Granfondo Serra da Estrela: the route and how to prepare
- Distance
- 171 km
- Climbing
- 4,911 m
- Highest point
- 1,941 m
- Categorised climbs
- 16 · up to 19 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
296–1,941 m · 16 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 16 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
The Granfondo Serra da Estrela is a mountain gran fondo in Portugal's highest range, starting in Seia, passing Sabugueiro and Manteigas and finishing with the climb to the Torre, the highest point in mainland Portugal at 1,993 m. The 11th edition was on 28 June 2026; the long route has been listed at about 174 km with 4,600 m of climbing. The 2027 date has not been announced yet.
Granfondo Serra da Estrela at a glance
- Where
- Seia, Serra da Estrela, Portugal
- Official website
- granfondoserradaestrela.com ↗
- Next edition
- Date to be confirmed by the organiser
- Route
- Granfondo: 174 km, 4,600 m climbing
- Terrain
- Mountain — long climbs
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Granfondo Serra da Estrela, 171 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
The Granfondo Serra da Estrela is one route.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Granfondo | 174 km | 4,600 m |
What the course asks of you
The Serra da Estrela climbs are long and exposed: from the valleys to the high granite plateau, with the final ascent to the Torre after more than 150 km.
With some 4,600 m of climbing, the day is about pacing. Climb steadily from the first ascent, eat on the descents and keep something for the Torre.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train long climbs: steady efforts of 30 to 60 minutes just below your threshold match the cols of the Granfondo Serra da Estrela far better than short intervals.
- Build the long day: rides of five to seven hours in the final two months, towards the 174 km of the route you choose.
- Practise eating and drinking on a schedule, and descending: a mountain day is as much going down as going up.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Treating the first climb of the Granfondo Serra da Estrela as a race: a long col ridden above the pace you can hold for hours costs you the rest of the day.
- Saving nothing for the last climb, where the most kilometres are already in your legs.
- Skipping food on the descents: the next climb starts with what you ate on the way down.
Prepare the Granfondo Serra da Estrela with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing the Granfondo Serra da Estrela, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is the Granfondo Serra da Estrela?
The organiser has not announced the next edition's date yet. Event Coach lets you set your own target date until it does.
How long is the Granfondo Serra da Estrela?
Granfondo: 174 km with 4,600 m of climbing. The Granfondo as listed by Finishers; a shorter Mediofondo is also offered.
How many riders take part?
About 1,200 riders in 2025.
Can I ride the course of the Granfondo Serra da Estrela in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.