Between May 3rd and 5th, the Beiras and Serra da Estrela International Grand Prix returns to the road with the 6th edition.
The race that pays homage to a unique region of unique beauty will feature three days of competition with three stages in a row, where 517.4 km will be covered through the municipalities of the Association of Municipalities of Cova da Beira (AMCB), to which the organization of the proof, in conjunction with ENERAREA – Regional Agency for Energy and Environment of the Interior.
The race that involves the territory of Beiras and Serra da Estrela will welcome all Portuguese teams, but also from various continents, which will be announced in due course, being the protagonists of the Cycling Festival that will once again liven up the people and the territory of Beiras and Serra da Estrela.
On May 3rd, the starting gun will be given for the VI Grand Prix Internacional Beiras and Serra da Estrela, with the opening stage starting from Trancoso, at 11:25 am, for a journey of 198 km. The longest of all the runs ends in Mêda, at around 4:06 pm and features two 3rd category Mountain Awards (in Almeida, at 115.4 km and in Cidadelhe, at 159.7 km) and two Metas Volantes in Pinhel (88.2 km) and after Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (143 km). The 2nd Stage will take place on Saturday, May 4th and leaves Belmonte, at 11:55 am, towards Sabugal, arriving at the finish line at around 3:27 pm, after 148.4 km of travel. It will be the day with the least ups and downs, where there is only one 3rd category mountain count, in Alpedrinha (57.9 km). Two Metas Volantes are also part of the route (Fundão – 46.4 km and Penamacor – 114.7 km).
The big decisions are reserved for Sunday, May 5th, with the 3rd Stage, which will be the last and toughest of the three. The departure will be from Manteigas, at 10:55 am, for a 171 km route that has Covilhã as the destination, with arrival at 2:58 pm.
On the day when the winner of the VI International Grand Prix Beiras and Serra da Estrela will be announced, the international peloton will face a very demanding route, especially in the initial phase of the trip, with a 2nd category Mountain Prize in Penhas da Saúde (13.1 km), which will be followed by a climb to the highest mountain in Portugal, with a 1st category mountain count in Torre (20.5 km), in the middle of Serra da Estrela. After the great orographic difficulties, the runners will have two more Flying Targets: in Seia (50.4 km) and Gouveia (66.2 km). For the president of AMCB, Rui Ventura, “the conditions are met for another great cycling spectacle.
As in previous editions, we foresee a very strong economic impact on the region, supported by a team with more than half a thousand people, nine thousand meals, three thousand direct overnight stays, which means that we are committed to making 2024 a A remarkable year in the history of the event that pays homage to the territory of Beiras and Serra da Estrela”.
SUMMARY OF THE STEPS OF THE VI INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX BEIRAS AND SERRA DA ESTRELA:
May 3rd, Friday – 1st STAGE: Trancoso (11:25 am, Avenida Heróis de São Marcos, next to the Multipurpose Pavilion) – Mêda (4:06 pm, in front of the City Hall) » 198 km
May 4th, Saturday – 2nd STAGE: Belmonte (11:55 AM, Castelo de Belmonte) – Sabugal (3:27 PM, Avenida João Pereira, in front of Sousa Saúde) » 148.4 km
May 5th, Sunday – 3rd STAGE: Manteigas (10:55, Rua 1.º de Maio, in front of the City Hall) – Covilhã (2:58 pm, in front of the Municipality of Covilhã) » 171 km