Stage 3 | Manteigas – Miranda do Corvo

We would like to take you to the Torre (Tower) witch is the highest peak of Portugal at an altitude of 2.000m, but unfortunately, the road is closed to traffic due to some maintenance that have to be made on the slopes of the mountain.

After you leave the Vila Galé Hotel, the route will take you to a 20 km long, but gentle, climb. You’re at Vale do Rossim, and you will go down fast to Sabugueiro Village, a pictoresque village of Serra da Estrela.

After that, you will climb again to Lagoa Comprida, facing other slope of the mountain. This mountain deserves special mention for its scenic beauty and isolation… at the same time the route lets you admire this extraordinary mountain massif from all sides.

And there you go… fast and furious for more than 20km descending. An adventurous, winding route leads down the mountain crossing enchanting forests, with perfect privileged spots to glance over the villages down there (in the valley), so far away…

This is one of the wildest stretches of Transportugal Roads, because the sceneries are so amazing that you can easily forget that a certain amount of foresight is required.

At the end of this fantastic descent, the route takes you to the picturesque and isolated village of Vide. Vide is in the valley, so the only way is up… leaving Vide, the route will take you through a 18 km long climb, with some steep passes, and yet some astonishing views over unusual small villages, springs and pastureland until you reach the historical village of Piódão. A distinctive feature of this mountain village with its narrow winding streets is schist, a stone found in great abundance in the region and used to build the houses and plaster the pavements. Here you will find the 6D “refueling stand” of the stage 3 and can collect your 6D bars and your Water Bottle. 75 km so far, 84 km to go…

At this point, you have left behind Serra da Estrela Mountain and find yourself deeply immersed in another Mountain, the Serra do Açor Mountain from where the route takes you up a few km more. Passing the cross to the small village of Tojo, the stage leads flat over the top of this side of the mountain, like a perfect balcony to the valley. More than 30km with (-)2%. It’s really fun and fast.

Soon enough the route will take you through a smooth and long descent on a small mountain road to the village of Colmeal down by the Ceira river. You will follow this river for more than 30km with lots and lots and lots of turns. Now you can easily ride to Miranda, where you can rest in a cosy and friendly hotel we chose for you.