Road · Portugal
Lourinha – Mafra
A hilly 97 km road cycling loop from Lourinha, Lisbon through Santa Bárbara, Póvoa de Penafirme and Coutada, with 1,078 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 97.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,078 m
- Riding time
- 4–5½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Lourinha
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,078 m
- 97 km
Route description
- Lourinha
- Santa Bárbara
- Póvoa de Penafirme
- Coutada
- Portela de Belmonte
- Talefe
- Codeçal
- Turcifal
- Casal da Barreirinha
- Lourinha
Starting from Lourinha, the route passes through Santa Bárbara and Ribamar early on. It continues via several villages including Porto Novo at 10.3 km and Silveira at 18.9 km before reaching Ericeira at 39.3 km. The landscape features about 25% climbing and around 23% descending, with the highest point at 235 m around 49.9 km. Climbing sections vary with the longest around 2.7 km and steepest gradient reaching 10.3%.
The ride is mostly on paved surfaces (96%), consisting of 49% main roads and 32% minor roads. Nearly all main roads (45.8 km) lack cycle lanes, and about 2.7 km are on cycle paths or lanes. Four main named roads are used for significant distances, including ER 247 for 12 km and EN 247 for 11.8 km. Cafés, shops and water sources are scattered along the route, with the longest stretch without these facilities lasting 6.7 km between km 72.6 and 79.3. A bail-out station is available at Torres Vedras (km 71.3).
Several cafés and supermarkets are within close range along the route, such as Café Morais at 18.9 km and Aldi near km 46.8. Water points and public toilets are accessible multiple times. The ride is recorded in July with a temperature of 24°C, suitable for summer cycling.
Highlights
- Ericeira at 39.3 km
- Highest point 235 m near 49.9 km
- Longest climb 2.7 km at 38.1 km
- Torres Vedras station at 71.3 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 22.6 km | 1.3 km · 41 m · 3.1 % · max 5.8 % | 48 m |
| Unnamed climb | 24.6 km | 1.7 km · 45 m · 2.6 % · max 4.4 % | 69 m |
| Unnamed climb | 32.9 km | 1.8 km · 48 m · 2.8 % · max 6 % | 78 m |
| Unnamed climb | 38.1 km | 2.7 km · 70 m · 2.7 % · max 5.8 % | 123 m |
| Unnamed climb | 48.3 km | 1.6 km · 44 m · 2.8 % · max 5.1 % | 235 m |
| Unnamed climb | 52.7 km | 2 km · 67 m · 3.4 % · max 5.2 % | 165 m |
| Unnamed climb | 57.8 km | 2 km · 61 m · 3 % · max 6.3 % | 137 m |
| Unnamed climb | 65.9 km | 2.2 km · 109 m · 5 % · max 10.1 % | 158 m |
| Unnamed climb | 72.5 km | 2 km · 53 m · 2.7 % · max 4.6 % | 83 m |
| Unnamed climb | 85.3 km | 2.7 km · 130 m · 4.8 % · max 10.3 % | 145 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (45.8 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 49% main road · 32% minor road · 9% quiet street · 4% path · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 45.8 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
- Cycle paths
- 2.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- ER 247 (12 km), EN 247 (12 km), EN 9-2 (8 km), EN 116 (7 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 25% climbing · 23% descending · 52% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.3 km over 5% · 1 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9.4% at 89.4 km
- Longest descent
- 3.4 km from 30.3 km, dropping 69 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 135 cafés and restaurants, 36 shops, 16 water points, 20 petrol stations, 12 public toilets and 22 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5.4 kmFarmácia Ribamar · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 5.6 kmDrinking water · 100 m off route
- 10.3 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
- 10.9 kmPortal · café · 130 m off route
- 18.9 kmCafé Morais · café · 60 m off route
- 18.9 kmFarmácia Silveirense · pharmacy · 50 m off route
- 27.7 kmCafé Alves · café · 60 m off route
- 27.7 kmGalp · petrol station · on the route
- 33.9 kmAssociação de Moradores de Ribamar · café · 60 m off route
- 39.1 kmPão da Vila - Escolas · café · 100 m off route
- 44.5 kmFlor do Sobreiro · café · on the route
- 46.1 kmCepsa · petrol station · on the route
- 52.3 kmFonte da Portapada · drinking water · 130 m off route
- 52.5 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 70.8 kmBicicletas Agostinhas Estação 01 · bike rental · on the route
- 72 kmAuchan Supermercado · supermarket · 140 m off route
- 79.3 kmRepsol · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 81 kmToilets · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 71.3 km — Torres Vedras (station), 590 m off route
Worth a stop
- 10.3 km — Parque de lazer de Porto Novo (picnic site)
- 23 km — Reduto do Formigal (archaeological site, 34 m)
- 36.6 km — Alto de Ribeira d'Ilhas (viewpoint)
- 54.5 km — Forte 1.º da Serra de Chipre (archaeological site, 238 m)
- 71.7 km — Castelo de Torres Vedras (castle)
- 87.1 km — Fonte Lima (picnic site)
Know before you go
- 45.8 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 1 km on fast roads 80 km/h+
- Long 6.7 km stretch without café, shop or water from 72.6 to 79.3 km
- 4.3 km of climbing over 5% gradient