Be honest, do you even know where Madeira is? The Portuguese island located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean has been carving its way to become one of the best mountain bike destinations in the planet, noted for the freeride scene and of course hosting rounds of the Enduro World Series.
The small island boasts big mountains, beautiful landscapes, delicious food, warm weather all year round and over 600 years of history and culture. Mix this all with some of the most challenging and unique mountain bike trails around and it’s the perfect setting for a memorable mountain bike event.
Madeira Bike Race
Madeira Bike Race hits the calendar for 2020, and it is a pairs-format multi-day mountain bike marathon that explores two Portuguese islands located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira and Porto Santo. Falling later in the year between 8th and 12th October 2020, this could be the perfect way to extend your riding season if you’re in the northern hemisphere, or have a mountain bike holiday ahead of summer if you’re down south.
Over the course of five days, which includes a prologue, you will have the chance to race some of the most diverse terrain on earth combining the best attributes and trails of the islands.
From the jungles of the north to the dry and rough south of the island and the traverse between east and west in a unique route. The official course is still to be released but expect to ride over 270 kilometres with around 8000 meters ascent, going through the perfect balance of scenic fire roads and singletrack around Madeira and Porto Santo. For this first edition, the event is limited to 60 teams and divided into 3 main categories: men, women and mixed.
The event has one race package available that includes just about everything from the moment you land on the island, making for a laid back experience where you can focus on the adventure ahead. Five nights accommodation in three to five stars hotels; a complete meal plan that includes breakfast, feed zones, after race lunch and dinner; all logistics for you and your bicycle; all shuttles and ferry ride to Porto Santo and back; airport transfers; access to media content; official race jersey; professional mechanics and bike wash service.
Entries open in 2020 – but follow the race website for more details.