Portugal by bike, seen by Hugo Gomes: between roots, landscapes and cycling passion

Cycling, sometimes, isn't just a sport. It's a refuge, a school of life, a connection to one's roots, and a key to discovering a territory in a different way. At 21, Hugo Gomes experienced this firsthand. A student, amateur racer, and cycling enthusiast, hetage with 3bikes his unique relationship with the north of Portugal, a region he returns to every year, bike under his arm. Through his story, all the richness of the Minho, a hilly, green and hospitable land, is revealed to passing cyclists...

By Jeff Tatard – Photos: DR

A young man shaped by cycling

Hugo Gomes didn't get into cycling as a childLike many of his generation, it was by chance—or rather, through a screen—that he discovered this passion during Covid. Seduced by videos of extraordinary triathletes like Lionel Sanders and Kristian Blummenfelt, fascinated by the competitive spirit, the rigor, and the thirst for victory, he initially rode his bike as a hobby. No high-end equipment, no training plan, just the joy of pedaling.

But in 2022, everything changesDisappointed by his choice of studies, Hugo experiences a period of doubt. The bicycle then becomes a refuge and a driving force. Lacking self-confidence and feeling bad about myself, I found in training a way to get back up and believe in progress. "He says.

It is also a human encounter which marks this turning point: that of the Vélo Club de Montigny-le-Bretonneux (VCMB)Very quickly, the young cyclist found a sporting family there: learning about the peloton, nutritional advice, constant encouragement... Hugo speaks with gratitude of the welcome, the commitment of the manager Daniel Gagne and the collective emulation. In three years, he has accumulated races, victories bytagand above all a conviction: cycling is more than a sport, it is a school of solidarityToday, he is passing on his knowledge by supervising the younger ones.

From Montigny to Minho, Hugo found in cycling much more than a sport: a family, a school of solidarity and a driving force to pass on his knowledge in turn.

Portugal as a land of roots and cycling

Although Hugo is licensed in Île-de-France, it is in Portugal that he rediscovers a more intimate dimension of cycling every summer.His mother was born in Cabaços, a small village near Ponte de Lima, and his whole family still lives there. When he rides in the Minho region, every outing is a return to his roots. Bringing my bike back to Portugal allows me to reactivate old memories: the smell, the landscapes, the fountain in the village where I used to go with my grandmother, the coffee at her house after a ride... »

The topography is radically different from that of the Chevreuse ValleyHere, the relief rises quickly, alternating between valleys and real mountains.tagThe cobblestones, omnipresent in the villages, recall the atmosphere of the Flemish classics. The heat and humidity require an effort of adaptation: " the watts drop, but the sensations are unique " said Hugo.

Mostly, Portugal evokes a word that no translation can exhaust: saudadeThis gentle melancholy of immigrants and their children, this feeling of familiarity and attachment which resurfaces at every turn, on every route. " When I return to France, I don't have these memories that flash by after every kilometer. ", he explains. Here, each outing is an inner journey.

Riding along the Rio Minho, with Spain in front of him: between two banks, Hugo traces his own path, where the bicycle becomes a passport.

Routes and discoveries around Ponte de Lima

Hugo knows the routes of MinhoAmong his favorite outings: a forty-kilometer loop around his grandparents' village, punctuated by the climb to Ponte de Lima, where the traditional café at his grandmother's house awaits him.

For training, he also likes to tackle the 5- to 6-kilometer Oural climb, perfect for exercise. Further along, the São Bento Sanctuary, nestled in the Gerês Natural Park, offers magnificent landscapes and climbs worthy of the most beautiful cyclosportives. For flatterers, head to Viana do Castelo and its beaches, an ideal playground for cyclists.

Every cyclist will find what they are looking for: demanding hills, maritime landscapes, routeshaded areas or typical cafes to refuel.

