Transportugal Garmin Mountain Bike Race, April 30 - May 9 2010

05.11.2009

We always expected to have a lot of applicants for next year's race, but when entries opened on the 1st of October, we quickly realized we had been too modest in our expectations.
In fact after 25 minutes we had already all available 60 places taken, and shortly after lunch time on that very first day we had to take out the entry form from our web site, because the waiting list had been filled with 30 other names of people eager to get a place in the race.

Much alike previous years, the 2010 field of racers is very heterogeneous. There are racers coming from 4 continents and 9 different countries, ages between 20 and 62. Six courageous females.
As expected the highest number of racers come from Portugal, followed by 14 from South Africa and 7 from Belgium.

The racers names are published in our website www.trans-portugal.com.

<b>TransPortugal Garmin 2010 – Stage 0</b>

img2We always expected to have a lot of applicants for next year's race, but when entries opened on the 1st of October, we quickly realized we had been too modest in our expectations.
In fact after 25 minutes we had already all available 60 places taken, and shortly after lunch time on that very first day we had to take out the entry form from our web site, because the waiting list had been filled with 30 other names of people eager to get a place in the race.

Much alike previous years, the 2010 field of racers is very heterogeneous. There are racers coming from 4 continents and 9 different countries, ages between 20 and 62. Six courageous females.
As expected the highest number of racers come from Portugal, followed by 14 from South Africa and 7 from Belgium.

The racers names are published in our website www.trans-portugal.com.

We would like to accept all who would like to do this race and dream about racing every centimetre of its spectacular route, but the limitation that derive from the fact that the small towns and villages our path crosses, haven't sufficient comfortable lodging capacity, forces us to turn down many applications from enthusiastic racers from all over the globe.
We like to emphasize that our race is formatted not as campsite stage race, but as a host hotels based stage race. This way we are compelled to go as far as lodgings capacity allow us, always privileging quality rather then quantity.

We hope that all those who couldn´t get in for 2010, keep training and apply in time for a place in the 2011 race.

<b>TransPortugal Garmin – A GPS race</b>

Those who never used an outdoor GPS before may have licit doubts to whether or not they are going to get lost in the depths of Portugal remoteness. However this method of following a race track is the simplest and most reliable way of being in total control, knowing well in advance what's to come and where to turn.
The best reassuring statement is this:
- This race has always been done this way, and no one has ever got lost in the 7 previous editions of the race. No plastic ribbons or arrows were ever used to signal and mark the course. No other race in the world which uses conventional markings can say the same.

Nevertheless, to get the best results in terms of racing efficiency, training how to properly use a GPS whilst racing, is highly recommended. If racing to podium places is one´s objective for this race, then, coming to the race with insufficient GPS usage training is almost as bad as being physically unprepared.

Of course, because it is so simple, it doesn´t take more than a minute, to grab a GPS and start following in the right direction. But it takes many hours of training to be at ease with it and take advantage of all the info in the screen to get that winning edge.

<b>TransPortugal Garmin 2010 - custom maps</b>

In order to simplify navigation out there on the trails, the Organizers have created race-ready topographic maps of all the areas which are crossed by the race. These maps are very detailed with comprehensive information of the terrain showing not only villages, roads, streets, dirt roads, trails, contours, lakes and lagoons, rivers and streams, but also the race track with all the necessary race info waypoints embedded in these maps. Following the race route is straight-forward and intuitive.
Differently from what is the usual method, in this race there are no tracks to be downloaded daily, thus, no tracks that can be inadvertently erased from the GPS.

<b>What GPS to use?</b>

Garmin, of course.
Our recommendation to those coming to race next May in the Transportugal Garmin, is to get a Oregon 550 which we reckon to be the best.
Fast processing, fast screen refreshes, a big enough screen and crisp clear screen readings, make this the must-have piece of equipment to efficiently get to the Finish line.

More from the TransPortugal Garmin Team next month.
Happy trails from the Transportugal GARMIN team