Learn more about the ‘Volta a Portugal’, the main bike race in the Portugal from 27 September to 5 October 2020, taking place at Lisbon, North and Centre.
This year special edition, is smaller and has been rescheduled, from 29th of July – 9th of August to 27th of September – 5th of October.
What is the Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta?
The Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta is the main bike race in Portugal. This exciting Portuguese cycling event has a huge media impact, taking place in various regions of the country. This contributes to promote the beautiful landscapes and sites of Portugal and to give life to these places.

Like the Tour de France, Vuelta a España and Giro d’Italia, the Volta a Portugal is one of the oldest bike races in the world.
The Volta a Portugal has been taking place since 1927 and is part of the international competitions of the International Cycling Union (UCI), an association that integrates the national cycling federations of several countries.
On the Volta a Portugal, cyclists ride the Portuguese roads, facing various degrees of difficulty, such as time trials, where the fastest sprinters take advantage, and uphilltrials with winding climbs and descents, where the “climbers” stand out.
Throughout the stages, “runners” make the most of their physical and technical capabilities, supported by their teams (domestic and foreign).

Other important cycling events in Portugal
Of the internationally recognized cycling competitions held in Portugal, we also highlight:
- Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta;
- Volta ao Alentejo;
- Grande Prémio Internacional Beiras and Serra da Estrela;
- Grande Prémio de Torres Vedras;
- Clássica Aldeias do Xisto;
- Clássica da Arrábida.
Highlights of 2020 edition of the Volta a Portugal (Programme)
The 2020 edition of the Volta a Portugal starts in Fafe, which will be the starting point and the stage of the prologue, with time trial events.
Lisbon will receive the end of the competition after the individual time trials.
All the 2020 edition will mainly take place in the North and Central Portugal, passing through the Lisbon Region.
The trail in Torre (in Serra da Estrela) will be the highest uphill ride and Setúbal will be the southernmost Municipality of the country where the Volta a Portugal will pass.
As in previous editions, the Volta a Portugal in 2020 has routes that demand a lot from cyclists, domestic and foreign. These include time trials and the most difficult punctuated mountain counts, with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th climbs.
Volta a Portugal 2020 edition
From the 2020 Volta a Portugal Programme, which involves a total of 1,183.9 km, we highlight:
PROLOGUE (27 SePtember): 7 KM
FAFE > FAFE – This city will be the place of departure and the prologue, which will feature individual time trial events.
sTAGE 1 (28 SEPTEMBER): 180 KM
MONTALEGRE > Salamonde > Alto de Covide > Terras de Bouro > Caldelas > Vila Verde > Barroselas > VIANA DO CASTELO (Santa Luzia)
STAGE 2 (29 SEPTEMBER): 167 KM
PAREDES > Antarte > Paredes > Amarante > Serra do Marão > Velão > Barreiro > Ermelo > Vilarinho > Mondim de Basto > MONDIM DE BASTO (Senhora da Graça)
STAGE 3 (30 SEPTEMBER): 171,9 KM
FELGUEIRAS > Marco de Canaveses > Baião > Resende > Lamego > Lamego > Bigorne > Castro Daire > Carvalhal > VISEU
STAGE 4 (1 october): 148 KM
GUARDA > Celorico da Beira > Gouveia > Penhas Douradas > Manteigas > Sarzedo > Covilhã > Penhas da Saúde > COVILHÃ (TORRE)
STAGE 5 (2 OCTOBER): 176.3 KM
OLIVEIRA DO HOSPITAL > Arganil > Celavisa > Góis > Penacova > Espinheira > Luso > Mealhada > Cantanhede > Sangalhos > ÁGUEDA
STAGE 6 (3 october): 155 KM
CALDAS DA RAINHA > Alfeizerão > Alcobaça > Óbidos > Bombarral > Cadaval > Vimeiro > Santa Cruz > TORRES VEDRAS
STAGE 7 (4 october): 161 KM
LOURES > Sacavém > Bucelas > Carvalha > Arruda dos Vinhos > Vila Franca de Xira > Montijo (MV) > Palmela > Alto da Arrábida > SETÚBAL
STAGE 8 (5 october): 17.7 KM
LISBOA (Parque das Nações) > LISBOA (Praça do Comércio) – This city will receive the end of the competition after the individual time trial.
Booking.comNote: Due to future changes in the program, please consider the official website below.
Date: 27 September to 5 October 2020
Local: Various locations in the North and Centre of Portugal and Lisbon
For more informations: www.volta-portugal.com

What happened at 2019 edition of the Volta a Portugal?
In 2019, the Volta a Portugal took place from the 31th of July to the 11th of August. Viseu was the city of departure and Porto was the city that received the end of the competition.
In the final general classification the first seven places were occupied by Portuguese cyclists:
- João Rodrigues (W52/FC Porto) who won the edition, the “yellow jersey”;
- Joni Brandão (Efapel);
- Gustavo César Veloso (W52/FC Porto);
- António Carvalho (W52/FC Porto);
- Edgar Pinto (W52/FC Porto);
- João Benta (Rádio Popular/Boavista);
- David Miguel Costa Rodrigues (Rádio Popular/Boavista).
More Portugal Travel Destinations
- Alentejo: Self-guided walking tour in Mértola, Portugal
- Alentejo: Castro Verde, Portugal: Self-guided walking tour
- Aljezur, Algarve: Self-guided walking tour in Aljezur, Portugal
- Algarve: Self-guided walking tour in Lagos, Portugal
- Algarve: Self-guided walking tour in Portimão, Portugal
- Lisbon: Lisbon: Ultimate Travel Guide and Itineraries
- Lisbon: Self-guided walking tour in Palmela, Portugal
- Centre: Self-guided walking tour in Golegã: Horse Capital of Portugal
- Azores: Terceira Island Travel Guide, Azores
To learn more about other LikedPlaces, go to our Destinations in Portugal page. |
Disclosure: This post has affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, there’s no additional cost to you, but it will allow us to maintain the blog. Thank you!
Did you like this post? Please share it with your friends!