Our creative director James Startt shares his postcards from a recent scouting trip in the Algarve in Portugal.
The Algarve might be best known for being a beach-goer’s paradise in the summer, but in February, it’s a cyclist’s winter training mecca. Situated at the southernmost point of Portugal, the Algarve features sun-kissed, golden-sand beaches, whitewashed houses with Moorish terraces, and some of the best riding we’ve every seen.
Riding along the Portuguese coast offers stunning views of cliffs, with elevations around 100 meters and climbs reaching up to 300 meters. However, the real magic lies further inland, where you’ll find some of Portugal’s best cycling routes. It’s no wonder the Volta ao Algarve returns here every year in February!
In fact, the race will be going on while you’re on our Algarve February trip (Feb 15-22), and you’ll have the opportunity to watch the pros in action and take on some of the same routes they ride.
The Volta ao Algarve provides a major early test for the pro peloton, attracting some of the world’s best riders to its start line. It’s the perfect tune-up for one-day specialists ahead of the Spring Classics, while Grand Tour riders use it to shake off the winter rust. Packed with punchy finishes, a short time trial, and a little bit of everything for the diverse mix of stars in the line-up, this race is one exhilarating journey.
Our creative director James Startt shot the race last year and is thrilled to have the chance to return.
“While I was there, what I discovered was how beautiful the villages along the coast of the southern tip of Portugal are: Each have their own character, as do the climbs and the hills and the roads as you go inland,” Startt recalls. “It’s a interesting part of the country that goes right up to the to the border Spain on both its eastern and northern sides.”
And the cycling history in the area is rich: “It was here where one of the greatest heroes of Portuguese cycling, Joaquim Agostinho, raced and died,” Startt adds. “He was one of the very best cyclists ever to come out of Portugal, and a real national hero from back in the 70s and 80s.”
Since then, the race has grown and grown in both stature and its place in the WorldTour calendar. “I think in a lot of ways, it is bigger than the Tour of Portugal, certainly, if you look at its stature on the calendar and the riders and teams that are racing every year,” Startt says. “It’s just amazing.”
The racing action aside, the riding itself is just the right amount of challenging and charming. For example, the Mount Fóia climb near Monchique is a regular feature in the race and is esteemed as the region’s most renowned climb. It’s 7.3 km long with an average gradient of 5.9%—perfect for a serious rider to hit the gas and see how they stack up against the pros, but not so challenging that a more leisurely pace can’t be held.
As Startt puts it, “The racing was great but I almost enjoyed the discovery of the area more: These small towns along the coast and the roads that lace their way inland… it’s a magical place.”
What makes this trip so special? In addition to the incredible routes, warm February weather and the chance to experience the Algarve in a way few cyclists ever do, the accommodations on this trip are something truly special.
Each night, inGamba guests stay in four and five-star accommodations like the beachfront Porto Covo Praia Hotel right by the beach, the serene Praia do Canal Nature Retreat, where each hotel room is meticulously decorated to be as beautiful as the nature surrounding it, and the mountaintop oasis of Pure Monchique Hotel, where water from the local spring is counted as some of the most alkaline in the world.
You’ll also be treated to the finest food in the country: You can choose from dishes like tender stuffed squid, xerém (corn porridge with clams), juicy and sweet oysters and clams, and local vegetables and fruits like figs and oranges, as well as nuts and cheese.
