Xistopedia

Granfondo Aldeias do Xisto: Through the mountains and valleys of Fundão and Pampilhosa

Granfondo Aldeias do Xisto: Through the mountains and valleys of Fundão and Pampilhosa
active nature
João Moreira and Flávia Lopes were the winners of the 8th edition of the race that brought together around 600 athletes.

This year’s Granfondo Aldeias do Xisto started to the sound of Bombos de Lavacolhos’ drums. At 8.30 am on 29th September, about six hundred cyclists pass through the landscapes of the Aldeias do Xisto, between Fundão and Pampilhosa da Serra, as part of one of the competition’s three stages: Granfondo (141km), Mediofondo (108km) and Minifondo (67km).
 

We were going at around 30km/hour when António Queiroz, from Ultra Spirit Sports, asked me if I have any “fear of driving at high speeds”.  “No”, I replied. I even like it”, he said already deep in thought and anticipating the adrenaline that the body generates in these situations. “It’s just that, on the descents, the cyclists go faster than us. We’ll have to speed up”, he warns. This was indeed the case at some points, where it was necessary to gain ground on the athletes, and ensure that there were no obstacles so that everyone would reach the finish in one piece. Safe and sound.

“Still a bit of work organising this event, isn’t it?”, I asked, by way of an ice-breaker. António Queiroz laughed. “Just a bit”, he replied, with a lot said in just a few words. He then explained that it is a continual job, with the work extending throughout the time between each edition.

Every now and then, you get a phone call. To confirm distances and positions, or to resolve one or other detail that, on these occasions, comes up at the last minute. António Queiroz blows his whistle, waves and gives instructions to the officials whenever necessary, and greets the members of the public that, here and there, are waiting for the athletes to pass.


Overall, it was a smooth trip. And just as well. The scenic views that surround us deserve to be taken in and, as they are so magnificent, they make us want to stop at every moment, jump out of the car and take a photo of what is only a snippet of what the eyes can see. The mountains and valleys, the lost houses, the grandeur of the Panasqueira mining complex and the magnificent views over to the Santa Luzia dam are some of the vistas that endow this race with something extraordinary and unique. We postponed a longer visit for another day.
 

The end of a cycle

For the coordinator of ADXTUR - Schist Villages Tourism Development Agency, the Granfondo Aldeias do Xisto translates into “the ability to see our endogenous resources creating social value, activities, dynamics and excitment that can then become an offer”. Paulo Fernandes also stresses that, more than the number of participants, what matters is “the geographical dispersion of the participants and the great attraction that the event generates, especially in the Spanish market”, from where most of the foreign athletes come.

Over the last few years, activity tourism has gained increasing numbers of fans and is currently, according to Adriana Rodrigues, of Central Portugal Tourism, one of the most significant products in the Central Region’s offer. “There are more and more people concerned with sustainability who, as a result, seek this type of activity”, she said. Events such as the Granfondo, where sports practice is combined with “tranquillity, calm and inner peace” thus play “an important role in enhancing the Countryside”. As a sportsperson, Adriana Rodrigues believes that those who participate in these initiatives, in direct contact with nature, establish an “emotional bond” with the area and feel like returning to “share these emotions with their loved ones”. This is why the Central Portugal Tourism has been strengthening its focus on attracting events that stimulate direct interaction with the area, with the communities that inhabit within it and, of course, with nature, seeking to generate more interest and publicise the Central Portugal as a tourist destination of excellence.

 

With more than 600 participants, this “is not just another Granfondo”, says António Queiroz, in a spirit of evenhandedness. “With this 8th Granfondo we will end one phase and continue to work with the Aldeias do Xisto. We are discussing and exploring new formats so that there will be novelties next year”, an idea he had already mentioned when presenting the event.

The Deputy Mayor of Fundão shares that opinion. “This is a very important event”, bearing in mind that the bicycle as a tourist attraction factor is one of the county’s focuses. “Our challenge is to get people looking at this area differently from others that have races like this, and that they come back later to get to know it better”, explained Miguel Gavinhos. At the end of the event, the mayor spoke of a “highly positive outcome” and expressed his satisfaction with the “very successful partnership” that unites the Aldeias do Xisto, the counties of Fundão and Pampilhosa da Serra and Central Portugal Tourism.

João Moreira and Flávia Santos come in first

85. This was one of the numbers that, at the end of the 8th edition of the Granfondo Aldeias do Xisto, remained in our memory and deserved a special mention. This was the age of the Briton, Don Forester, one of the more than 150 foreign cyclists and the oldest in the race, who showed that the Granfondo is definitely open to all lovers of the sport: “I had already been around the Aldeias do Xisto about three years ago”, he told us and, already quite emotional, he described his experience in this Granfondo: “fantastic organisation, welcoming people and beautiful landscapes”.

 


An opinion, moreover, shared by other protagonists throughout the day. Unlike 2018, when the winner covered much of the course alone, this year the victory was hotly contested right to the end. João Moreira, of Love Tiles, was first to cross the finishing line, taking another trophy for his Granfondos’ collection. He arrived at the end, well satisfied with his place. “It’s a well organised race, safe and with a good level of competition. The course is very beautiful and just as hard”, he said to sum things up. André Resende, of Padeirinhas Sobre Rodas, and Rafael Ferreira, also of Love Tiles, came in second and third, respectively.
 


the women’s category, Flávia Lopes, from Vasconha BTT Vouzela, repeated her 2018 success and once again was in first place on the podium. “It’s a challenging course, with long climbs, quite steep, and therefore, hard”, she said. “I like coming to this area”, she finished, after mentioning that she recently spent holidays in the Aldeia do Xisto, Janeiro de Cima. Isabel Cintas, from Club Ciclista Tierra De Piñero Bike, crossed the finish line in second place and Cláudia Daniel, from Ribapedal Bike Shop, took third.
 


