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Lourinha – Rio Maior

122 km road cycling loop1,353 m climbing5–7 hoursGPX

Atalaia, Lisbon, Portugal · Road

A hilly 122 km road cycling loop from Atalaia, Lisbon through Santa Bárbara, Outeiro da Cabeça and Cercal, with 1,353 m of climbing over Vilar climb (540 m). Most of it (93.1 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 13 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
122.1 km
Loop
Elevation gain
1,353 m
11 m per km
Riding time
5–7 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
95% paved · 4% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
93.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 13 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 1.8 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
92 cafés and restaurants · 19 shops · 13 water points · 13 petrol stations · 4 public toilets · 4 bike shops
Best months
May to Sep
Atalaia climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Atalaia

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,353 m
Distance
122 km
0200400600m0 km255075100122 km531 m · highest, at 34.6 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Atalaia
  2. Santa Bárbarakm 4
  3. Outeiro da Cabeçakm 19
  4. Vilar climb (540 m)km 25
  5. Cercalkm 45
  6. Casal do Reikm 70
  7. Casal do Fradekm 78
  8. A-da-Gordakm 90
  9. Coimbrãkm 103
  10. Atalaiakm 122

This 122 km loop starts and ends in Atalaia, Lisbon region. The route passes through many small places including Santa Bárbara, Campelos, Pragança at 37.5 km, and Rio Maior at 62.9 km. At 24.7 km begins the longest climb lasting 9 km, rising 459 m at an average 5.1% gradient to 540 m altitude near km 33.6, beneath Penha do Meio Dia (573 m).

The road surface is predominantly paved (95%), with a small 4% gravel or unpaved section. The majority of the route (79%) is on main roads, with 93.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane, including stretches on EN 114 (30.9 km) and EN 1 (11 km). The ride features five marked climbs, including two shorter climbs after 78 km and 94.7 km with moderate gradients. The route descends steeply in places, with a longest descent of 5.1 km from km 34.7.

Food and drink options are available throughout, with cafés and shops in places such as Campelos at 12.8 km, Pragança at 40.7 km, and Rio Maior at 62.9 km. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 10 km between 48 km and 58 km. There are three bailouts at Outeiro station and Dagorda halt. Bike shops and petrol stations are scattered along the route for support.

Why ride this route?

  • The longest of the 10 rides from Atalaia.
  • Climbs Vilar climb (540 m) (9 km at 5.1 %).
  • Tops out at 540 m, 33.6 km in.
  • A 5.1 km descent dropping 325 m.

Highlights

  • Climb near Pragança to 540 m
  • Longest climb: 9 km at 5.1% avg
  • Passes through Rio Maior at 62.9 km
  • Views near Penha do Meio Dia (573 m)

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Santa Bárbara 3.7 km
  2. Marquiteira 4.5 km
  3. Pregança do Mar 6.3 km
  4. Cabeça Gorda 9.9 km
  5. Campelos 12.8 km
  6. Outeiro da Cabeça 18.6 km
  7. Vilar 24.2 km
  8. Vila Verde dos Francos 28.1 km
  9. Casais do Chorão 30.8 km
  10. Arieiro 34.3 km
  11. Pragança 37.5 km
  12. Cercal 45.2 km
  13. Asseiceira 58.3 km
  14. Rio Maior 62.9 km
  15. Freiria 64.3 km
  16. Senhora da Luz 67.8 km
  17. Casal do Brejo 68.7 km
  18. Casal do Rei 69.9 km
  19. Ribeira de Castros 72.3 km
  20. Crastos 72.3 km
  21. Vidais 74 km
  22. Mosteiros 76 km
  23. Trabalhia 77.2 km
  24. Casal do Frade 78 km
  25. Matoeira 78.5 km
  26. Gaeiras 83.8 km
  27. Casal do Zambujeiro 85.3 km
  28. Óbidos 87 km
  29. Pinhal 88.2 km
  30. A-da-Gorda 90 km
  31. Sobral da Lagoa 91.3 km
  32. Amoreira 93.2 km
  33. Casal da Arruda 95.6 km
  34. Casal das Ladeiras 96.3 km
  35. Serra d'El-Rei 99.2 km
  36. Coimbrã 103.4 km
  37. Atouguia da Baleia 105.1 km
  38. Alto Veríssimo 109.4 km
  39. Alto Foz 110.1 km
  40. Casal da Murta 112.6 km
  41. Seixal 114.1 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Vilar climb (540 m)24.7 km9 km · 459 m · 5.1 % · max 11.5 %9 km · 459 m · 5.1 %540 m
Unnamed climb78 km2.7 km · 88 m · 3.3 % · max 5.4 %—130 m
Unnamed climb94.7 km2.8 km · 93 m · 3.3 % · max 4.7 %—124 m
Unnamed climb106.5 km2.9 km · 68 m · 2.4 % · max 3 %—104 m
Unnamed climb114.1 km2.9 km · 88 m · 3 % · max 8.9 %—94 m

