📌 Coimbra | Montemor-o-Velho 📅 28 fevereiro | 1 março 2026
Source: https://www.instagram.com/granfondocoimbraregion/
🇵🇹 🚴♂️ 𝗔𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗰̧𝗼̃𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗼 𝗨𝗖𝗜 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮̃𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝘀!
🇬🇧 🚴♀️ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗖𝗜 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻!
🇪🇸 🚴♂️ ¡𝗟𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗲𝗹 𝗨𝗖𝗜 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮́𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝘀!
📝 https://bit.ly/GFCoimbra26
📅 28 fevereiro | 1 março 2026
📌 Coimbra | Montemor-o-Velho
🏢 Cabreira Solutions
Update!!!
There is a significant update for the 2026 season: the race formerly known as the UCI Gran Fondo Coimbra Region has officially moved and rebranded as the Granfondo Leiria Region – Sicó Lands.
While some legacy calendars still list “Coimbra,” the event organizer, Cabreira Solutions, has moved the base of operations to Leiria and Pombal for the 2026 edition.
Event Dates & Schedule
The event is scheduled for the weekend of March 28–29, 2026.
- Saturday, March 28: Individual Time Trial (ITT)
- Location: Leiria (Praia do Pedrógão)
- Distance: 20.5 km (Fast, flat course)
- Start Time: 10:00 AM
- Sunday, March 29: Granfondo and Mediofondo
- Location: Pombal (Start/Finish at the Exhibition Center)
- Start Time: 09:00 AM
Route Details
The new 2026 routes traverse the “Terras de Sicó,” known for limestone massifs and challenging climbs.
| Distance | Length | Elevation Gain | Purpose |
| Granfondo | 146.5 km | ~1,500m | Official UCI Qualifier (Men 19-59, Women 19-49) |
| Mediofondo | 93 km | ~1,000m | Official UCI Qualifier (Men 60+, Women 50+) |
| Time Trial | 20.5 km | ~45m | Official UCI Qualifier (All Age Groups) |
Registration & Pricing
Registration is open exclusively online via the official organizer’s portal.
- How to Register: Visit Cabreirasolutions.com or Racefinder.pt.
- Participant Limit: Strictly capped at 1,000 riders.
- Entry Fees:
- Federated Riders: ~€46 (Mediofondo) to €60 (Granfondo).
- Non-Federated: ~€51 to €69 (includes required one-day insurance/license).
- Deadline: Online registration usually closes on March 24, 2026, or whenever the limit is reached.
Important Note: There was a recent report of a potential postponement or cancellation due to “Storm Kristin” affecting the region. I recommend double-checking the official Facebook page for “Granfondo Coimbra Region” (which now mirrors the Leiria event) for the most current weather-related updates before traveling.
The UCI Gran Fondo Coimbra Region is one of Portugal’s most prestigious amateur cycling events. Established as the only Portuguese qualifier for the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, it allows amateur and master cyclists to earn a spot at the annual World Championships.
Origins and Growth
- Launch: The event held its first edition in 2021. It was created to put the Central Region of Portugal on the international cycling map, leveraging the historic charm of Coimbra and the flat, scenic plains of the Baixo Mondego.
- Rapid Expansion: Between its debut and 2024, the event saw a 70% increase in participation. By the 2025 edition, it attracted over 1,600 riders from more than 30 different countries.
- The Format: Traditionally, the event is split into two days:
- Day 1 (Saturday): An Individual Time Trial (ITT) held in the city of Coimbra, usually along the banks of the Mondego River.
- Day 2 (Sunday): The Granfondo (approx. 150km) and Mediofondo (approx. 100km), starting and finishing in Montemor-o-Velho.
Key Historical Milestones
| Year | Notable Change/Event |
| 2021 | Inaugural edition establishes the event as a UCI World Series qualifier. |
| 2022 | Blackjack Wheels becomes the naming sponsor; the event moves to July for this edition. |
| 2024 | Participation surges by 40% over the previous year, cementing its “international” status. |
| 2025 | Celebrates its 5th anniversary edition with record-breaking international attendance. |
| 2026 | Major Shift: Due to changes in municipal support, the event has transitioned into the Granfondo Leiria Region – Sicó Lands, moving its base to Pombal and Leiria. |
Why It Mattered
Beyond the competition, the race was designed as a “Sport & Tourism” experience. It showcased the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Coimbra and the medieval castle of Montemor-o-Velho. It also featured the “Granfondinho” for children and family-oriented walking tours to ensure the event impacted the local community beyond just the peloton.
