After a three-year hiatus, and following the August fires that left deep scars on the region, the Lousã Granfondo returns this weekend to the Serra da Lousã for its fourth edition. The event, which takes place on 14 September, is about to sell out its 1,300 places, with 1,240 athletes from 22 countries already registered. More than just a competition, it will be a sign of confidence, hope and resilience for a region that refuses to give up.
The official presentation took place in the Schist Village of Talasnal, attended by the organisers, Cabreira Solutions, the Portuguese Cycling Federation, Lousã Municipal Council, Turismo Centro de Portugal, the main sponsor, Licor Beirão, and ADXTUR itself – the Agency for the Tourist Development of the Schist Villages, an institutional partner.
The Lousã Granfondo 2025 will pass through the municipalities of Lousã, Góis, Vila Nova de Poiares, Miranda do Corvo and Penela, with the legendary climb to Terreiro das Bruxas being its most demanding section.
In addition to the three main distances - Granfondo (135 km), Mediofondo (101 km) and Minifondo (71 km) - there will also be a charity walk and, on Saturday, 13 September, the Granfondinho, dedicated to the youngest participants.
More than just a sporting event, the Lousã Granfondo is a gesture of collective confidence. This was highlighted by the president of ADXTUR - Agency for the Tourist Development of the Schist Villages, in his presentation of the event, when he emphasised that its continuation is an expression of the ‘indomitable ability to recycle ourselves and overcome problems, difficulties and tragedies, and thus continue to dream of positive hope’. He added: ‘Life goes on for so many people who are committed to this place, who have their micro-businesses here.’
Paulo Fernandes also pointed out that the race reinforces the strategy of the Schist Villages as a cycling destination of excellence: ‘This event brings competition, but also experimentation, and that is very important for attracting visitors and tourism business.’
“When we decided to resume the Granfondo, we were far from imagining this scenario. And I think it makes perfect sense to bring it back at this point to show people that the interior is not dangerous, that it is still alive, that it has gone through a rough patch, but that it is safe for people to come and enjoy the territory. Perhaps with a little less charm in terms of landscape, but with natural charm in its gastronomy, culture, and people, the greatest icon that this territory has," said João Cabreira, from Cabreira Solutions.
The organising body also argued that the decision to keep the original route, even though it crosses burnt areas, is consistent with the spirit of the event: ‘The territory is what it is, what happened happened, we have to move on. (...) This was the phrase we chose for this event: with the interior even in difficult times.’
The main sponsor of this race is Licor Beirão, which reinforces the connection between the brand and its homeland. “We are very proud to be from Lousã and we support all events here in the region that promote the region,” said Daniel Redondo, also noting that “we have a fantastic mountain range here, now in need of a clean-up, but with an extraordinary environment and heritage.”
Much more than sport
For the president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation (FPC), the race is a catalyst for the economy and regional promotion, providing not only competition but also promoting ‘the regions, their cuisine, their landscapes, and we are able to make a very positive contribution to the local economy’.
Cândido Barbosa states that ‘these 1,300 athletes will be joined by their husbands, wives, children, friends, and couples who come with them, and this will certainly exceed 2,500 people who will be in the region over a weekend. Many of these athletes are accompanied by their families, who end up visiting the Schist Villages.’
And in view of the fires, he made it clear: ‘It's one thing to see it on television, but it's quite another to come here and smell it.’ This event will also be an opportunity to ‘raise awareness of what happened,’ said the president of the FPC.
A wound that does not erase resilience
The president of Turismo Centro de Portugal recalled that the August fires were ‘a wound in the heart of central Portugal,’ but highlighted above all the response of the territory: "This wound has resilient people who do not look back, people who are always looking forward. Events like this give visibility to the region and show that not everything has been burned, that there is much to discover."
Rui Ventura also stressed that support for this type of event serves ‘precisely to ensure that commitments are not abandoned, but rather reinforced and coordinated with local authorities and various entities, so that we can carry out organised reforestation of what is important in the region.’
Encouragement for all stakeholders
As host, the Mayor of Lousã points out that ‘we have always regarded and evaluated this event as very positive, due to the business it generates in our region, particularly in terms of accommodation, but also because of the positive image it creates and the confidence it conveys.’
But the importance of the Granfondo goes further. ‘We have sought to promote the municipality in the various sports governed by the Portuguese Cycling Federation, and the LouzanPark project has been central to creating this anchor, bringing together sports such as cycling, hiking and trail running,’ said Luís Antunes, who sees this event as a stimulus for all public and private stakeholders. ‘Especially in the future work of regeneration and reactivation of confidence, so that people can continue to come and enjoy and experience our magnificent territory.’
