Cycle Porto to Madrid Picture 1
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Best Time of Year: Spring/Autumn
Cycle Porto to Madrid
Bike Adventure
Coast to capital. Estuary to mountain pass. From sweeping river bends to ancient cobbled switch-backs, join us for one of the most beautiful (and brutal) rides you'll find in western Europe.
We will set off from Porto and slowly climb the little-known Duoro Valley, taking in the views of vineyards, rolling hills, and of course the Duoro River itself. As we get further and further up the valley the terrain will become more rugged and wild as we get closer to the UNESCO-recognised Duoro International Natural Park. After riding through medieval Portuguese hill villages, on the second day, we will reach the Spanish border. Immediately after crossing the border we will steeply climb up onto the central Spanish Plain before reaching the famous UNESCO city of Salamanca. From here our final day takes us through more UNESCO towns and cities as we traverse the undulating plain before climbing to our highest point of the trip, leaving us with a 50km descent* down in to the finish in Spain's historic capital, Madrid.
Itinerary
Day 0 - Arrival Day
Porto
We will spend this afternoon preparing our bikes and exploring everything that Porto's bustling cobbled streets have to offer.
Day 1 - 193km / 3300m
Porto to Vila Nova de Foz
We will this morning head straight east along the river Duoro. The smooth tarmac and gentle climbs will be a perfect introduction to the ride as we wind along the river through vineyards, producing grapes to be made into Port wine, some of which we will hope to sample this evening. The amount of climbing will increase as the day goes on, with the route taking us away from the river and up over the hills to our night's accommodation in Vila Nova de Foz.
Day 2 - 164km / 2300m
Vila Nova de Foz to Salamanca
The first part of today will be spent following the river again, before we cross the famous Saucelle Dam, and at the same time, the border into Spain. Immediately we will head up the stunning 10km climb to Saucelle itself. This tough section of riding will for sure be one of the highlights of the itinerary. We will then be up on the Spanish plain, where we will experience kilometre after kilometre of smooth roads and fast riding (especially if the prevailing westerly winds are in play!). We should have an earlier arrival into Salamanca, giving us a chance to explore this historic UNESCO city before sampling some of Spain's famous food and wine in the beautiful old town.
Day 3 - 210km / 2520m
Salamanca to Madrid
Today we continue cutting our way across the plateau, following ancient Roman roads, firstly towards the UNESCO walled city of Avila, and then Madrid itself. We will have a couple of final climbs, up to the highest point of the trip at 1446m, and then the Puerto de la Cruz Verde, before a long 50km descent down into our finish the centre of Madrid in the iconic Plaza de Espana.
Day 4 - Departure Day
Madrid
Fly home on your chosen flight. Bikes will be returned to the UK by land.
Accommodation
We will be in comfortable hotel accommodation for all four nights including buffet breakfasts, sharing in twin rooms. If you require a single room then please request this at time of booking (a small supplement will be payable). Upgrades are also available for an extra charge if required.
Visas / Redtape
None required for this trip (if you are an EU citizen. If from further afield you will need to check requirements).
Included In Trip
Experienced Cycle Leader(s).
Full Vehicle Support and Driver/Mechanic/First Aider.
Pre-event briefing.
Bed and Breakfast accommodation en route.
Full buffet breakfasts every day.
Picnic Lunches
Bike transfer from/to UK.
Excluded From Trip
International Flights.
Transfer to/from Porto to the airport.
Evening Meals
Personal insurance cover.
Bike hire.
Equipment Required
Kit lists specific to your trip dates and location will be issued upon enquiry...below is our guide advice to give an idea of what you should bring on a multi--day ride in Europe
Bike Items
Road Bike / Hybrid Bike (with puncture resistant tyres) - please call us for guidance on type of bike on a trip by trip basis
2 X Water Bottles (bladder system/cycle water bottles)
Cycling Gloves, Bike Lock, Neck Scarf, Inner Tubes*, Multi-Tool (with allen keys)*
Day Bag for support vehicle, Small Holdall (for overnight gear)
Bike Lights (front and rear, head torch can be worn)
Saddle Bag (recommended - can be used to carry asterisk* items)
Puncture Repair Kit*, Spare parts for your bike (specialist parts and spokes), Pump (suitable for your valve type)
Helmet (compulsory)
Personal Medikit Suncream, Plasters, Vaseline, Painkillers, Sunbloc, Insect Repellant
Washkit
Warm Clothing Medium Weight Softshell, Long sleeve Jersey / insulating layer Lightweight Gloves.
Cycle Clothing
Padded Lycra Cycling Shorts, Cotton Shorts, or Long Cycling Trousers (Tights/Tracksuit Bottoms)
Short Sleeve Cycling T-Shirts (wicking type material) or Cycle Top with rear pockets
Cycling Shoes (approach shoes or sturdy traners suitable),
Spare Shoes/Sandals for after ride
Casual Evening Wear - tracksuits, jeans, T shirts, fleece ...
Waterproof Clothing
1 Outer Fully Waterproof Jacket (gore-tex, e-vent) - comfortable to cycle in
Other
Travel Documents, EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) Credit Cards, Cash, Local Currency, Mobile Phone, chargers, EU plug adaptor, Sunglasses
Snacks for Cycling Days (dried fruits, nuts, flapjacks, cereal bars etc)
Travel insurance (not included), Passport
Important
Make sure you do not ‘over pack’ - bring only what is essential for the trip. It is advisable to check that your travel insurance covers the value of any expensive items of kit that you chose to bring along with you.
A final kit list will be provided in your ‘Final Joining Instructions’ pre-departure
Safety Information
By nature all activities contain an element of risk.Your leader will be first aid qualified and will carry the appropriate safety kit for the activity. Safety equipment carried will be appropriate to trip. The leader's primary role is to ensure your safety, but it is your responsibility to listen to their guidance and instructions.
Weather
It should be bright and sunny, but expect possible showers. The Spanish Plain is at a high altitude, so although we can expect sunshine, there is still the remote possibility of snow on the high passes in autumn. It is wise to prepare for all weather types, you never know we may be pleasantly surprised! Hat and gloves are essential for this trip. Warm clothes for the evenings are recommended, and remember to bring sun cream.
Notes on Cycling Events
This is our standard range of Cycling Challenges in the UK, Europe and further afield. However, we offer completely tailormade itineraries to your specification. Call us to discuss!
Please note that for overseas point to point cycling challenges we can transport soft cases for bike transport - but not hard cases, due to space limitations on board our support vehicles.
On all our cycling events, please pack sensibly and bring a reasonably sized soft holdall type bag.
To participate in an overseas Adventure Cafe challenge - you must carry Travel Insurance (to be for the activity you are participating in, and to include repatriation to the UK).
Please also note that you should have a good level of cycling experience and be competent to handle your bike. We ride on roads shared with other vehicles - and you need to be able to deal with this safely.
Adventure Cafe Booking Terms and Conditions
By booking an event with Adventure Cafe, you agree to these standard terms of booking. Please ensure that you read the appropriate document for your type of event carefully.
Adventure Cafe Terms & Conditions - For all types of event
To Reserve Your Space on this Challenge
You should fill in the Google Form - linked here below, and then please call us on 01823 444 246 to advise of your payment method. We can accept card payments over the phone, or Bank Transfer.
Please note that your space is not confirmed until you have received your booking receipt.
CLICK HERE:
Adventure Cafe Challenge Booking Form - For Challenge Events