Bensafrim and Barão de S. João and Parish Council of Luz.