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The roads are succulent and bountiful, and the food and wine leave you breathless. The Pinarello bikes are to the highest standard of the purest gourmand. The personalities are rich and bold, yet full of subtle surprises. All is to be savored—and devoured.

Bill StricklandBicycling Magazine
15 Sep 2024
21 Sep 2024

Undiscovered Portugal

$8,950
Lead Guide:

Sérgio Paulinho

As a pro, Manuel Cardoso raced with some of the biggest names in cycling. He beat a few of them too. But long before he reached the professional peloton, his cycling journey began on the roads outside of Porto, where he rode as a boy and dreamed of reaching the big time. He’s ridden all over the world, but still believes that there’s nothing quite like his hometown routes, and so he designed this trip to share them with you.

Of course, it’s not just Manuel who hails from these parts. Several of our support team also call this place home, and they’ll be on hand to introduce you to a land that they hold dear to their hearts, guiding you towards all the best bits so that you can properly soak up the local culture. This special randonnée is an opportunity to share their intimate knowledge and discover one of the world’s most charming and unique destinations. We will skirt along the coastline, explore Medieval towns, and ride through the oldest village in Portugal, all while putting in plenty of miles and riding some of the most beautiful roads in Europe, embracing the “Mangia, Beve, Bici,” philosophy with a Portuguese twist.

Check out the video for a taste of what’s in store!

Included With Trip:

  • All lodging*†
  • All food and beverages**
  • Pinarello Dogma F Disk with SRAM RED eTap AXS
  • Daily Bike Wash
  • Custom Castelli × inGamba cycling kit
  • Daily post-ride massage from a professional soigneur
  • Laundry service for cycling clothing

*Pre/post-trip lodging is not included
†Flights are not included
**Beverages ordered by guests beyond normal amounts and away from group activities will incur additional charges

MEET THE GUIDES

Sergio

Sérgio Paulinho

The World Tour veteran

After an impressive pro career that started back in 2003, Sérgio Paulinho joined the inGamba team at the start of 2022 after his retirement. But we’ve known him for a long time, as not only did he race against our founder João Correia, but he was also a teammate of our star guide Manuel Cardoso back in the day. A two-time national champion in Portugal, Sérgio has also won stages at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, and in 2004, he won a silver medal in the road race at the Athens Olympics. So it’s fair to say the man has pedigree! It isn’t the racing victories that impress us most about Sérgio though, it’s his personality, his friendly nature on and off the bike, and the fact that he’s always ready with a smile. That said, if you find yourself running out of gas on a big climb, it certainly helps to have someone like him beside you!

team rider image

Paulo Crispim

Paulo began mountain biking at the early age of 16, and soon his love for bicycles, road cycling, and mechanics were there. Almost a decade later, he decided to take the risk and become a bicycle mechanic, but he never stopped participating in granfondos and amateur races. He joined inGamba as a mechanic in 2019 and now he is also one of our guides.

THE TRIP AT A GLANCE

START LOCATION:

Porto

FINISH LOCATION:

Porto

TOTAL ELEVATION:

7,821m

TOTAL DISTANCE:

379km

DAYS RIDING:

6

GROUP SIZE:

8-14

LONGEST DAY:

Day 3. Caminha — Ponte de Lima. 80km

BIGGEST CLIMBING DAY:

Day 3. Caminha – Ponte de Lima. 1,624m

View Bike Options

DAY BY DAY BREAKDOWN

1

Vila Praia de Âncora Loop

Sunday | 39km & 525m

To begin our adventure, we’ll leave Porto with a short transfer north to our starting point in the city of Caminha, just on the border with Spain. From there, it’s a relaxed 39km route that should give you plenty of time to get acclimatized and make sure that everything on your bike works perfectly. The highlight of the day will be the second half of the ride when you reach the fishermen town of Vila Praia de Âncora and the scenic beach Praia de Moledo.
2

Serra de Arga Loop

Monday | 69km & 1,347m

We’re heading inland towards Serra de Arga, considered one of the main wilderness areas in mainland Portugal, where there are still Iberian wolves and garrano wild horses, and waterfalls and natural lagoons. After a flat opening 6km, this ride hits a lengthy climb to the village of S. João D’Arga. We’re going to enjoy a stunning view of the mountains that reach the sea. From there, it’s all downhill until we get back to Caminha, along the Coura river.
3

Caminha – Ponte de Lima

Tuesday | 80km & 1,624m
We’re leaving the sea behind us and heading towards the interior of Minho, through an area characterised by its Medieval architecture and dominated by the Lima river. Our scenic route gets a little lumpy in the middle so expect some testing climbs. There will also be plenty of views of the mountains in the nearby Peneda-Geres National Park.
4

Ponte de Lima Loop

Wednesday | 59.9km & 782m

Ponte de Lima is the oldest chartered town in Portugal and today we’ll explore the countryside surrounding it. The route takes us through historic villages such as the particularly picturesque Ponte da Barca, where we’ll cross over the Lima river.

5

Ponte de Lima – Gerês

Thursday | 77km & 1,921m

After a flat opening 8km, this ride hits a lengthy climb. From there, it’s a twisty, fun descent for the next 10km, passing through several little towns and including some sections of tightly cobbled streets that are typical of Portugal. The remaining 40km of the route is on undulating, rural terrain – perfect for some fast rolling as a group. Our new home is a small village surrounded by the natural riches of the Gerês mountain.
6

Gerês Loop

Friday | 54km & 1,622m
The Geres Loop is the queen stage of the week, with 1,622m of altitude gain and a total of 54km, each one of them packed with brilliant roads and stunning surroundings as we wind our way into the Peneda-Gerês National Park. The first climb begins after 7km, topping out at just over 760m after 13km. But be warned, the second climb and highlight of the day has an average gradient of 12%.
7

DEPARTURE

Saturday

This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations.

STAYING LONGER?

Adventure Continues…
Do you plan to come a few days early, or stay on after your inGamba adventure has ended? Our concierge can help you plan with a carefully curated selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, and guides. All of our recommendations have been hand-picked by a team of local experts, so you can spend more time enjoying all that this destination has to offer.

Seven of the last 11 Tours de France have been conquered on a DOGMA, and the latest generation is now ready to continue that legacy of success. Whatever the road throws at you, the DOGMA F is always the right bike.

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

FRAMESET:

Pinarello Dogma F

COCKPIT:

ZIPP Service Course SL

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa N.Ext

GRUPPO:

SRAM RED eTap AXS

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

PEDALS:

Speedplay

BIDON:

Elite Corsa Team

SADDLE:

Prologo

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1030

COLOUR:

InGamba Red

The NYTRO GRAVEL has a pure road racer DNA which upon launch marked an era in the E-BIKE/GRAVEL world. Featuring an iconic design, the Nytro Gravel is perfect for anyone looking for a road bike with powerful support for the toughest climbs.

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

FRAMESET:

Nytro Gravel E-Bike
(available for an additional fee)

COCKPIT:

ZIPP Service Course SL

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa N.Ext

GRUPPO:

SRAM RED eTap AXS

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

PEDALS:

Speedplay

BIDON:

Elite Corsa Team

SADDLE:

Prologo

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1030

COLOUR:

Saturn Silver

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