5th TransPortugal Garmin Mountain Bike Race this June

Jacqueline Windh / 16.04.2007

How many if you out there have said to yourself “I really should improve my GPS navigation skills?”

Well, here is your chance, with assistance coming direct from the manufacturer. The 5th TransPortugal Garmin Mountain Bike Race, which will be taking place this June 10th to 17th, has no marked race course. Rather all racers use handlebar mounted GPS receivers to follow the race track. This off-road bike race is for individual competitors only – there is no team category.

The primary sponsor of the race is Garmin, the GPS makers, who are present during the whole race and provide support with all GPS related issues during the race. This is pretty much the only support riders will get during the race. Racers must be fully self sufficient at all times, either carrying or buying any food and water they need during the day. They must deal with any mechanicals themselves too. Obviously the organisation can be called on, but calling them results in time penalties.

The organizers explain on their website how the actual navigation works:
You don’t need to know anything about orienteering, nor anything about GPSs. The only thing you do need to know is that when you look at the screen you are the arrow and the race course is a fat red line. As long as you keep the arrow on the line, then you are on course. We even tested a GPS with a 4 year old and within a minute he was able to follow the right track.