Road · Portugal
Lourinha – Alenquer
A hilly 106 km road cycling loop from Lourinha, Lisbon through Lourinhã, Outeiro da Cabeça and Casais de Portela, with 1,046 m of climbing over Vilar climb (324 m). Most of it (72.5 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 1 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 105.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,046 m
- Riding time
- 4–5½ 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
- Lourinha
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,046 m
- 106 km
Route description
- Lourinha
- Lourinhã
- Outeiro da Cabeça
- Vilar climb (324 m)
- Casais de Portela
- Pocariça
- Porto da Luz
- Merceana
- Ordasqueira
- Lourinha
Starting from Lourinhã at 2.6 km, the route heads through several villages including Nadrupe at 5.1 km, Miragaia at 6.6 km, and Campelos at 12 km. The first climb begins just after 8.8 km, lasting 2.7 km at an average gradient of 3% reaching 105 m height. The main climb starts near 23.3 km, spanning 3 km with a gain of 242 m, averaging 8% and peaking at 19%, topping out at 324 m near Vilar. The route then passes Olhalvo at 36.9 km with milder climbs of 64 m and 68 m over 2-2.4 km stretches afterwards.
The halfway point with Alenquer at 51.8 km arrives after a brief climb of 42 m over 1.5 km. The second half includes minor climbs up to 51 m and 50 m between 80-93 km. The route returns west passing through Matacães, Torres Vedras at 80.3 km, and Pregança do Mar at 95 km before completing the loop back close to Lourinhã. Surface is mostly paved (96%) with 3% gravel/unpaved. It travels mainly on main roads (72.4 km), all without cycle lanes. Food and drink options exist at multiple points, notably cafés near km 2.4, 11.7, 17.8, 26.5, and 80.3. Longest café/shop/waterless stretch is 11.1 km from 65.2 to 76.3 km. There are bike shops near km 79.5 and several bailout points including Outeiro at 17.8 km and Torres Vedras at 80.3 km.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Vilar climb (324 m) (3 km at 8 %).
- Tops out at 324 m, 26.4 km in.
Highlights
- Main climb of 3 km at 8% average gradient near Vilar
- Passing through Alenquer at 51.8 km
- Peaks Outeiro da Cabeça (180 m) and Coteina (218 m) near route
- Longest descent of 4.5 km from 32.2 km dropping 138 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 8.8 km | 2.7 km · 82 m · 3 % · max 5.4 % | — | 105 m |
| Vilar climb (324 m) | 23.3 km | 3 km · 242 m · 8 % · max 19 % | 3 km · 242 m · 8 % | 324 m |
| Unnamed climb | 36.6 km | 2 km · 64 m · 3.2 % · max 5.3 % | — | 139 m |
| Unnamed climb | 40.6 km | 2.4 km · 68 m · 2.8 % · max 3.7 % | — | 215 m |
| Unnamed climb | 49.7 km | 1.5 km · 42 m · 2.9 % · max 4.9 % | — | 80 m |
| Unnamed climb | 80.3 km | 2 km · 51 m · 2.6 % · max 4.2 % | — | 81 m |
| Unnamed climb | 90 km | 1.8 km · 51 m · 2.8 % · max 4 % | — | 112 m |
| Unnamed climb | 93.3 km | 1.5 km · 50 m · 3.3 % · max 5.2 % | — | 147 m |
Vilar climb (324 m) · full ascent, starts at 23.3 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 68% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 1 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 71% main road · 18% minor road · 7% quiet street · 2% track · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 72.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- EN 9 (25 km), EN 8-2 (10 km), EN 361-1 (10 km), EN 115 (5 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 96% is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 21% climbing · 20% descending · 59% flat
- Steep sections
- 2 km over 5% · 1.6 km over 8% · 1.5 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 13.7% at 26.3 km
- Longest descent
- 4.5 km from 32.2 km, dropping 138 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 65 cafés and restaurants, 19 shops, 8 water points, 16 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 11 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 2.1 kmLOURICOOP · petrol station · on the route
- 2.4 kmVilla Park · café · 60 m off route
- 2.6 kmDrinking water · 200 m off route
- 11.7 kmAdega da Vila · café · 70 m off route
- 12 kmFarmácia Campelos · pharmacy · 90 m off route
- 18.9 kmLusoceram · supermarket · 160 m off route
- 29.4 kmDrinking water · 90 m off route
- 47.3 kmGalp · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 53.8 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 64.3 kmAuto Júlio · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 64.4 kmFrutaKores · café · 40 m off route
- 64.4 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 76.3 kmWater tap · 200 m off route
- 79.5 kmBicicletas Agostinhas Estação 11 · bike rental · 50 m off route
- 80.3 kmXeirinho · café · 120 m off route
- 80.3 kmRepsol · petrol station · on the route
- 88.5 kmPrio · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 90.2 kmWater tap · 90 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 17.8 km — Outeiro (station), 280 m off route
- 74.2 km — Runa (halt), 500 m off route
- 80.3 km — Torres Vedras (station), 730 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.4 km — Baloiço adaptado da Lourinhã (attraction)
- 29.4 km — Fonte Medieval de Vila Verde dos Francos (attraction)
- 40.2 km — Coteina (peak, 218 m)
- 45.2 km — Parque de Merendas da Serra da Ota (picnic site)
- 51.8 km — Castelo de Alenquer (castle)
- 76.9 km — Abrigo da Carrasca (archaeological site)
Know before you go
- 72.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 1 km fast road with speed limit 80 km/h+
- Gravel or unpaved sections total 3% of route
- Longest stretch without café, shop, or water is 11.1 km from km 65.2 to 76.3