After having “trained a lot in the last month”, Paulo Pereira, from Vulcal/Ccc, came in first in the Mediofondo. “I have never been here before, and I was surprised. The route is really spectacular and when I get the chance I want to come back here to get to know it better”, she confessed. Also on the podium were, coming in second place, João Fonte-Boa, of Gdr Canaviais Comprarcasa Évora, and, coming third, André Costa, of Westbike.
 


Ana Neves, of the Bike & Nutrition Shop team, was at the top of the classification for the Mediofondo, followed by Filomena Gomes, from Ontrisports, and Aline Correia, who raced individually.
 


In the Minifondo category, Rui Pinto, of Love Tiles, was the winner, followed by Hélder Campinho, from Proteu Cycling Team, and Miguel Lourenço, who competed individually.
 


In the women’s category, the podium consisted of Liliana Aguiar, from Btt Retiro Das Adegas/ Churrasqueira Da Quinta, Ana Gaspar, of 5Quinas Municipio De Albufeira- Cdasj, and Ana Soldado, who also competed individually.
 


Consult the complete list of winners here.

explore

restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
Fiado
Fiado
Janeiro de Cima
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Casa da Ti Augusta
Casa da Ti Augusta
Figueira
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
Ponte Velha
Ponte Velha
Sertã
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
heritage
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
heritage
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
village
Figueira
Figueira
tour
The Tagus Route - Fontes > Souto Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 3
The Tagus Route - Fontes > Souto Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 3
village
Ferraria de São João
Ferraria de São João
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
offer
XL Epic Adventure
XL Epic Adventure
village
Sobral de São Miguel
Sobral de São Miguel
tour
Cyclin' Portugal Centre - Aldeias of Xisto de Oliveira do Hospital: P5 – Red
Cyclin' Portugal Centre - Aldeias of Xisto de Oliveira do Hospital: P5 – Red
offer
E-Bike Getaway in Aldeias do Xisto
E-Bike Getaway in Aldeias do Xisto
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Fróia River Beach (P31 - Green)
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Fróia River Beach (P31 - Green)
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu

next events

event
“A Ver Figueiró dos Vinhos” (Seeing Figueiró dos Vinhos) Photography Contest
“A Ver Figueiró dos Vinhos” (Seeing Figueiró dos Vinhos) Photography Contest
01 mar 2024 - 30 sep 2024, 10:00
event
Teatro, música, artes e jogos nas Praias Fluviais de Vila de Rei
Teatro, música, artes e jogos nas Praias Fluviais de Vila de Rei
15 jun 2024 - 15 sep 2024
Vila de Rei
event
Macrocosmos
Macrocosmos
01 jul 2024 - 31 jul 2024, 10:00
Talasnal
event
Nautical Summer
Nautical Summer
07 jul 2024 - 08 sep 2024, 10:00
event
Explorando o Surrealismo
Explorando o Surrealismo
10 jul 2024 - 30 aug 2024, 10:00
event
ATASCAr - Mostra de Petiscos e Doçaria
ATASCAr - Mostra de Petiscos e Doçaria
12 jul 2024 - 04 aug 2024
Aldeia das Dez
event
Ciência Viva no Verão
Ciência Viva no Verão
17 jul 2024 - 14 sep 2024, 10:00
event
Ceramics and Wood-Firing Course
Ceramics and Wood-Firing Course
19 jul 2024 - 28 jul 2024, 16:00
Cerdeira
event
Doze Meses, Doze Caminhadas
Doze Meses, Doze Caminhadas
20 jul 2024 - 01 dec 2024
event
XJazz 2024 - Residência artística de Maria do Mar
XJazz 2024 - Residência artística de Maria do Mar
23 jul 2024 - 02 aug 2024, 10:00
Barroca
event
Residência artística explora relação entre doméstico e selvagem em Cunqueiros
Residência artística explora relação entre doméstico e selvagem em Cunqueiros
23 jul 2024 - 10 aug 2024, 12:00
event
Bombos 2024
Bombos 2024
27 jul 2024, 17:00
event
Verão na Ribeira com os Macroinvertebrados Aquáticos
Verão na Ribeira com os Macroinvertebrados Aquáticos
01 aug 2024 - 29 aug 2024, 13:45
Lousã
event
Sara Correia em Figueiró dos Vinhos no Festival do Fado 2024
Sara Correia em Figueiró dos Vinhos no Festival do Fado 2024
02 aug 2024, 21:30
event
Mostra de Xinema da Benfeita
Mostra de Xinema da Benfeita
04 aug 2024 - 08 aug 2024, 21:15
Benfeita
event
Clay and Flora with Rita Pereira
Clay and Flora with Rita Pereira
08 aug 2024 - 18 aug 2024, 10:00
Cerdeira
event
Spooncarving with Sílvio Soares
Spooncarving with Sílvio Soares
10 aug 2024 - 17 aug 2024, 10:00
Cerdeira
event
Benfeita Trail 2024
Benfeita Trail 2024
11 aug 2024, 09:00
Benfeita
event
Japanese Pottery and Ikebana
Japanese Pottery and Ikebana
06 sep 2024 - 15 sep 2024, 15:00
Cerdeira
event
Himalaias Trail
Himalaias Trail
21 sep 2024
Oleiros
event
Paper Clay & Paper Porcelain Course
Paper Clay & Paper Porcelain Course
24 sep 2024 - 29 sep 2024, 15:00
Cerdeira