High point 540 m at 33.6 km; low point 4 m. Passes beneath Outeiro da Cabeça, Cabeça Gorda, Penha do Meio Dia.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Vilar climb (540 m) · full ascent, starts at 24.6 km

9 km at 5.1% · 459 m
100200300400500m2.8%6.7%2.2%6.6%10%6.6%0 km123456789.0 km540 msteepest 10.5%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 76% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 13 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
79% main road · 7% minor road · 7% quiet street · 3% track · 5% other roads and tracks
Main roads
93.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
13 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
1.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
EN 114 (31 km), EN 1 (11 km), EN 361-1 (10 km), EN 247 (7 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 95% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel.
Gradient
24% climbing · 24% descending · 51% flat
Steep sections
5 km over 5% · 1.5 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8.5% at 33 km
Longest descent
5.1 km from 34.7 km, dropping 325 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 92 cafés and restaurants, 19 shops, 13 water points, 13 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 4 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 3.7 kmPrio · petrol station · on the route
  2. 12.8 kmPastelaria Flor · café · 70 m off route
  3. 12.8 kmFarmácia Campelos · pharmacy · 60 m off route
  4. 37.5 kmTap · water tap · 60 m off route
  5. 40.7 kmAlter Café, Rochaforte · café · 40 m off route
  6. 47.8 kmPôr do Sol 1 · restaurant · 50 m off route
  7. 58.3 kmCafé Xuquinhas · café · on the route
  8. 62.2 kmPrio · petrol station · 50 m off route
  9. 62.4 kmPingo Doce · supermarket · 100 m off route
  10. 62.7 kmBicicletas RM Bikes - Villa Romana · bike rental · 90 m off route
  11. 74 kmDoce Rainha · café · 50 m off route
  12. 74 kmFarmácia Vidais · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  13. 87 kmOs Filipes · café · on the route
  14. 87.7 kmToilets · 100 m off route
  15. 88.7 kmContinente Bom Dia · supermarket · 100 m off route
  16. 99.2 kmMeu Super · supermarket · 60 m off route
  17. 99.4 kmA Serrana · café · 90 m off route
  18. 104.6 kmGalp · petrol station · 60 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 18.8 km — Outeiro (station), 270 m off route
  • 90.3 km — Dagorda - Peniche (halt), 110 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 30.8 km — Moinho de Avis (attraction)
  • 36.7 km — Castro de Pragança (archaeological site)
  • 59.5 km — Parque do Peregrino (picnic site)
  • 67.6 km — Capelinha da Senhora da Luz (attraction)
  • 87.7 km — Miradouro da Porta da Vila (viewpoint)
  • 104.4 km — Castelo de Atouguia da Baleia (castle)

Know before you go

  • 10 km longest stretch without café, shop or water (48-58 km)
  • 93.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 13 km on fast roads (80 km/h or more)
  • 4% gravel or unpaved surface

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

About this route

Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Atalaia (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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