TransPortugal Garmin Bike Race
Mediaeval Single Track and a Climb in the “Oven�
Louize Hill/Agnelo Quelhas / 02.06.2009
Today was another tough day, many of the riders hadn\'t fully recovered from the previous days stage, which made what is usually a relatively easy stage tough. This stage starts off with one of the most spectacular sections of riding in the the whole race course – for those who like technical single track. The famous “Alpajares cobblestone hill� is an old mediaeval track that connected the town of Miranda do Douro with the river Douro and the port at Barca d\'Alva. Only a few kilometers of this route remain, and the race course follows it as it cuts through the walls of a narrow valley, zig zagging down the steep hill side in a series of steps and switchbacks. Only the most accomplished (or reckless) riders stay on their bikes all the way, many walk, not wanting to take risks this early in the race.
The track joins the road at the 1st checkpoint of the day, and stays on asphalt down to the river Douro and across the river at Barca d\'Alva. And after descending all the way down to the river, the next challenge is to climb back out of the valley! This section of the course has acquired the nickname of “the oven�, and today there was no doubt as to why. The trails are sheltered from any breeze, and vegetation is sparse ... it was hot!
Once again this caused problems for several athletes. João Marques and Jorge Castanheira who had both been treated for dehydration yesterday had to pull out. Jorge is from Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, the town at the top of the climb, so all his family had turned out to cheer him on. Instead they took the two Portuguese “casualties� out for a good lunch once they had been treated by the local emergency services.See All Event Posts
