Vila Real - Cumieira   

Right in the middle Northern Portugal, it's time for the race Vila Real - Cumieira and there is no better place for the most famous Portuguese cobbled race to take place. Exactly 15 sections of fearful cobbled sections, smashed and spoiled by thousands of carts caring Porto Wine from here to Porto itself, will, as usual, tear the peloton apart leaving only the strongest with a chance to fight for victory.

The Start li...

Read more

Right in the middle Northern Portugal, it's time for the race Vila Real - Cumieira and there is no better place for the most famous Portuguese cobbled race to take place. Exactly 15 sections of fearful cobbled sections, smashed and spoiled by thousands of carts caring Porto Wine from here to Porto itself, will, as usual, tear the peloton apart leaving only the strongest with a chance to fight for victory.

The Start line is positioned at district's capital Vila Real. Vila Real is known both for its history during the middle age but also due to the Porto Wine business. Thanks to its living conditions and geographical location, the most important wine producers used to live here or simply come here to negotiate this impressive nectar.

The race heads into “Lamares” after 15 km without any real difficulty. And after 30 km the race reaches “Sabrosa”. The break of the day might already be formed on the initial flat and in good conditions roads.

When we reach “Andrães”, more exactly at the Vila Real Airport 50 km into the race we have our first cobbled section. It’s not a very difficult section, but its 2 km will be a good appetizer for the rest to come.

Going down the "Rio Corgo" into "Peso da Régua" riders will race through 6 different cobbled sections in just 25 km. When we reach this famous location there is only 55 km to go and 8 cobbles sections, who actually are the hardest ones.

It's time to ride along the "Rio D'Ouro" and cross another section before reaching "Mesão Frio" were we turn North in our approach to the end of the race in Cumieira.

The final 40 km will have a small slope, especially until we reach "Sedielos" where the hardest sections are placed. This slope will be felt on the riders legs, but it won’t be anything specially difficult.

With just 10 km to go the "Caminho de Santiago" section in “Santa Maria de Penaguião” with its 3 km of very hard cobbles will for sure make the difference between the remaining riders. No one can be bad positioned now!

The approach to Cumieira is very simple and the last cobbled section will bring the riders to the finish line in front of the "Igreja de Santa Eulália". Now it's time for a deserved rest in Régua with, who knows, a glass of Port Wine.

Riders such as Sieuwerd Schimmel, Bartoli Rivera and Curtis Defore already won the race. Who will be the next?