O alto da Senhora da Graça faz parte do imaginário de todo e qualquer amante do ciclismo Português, não me lembro de uma Volta a Portugal sem um final de etapa no cimo do Monte Farinha.
Acordar bem cedo para tomar o pequeno almoço, deixar a família ainda a dormir, aproveitando a excelente localização do Hotel, e sair para a linha de partida já de bicicleta. Na ementa tinha 100 kms com duas contagem de 3.ª categoria e duas de 1.ª com término no alto da Senhora da Graça.
Partida tranquila e com carro a neutralizar os primeiros kms devido a obras na estrada à saída de Mondim de Basto… assim que este deu autorização foi ver tudo a pedalar em grande velocidade os 11 kms da subida a Gandarela, uma subida com uma média de inclinação de 2,7% sem dificuldade de maior e perfeita para deixar o corpo pronto para o que se aproximava. Por esta altura a temperatura ainda estava amena mas à medida que nos aproximaríamos do fim tudo isso iria mudar.
Terminada a primeira subida iniciou-se a descida de volta a Mondim, sempre por estrada boa, com algumas curvas mais apertadas mas perfeita para quem gosta de descer em grande velocidade. Após a primeira passagem por Mondim de Basto chegou a vez da subida de Paradança com os seus 5 kms e uma inclinação média de 4,5%, nova descida… esta bem mais acentuada e mais desafiante a preceder a subida ao Alto da Barra, são 13,4 kms com média de 5,5% é uma subida daquele que não tem fim e quando parece que vai acabar logo após a próxima curva… tem mais uma.
Por esta altura já o calor se fazia sentir e apesar da reposição de líquidos, encontrava-me num estado de alguma desidratação mas a subida final estava aí e os últimos 8,4 kms a 7,2% eram para ser vencidos… Sabem aquele conselho que se dá a quem tem vertigens? “Não olhes para baixo!” pois… Neste caso e quando estamos à entrada da subida final é mais “não olhes para cima!” É verdadeiramente impressionante a altura do Monte Farinha e no estado de cansaço em que cheguei ao início da subida pensar no que ainda tinha pela frente foi momentaneamente devastador… Durou uns bons 5 segundos. Depois foi a vez de formatar a mente para “agora é para ir até ao fim! Desistir não é opção!”
Mais uma vez a organização esteve à altura das expectativas, não faltou apoio, abastecimento, boa sinalização e disponibilidade humana em ajudar no que fosse preciso. É por estas razões e muitas mais que a Cabreira Solutions já tem um lugar de destaque nas organizações nacionais e eu em 2020 vou querer participar em pelo menos mais um evento por eles organizado.
The top of Senhora da Graça is part of the imagination of any Portuguese cycling lover, I do not remember a Tour of Portugal without a stage finish at the top of Monte Farinha.
After a lifetime of watching, on television, cyclists conquering the top of Senhora da Graça, it was inevitable that this mythical climb was part of my personal wishlist of places to ride a bicycle. When I read about the Granfondo Senhora da Graça organized by Cabreira Solutions I knew I had to be part of this cycling party.
And so all the preparations for another participation in a sporting event / family weekend began. The accommodation chosen was Agua Hotels Mondim de Basto, which received us exceptionally and where nothing was left to chance for the comfort of our family, starting with the ideal family suite for a family of four like ours.
We arrived at the Hotel at a very late hour on Friday, after 4.30 hours of travel we only had time to unload our bags and sleep to recover from the long trip because on Saturday our day started early.
After a hearty breakfast, we went to the registration survey and took a look around the fair. Once the bureaucracy was treated, we took the rest of the day to take a family walk and discover the natural and cultural beauty of this part of the country.
Sunday, Granfondo Senhora da Graça Day – in my case MediumFondo Day.
Wake up early to have breakfast, leave the family still sleeping, taking advantage of the Hotel’s excellent location, and get off to the starting line by bike. In the menu had 100 km with two 3rd category climbs and two 1st category ending at the top of Senhora da Graça.
Quiet departure with car neutralizing the first kilometers due to road works outside Mondim de Basto … as soon as permission was given you should see everyone pedaling at high speed thru the 11 kms uphill to Gandarela, a climb with an average 2.7% inclination without great difficulty and perfect to get the body ready for what was approaching. By this time the temperature was still mild but as we neared the end all that would change.
After the first climb, we started the descent back to Mondim, always on a good road, with some tighter curves but perfect for those who like to go downhill fast. After the first pass through Mondim de Basto, it was time to climb Paradança with its 5 kms and an average slope of 4.5%, another descend… this one much steeper and more challenging preceding the climb to Alto da Barra, 13.4 km with an average of 5.5% is a endless climb and when it seems that will end soon after the next curve … there is one more.
At the top a mandatory stop for fueling and enjoying the view and seeing the final destination. Long descent until very close to Mondim, and a few rather small tops just so that the legs do not forget what is left to finish. As we approach Mondim de Basto and with Senhora da Graça on our right, we begin to understand the reality that awaits us until the end.
By this time the heat was already being felt and despite the replacement of liquids, I was in a state of some dehydration but the final climb was there and the last 8.4 km at a 7.2% average were to be overcome … that advice given to those with vertigo? “Don’t look down!” yup… In this case and when we are at the entrance of the final climb is more “do not look up!” The height of Monte Farinha is truly impressive and in my state of exhaustion when I reached the beginning of the climb thinking about what was ahead was momentarily devastating … It lasted a good 5 seconds. Then it was time to turn the mind format to “now i’m going all the way! Giving up is not an option!”
The more or less 50 minutes it took me to do the 8.4 km showes the state of my physical condition. At every turn, I just wanted it to be the last. Fortunately, we are never alone, and moral support comes from everywhere, from the side of the road, from a passing “colleague”, from a past “colleague,” all of which helps us climb. But even better is the sense of personal fulfillment as we cross the finish line, thinking that we have suffered but conquered, looking down and thinking “I climbed this all the way up?”
Once again the organization lived up to expectations, there was no shortage of support, supplies, good signage and human readiness to help where needed. It is for these reasons and many more that Cabreira Solutions already has a prominent place in national organizations and I in 2020 will want to participate in at least one more event organized by them.
In 2020, the three Cabreira Solutions Granfondos have the particularity of binding all three of the awarded medals, in the end forming a unique finisher medal.
I leave you with this challenge.
