Road · Portugal
Atouguia da Baleia – Alcanede
A hilly 124 km road cycling loop from Atouguia da Baleia, Leiria through Casais do Moinho da Praia, Crocha and Casal do Rei, with 1,363 m of climbing over the Alcobertas climb. Most of it (65.5 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 8.9 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 124 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,363 m
- Riding time
- 5–6½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Atouguia da Baleia
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,363 m
- 124 km
Route description
- Atouguia da Baleia
- Casais do Moinho da Praia
- Crocha
- Casal do Rei
- Alcobertas climb
- Casal de Vale de Ventos
- Orjo
- Outeiros
- Casal do Zambujeiro
- Atouguia da Baleia
This 124 km loop begins and ends in Atouguia da Baleia, passing through numerous places including Caldas da Rainha, Rio Maior, Alcobertas, Turquel, and Óbidos. The route features seven main climbs and a total elevation gain of 1363 m, reaching a high point of 470 m at 66 km. Early climbs include a 2.4 km ascent at 2.6% average gradient near the start, and a notable long climb from 58.9 km over 7.1 km averaging 5.1% with a maximum of 11.6%. The terrain is a mix of 25% climbing, 25% descending, and 50% flat sections.
The ride mainly follows paved roads, 94% surfaced, with about 5% gravel or unpaved sections and 1% unmapped. It covers 65 km on main roads, mostly without cycle lanes, including 8.9 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Other road types include minor roads, quiet streets, paths, and tracks. Major named roads ridden include EN 114 (22.9 km) and EN 361 (9.7 km).
Along the route, riders can find cafés, shops, water, and petrol stations at various points, with the longest stretch without café, shop or water being 8.8 km from the start. Notable café stops include O Covão dos Musaranhos at 8.8 km, Bocage at 20.5 km, Café Candeeiro at 63.2 km, and A Serrana at 111.5 km. Bailout points with stations are located at Caldas da Rainha (20.2 km) and Dagorda - Peniche (102.7 km). Toilets and bike rental are available mid-route near Caldas da Rainha.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Alcobertas climb (7 km at 5.1 %).
- Tops out at 470 m, 66 km in.
Highlights
- Climb of 7.1 km averaging 5.1% from 58.9 km
- High point at 470 m at 66 km
- Longest descent of 3.3 km from 70.7 km
- Village of Alcobertas at 60.1 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 2.3 km | 2.4 km · 61 m · 2.6 % · max 4.2 % | — | 79 m |
| Unnamed climb | 18.7 km | 2.7 km · 95 m · 3.5 % · max 6.5 % | — | 127 m |
| Unnamed climb | 31.6 km | 2 km · 64 m · 3.2 % · max 5.8 % | — | 162 m |
| Unnamed climb | 42 km | 2 km · 43 m · 2.2 % · max 2.8 % | — | 110 m |
| Alcobertas climb | 58.9 km | 7.1 km · 362 m · 5.1 % · max 11.6 % | 7 km · 362 m · 5.1 % | 470 m |
| Unnamed climb | 88.4 km | 2.9 km · 76 m · 2.6 % · max 5.7 % | — | 122 m |
| Unnamed climb | 106.6 km | 2.9 km · 94 m · 3.2 % · max 4.6 % | — | 124 m |
Alcobertas climb · full ascent, starts at 58.9 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 53% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 8.9 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 55% main road · 20% minor road · 16% quiet street · 4% path · 5% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 65.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 8.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- EN 114 (23 km), EN 361 (10 km), EM 515 (9 km), EM 603 (8 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 94% is mapped as paved, 5% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 25% climbing · 25% descending · 50% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.8 km over 5% · 1.7 km over 8% · 0.8 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11.3% at 64.3 km
- Longest descent
- 3.3 km from 70.7 km, dropping 263 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 175 cafés and restaurants, 39 shops, 16 water points, 11 petrol stations, 11 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 8.8 kmO Covão dos Musaranhos · café · 110 m off route
- 14.5 kmCafeteria · café · 180 m off route
- 20.2 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 20.5 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route
- 29.7 kmDoce Rainha · café · 60 m off route
- 30.4 kmGestroil · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 41.6 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 42.2 kmCeleiro · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 42.6 kmRepsol · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 63.2 kmCafé Candeeiro · café · on the route
- 75.8 kmToilets · 110 m off route
- 78.9 kmIntermarché · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 99.2 kmFonte · drinking water · 90 m off route
- 100 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 100.5 kmPrio · petrol station · on the route
- 106.2 kmConvenience store · 70 m off route
- 111.3 kmMeu Super · supermarket · 100 m off route
- 111.5 kmFarmácia Serra · pharmacy · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 20.2 km — Caldas da Rainha (station), 610 m off route
- 102.7 km — Dagorda - Peniche (halt), 140 m off route
Worth a stop
- 20.5 km — Chapéus (attraction)
- 36.1 km — Capelinha da Senhora da Luz (attraction)
- 62.1 km — Miradouro de Casais Monizes (viewpoint)
- 100 km — Miradouro da Porta da Vila (viewpoint)
- 112.5 km — Parque de Merendas Serra D'El Rei (picnic site)
Know before you go
- 65.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 8.9 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limit
- 5% of route is gravel or unpaved
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water is 8.8 km