Serra d'Arga, the unmissable climb

In Minho, there are routes that forge the character of a cyclistThe Serra d'Arga is one of them. It's undoubtedly the easiest way to gain nearly 800 meters of altitude in less than an hour. A demanding climb, punctuated by forests, villages with granite houses, and the shortness of breath that accompanies each bend. But at the top, time stands still. The view opens onto the ocean, valleys, and ridges that intertwine as far as the eye can see. Up there, more than a reward, it's a lesson in humility and beauty that the cyclist receives.

800 meters of elevation gain swallowed up in less than an hour... and up there, the reward: a suspended landscape, where the ocean and the mountainstagthey answer each other.

The coffee break, a Portuguese ritual

As in France with the flan from the village bistro, Portugal also has its sacred stop. With Hugo, it's impossible to avoid it: a stop at the café. Here, it's not just any tart, but the pastel de nata, golden and crispy, which we eat piping hot, accompanied by a small strong coffee whose aroma is enough to sum up an entire country. For him as for 3bikes invited for the occasion, this break is more than a refreshment: it is a ritual, a way of anchoring oneself in the local culture, bytagShare a smile with the café owner, and engrave the outing in memory in other ways than in watts and kilometers.

As in France with the bistro flan, in Portugal the break is sacred: piping hot pastel de nata and strong coffee, fuel for the 100 kilometers already covered.

Practical tips for driving in northern Portugal

Hugo is convinced: Portugal is a land of cycling, but it requires some precautions.

hydration : use insulated bottles and plan to make numerous stops at cafes or public fountains.
Safety : carry a reflective light and remain vigilant regarding certain road behaviors.
🕒 Schedule : leave early in the morning to avoid the crushing heat.
Cash : essential for stopping in cafes or small shops.
Nutrition : take enough solids and liquids, because of the heat and humidity testent endurance.

Beyond these technical tips, Hugo insists on welcoming residents: “ the locals offer water, sometimes cakes... there is a real fervor around cycling, probably linked to the Tour of Portugal. »

In the north of Portugal, fountains are the cyclists' best allies: the water is fresh, safe and always at the foot of the mountains.tagnes.

An anecdote that sums up the spirit

During his first cycling trip to Cabaços, a family member challenged him: to reach the São Bento sanctuary in less than two hours, a 50 km journey with a 750 m elevation gain. For him, it was impossible. For me, it was a race. " smiles Hugo. Result: 1h35, anger in his stomach and the smile of a runner who knows he has transformed a challenge into an intimate victory.

That's Hugo: competitive, motivated, but always attached to his roots and to those who encourage him..

Portugal, a call for cycling travel

Beyond his own story, Hugo encourages all cyclists to dare to experience it. " I listened for too long to those who said it was dangerous. But in reality, with a little vigilance, it is a magnificent land, an unrivaled training ground, a unique opportunity to...tagpursue his passion with his family and create memories. »

He even recommends a symbolic route: the “ Grandma's coffee outing », to combine cycling, local gastronomy (pastel de nata, bolo de arroz, tosta mista, etc.) and conviviality.

In a word, it sums up what Portugal is all about by bike: the landscapes. « I spend more time looking at the montagnes, the sea and the sky as to stare at my speedometer. And perhaps that is the true definition of the pleasure of riding. »

Here, it is not unusual to come across the best in the country: Hugo has already eventagand there route with Yuri Leitão, Olympic track champion in Paris.

To conclude

Through the portrait of Hugo Gomes, a whole philosophy of cycling is expressed : the bicycle as a driving force for fulfillment, the bicycle as a social bond, the bicycle as a family anchor and the bicycle as an invitation to travel...

The north of Portugal, its reliefs, its routeIts cobblestone streets, its warmth and its hospitality, become under his pen an ideal territory for those who want to combine sport, discovery and emotion.

So, if you are planning your vacation, don't forget to bring your bike. Like Hugo, you will discover that Portugal cannot only be crossed by car or plane: it must be experienced, intensely, to the rhythm of pedaling...

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