Stages
STAGE 1 - TAVIRA - CACHOPO / 70KM / 2500 D+ SATURDAY, MARCH 9th 2013
The 1st stage on Saturday will be the hardest stage of the ABC. Compared with some mountain stages of famous Epic Stage Races worldwide this will be a fabolous but really hard stage. The Organization bring to you some of the hiddenest trails and landscapes from Algarve's inland.
Starting from the historical town center of Tavira facing the Gilão river, Ria Formosa and the sea, the first kms will be fast and thecnical up and down trails thrue the barrocal lands of Santo Estevão and Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo. In this first part of the stage the riders will find some nice single tracks, rocky sections and loose gravel trails.
Leaving Santa Catarina the stage will head north and the really hard and long climbs and downhills will start! The first longer climb will lead the rider to Agua das Tábuas. A 5km challenging climb will end on the first Feed Zone where the teams can restore your energy while contemplating the amizing view over the coastline!
Following the stage into a breathtaking single track that will take you to the Odelouca stream. This stream will join the riders for almost the rest of the Stage and will be crossed several times getting your feet soaked for sure! Where you will be surrounded by lofty cliffs and vales once green wooded but unfortunetely heavy darked now caused by the big fire in last July.
The second Feed Zone will be laid in a friendly and remote place called Relvais.
After this Feed Zone the riders will face the last but not the easier climb. From the deep valey till the top of the mountain where Currais village is laid the riders will meet an arqueolic ancient village.
Reached the top of the last mountain you will finally see Cachopo and the last 5km are in an amazing singletrack crossing Fonte Ferrea till meet the village centre.
STAGE 2 - CACHOPO - CONCEIÇÃO DE FARO / 75KM / 1500 D+ SUNDAY, MARCH 10th 2013
The 2nd stage will be much easier with only 1500 climbing meters against the adrenaliner 1800 in descent meters!
The start will be earlier than in Saturday on the same place of the finish although will start heading west in the first kms crossing the Vale João Farto place to enter on the first full speed breathtaking downhill. Here extreme caution is requested to all riders because will face tight curves and deep cliffs that can be real dangerous.
The Redonda place and Foupana stream cross will welcome the Teams to the longest climb of the Race. With some small flat or/and descent sections this climb with more than 10km at low gradient can open huge gaps between the teams and blow the unrecovered riders. It is also during this long climb that riders will find the first Feed Zone in an abandoned ancient farm.
Reached the top of the climb a really fast and dangerous downhill will welcome the teams of ABC to São Brás de Alportel council. Crossing some up and down characteristic of this region the riders will reach the top of Menta hill. Beside a stunning view an unforgiveble single track will passionate everyone! Very technical but also very funny this downhill is the way out from the remarkable Serra do Caldeirão to enter on the barrocal once again.
Passing around the city of São Brás de Alportel over the villages of Alportel and Vilarinhos the riders will face a loose and rocky trail to enter in Faro council. From the top of the barrocal hills a panoramic view over the coastline cities of Faro, Olhão as well Ria Formosa will be certainly stored for long time in riders memory!
The last kms will be in steady decline so the riders can finish the first edition of the ABC with a big happy smile upon their faces!
PROLOGUE - TAVIRA / 2,5KM / 125 D+ FRIDAY, MARCH 8th 2013
What else better then a charming and mystic mediterrenean historical town centre to welcome the Algarve Bike Challenge riders.
Just In front of Gilão river in Tavira town centre the riders will proceed the "check-in" at the evening and just after the sunset will take part in a memorable weekend.
The prologue it around 2,5km will all take part inside Tavira city on thiny roads passing thought tunnels and steps over the historical centre.
