Portugal Hardest Bike Climbs

The 5 top bike climbs in Portugal are located on the Island of Madeira.

HARDEST CYCLING CLIMB IN PORTUGAL

PICO ARIEIRO, PORTUGAL

Pico Arieiro is the most difficult bike climb in Portugal and #19 in the world.

This climb is on the Island of Madeira which is official the Autonomous Region of Madeira.  Madeira is an archipelago situated in the Atlantic Ocean south of Portugal and west of Morocco. This climb is rated 19th in the world and is the most distant from mainland Europe than any other Europe Top 10 Bike Climb.

Ride 18 kilometers gaining 1,776 meters at 9.8% average grade.

#1 Portugal / #19 World

PORTUGAL #2

PICO ARIEIRO - EASIER ROUTE

Easier is relative . . .

#2 Portugal / #34 World

Ride 231.4 kilometers gaining 1,785 meters at 8.4% average grade.

PORTUGAL #3

PAUL da SERRA

Ride 20.3 kilometers gaining 1,854 meters at 7.8%

#3 Portugal / #93 World.

The top 3 bike climbs in Portugal are on the Island of Madeira.

PORTUGAL #4

SERRA DE ESTRELA (UNHAIS DE SERRA

Ride 20.8 kilometers gaining 1,342 meters at 6.4%

Serra da Estrela (“Start Mountain Range”) is the highest point in mainland Portugal.  Few places can you ride your bike to the highest point in a country, but this is one of those few.  The top is not a peak but rather the highest point in a plateau and the Torre (“Tower”) built in 1817.  

PORTUGAL #5

SERRA DE ESTRELA (COVILHA)

Ride 20.4 kilometers gaining 1,463 meters at 6.4%

There are 4 routes to the top of this climb:  Seia (northwest), Manteigas (northeast), Covilha (southeast) and Unhais da Serra (southwest).  The most difficult route to the top is from Unhais de Serra (20.8 kilometers gaining 1,342 meters at 6.4% average grade).