Race Report: Enduro Challenge Ponte de Lima
Photography & words: Tiago Nunes
Welcome to Ponte de Lima! Once again one of the oldest villages from Portugal hosted an Enduro Race powered by Pé do Negro in cooperation with Visit Ponte de Lima, together they worked hard and put together a great blind race weekend. From the good gastronomy to breathtaking landscapes, this place has everything to be a place to visit and if you're a mountain bike rider you will pass out here. Growing in the mountain biking community and making is know path supported by the government you can roll down along Ponte de Lima Bike Park which made part of a segment in Gamble Film, chill with your mates at the pump track and rip some enduro trails built by Pé do Negro and other associations.
The mountains were ready to receive over 100 riders from Duo Category to E-Bikes, facing in two days of blind racing with a total of 50 km over 8 challenging stages with the last one coming down the mountains and crossing the medieval and historical streets of Ponte de Lima. In the end, Killian Callaghan was the fastest man during all weekend taking a solid first place in Portugal, while Áurea Agostinho dominated the Women category by over 5:53m, while the José Oliveira e João Gomes took a win as a Duo leaving the second ones behind only at 28 seconds.
The main symbol of Ponte de Lima is this medieval bridge over the Lima river.
The most common number plates during all weekend. The DUO Category ones!
Sun is up and riders are ready to shred the trails.
Last minute, Blind Race skills workshop.
Chillin' at Point 0, before the heading to the 1st stage of the Ponte Lima Enduro Challenge 2018.
João Pereira with his Santa Cruz at off-camber section at Stage 2.
Time to pedal or to get a fresh breath.
Joaquim Tinoco totally focused riding down the Absolute Black Trail.
Adré Leite opening the way for his mate Guilherme Simões, leading them for 2nd place on Duo's Category.
At every corner, there's landscapes like this. Ponte de Lima you're beautiful!
Race body position and way down he goes.
Snaking throw off-camber corners at Stage 2.
Some old rock wall is enough to build a challenging rock garden.
Killian Callaghan made his own path into a solid 1st Place.
Tomas Chumbo from Casa da Abrunheira Team sits in second at the Rookies category.
Full arm strength to roll over this massive natural rock garden at Stage 3.
Tiago Coelho put the pans and knives on the side and rode with his Specialized Stumpjumper.
Nuno Costa keeping it smooth.
Pedro Oliveira always want to look good in the photo.
Riding throw this massive rocks with a view.
This rock and wet drop caused some problems during the second day of competition.
Once again, Aurea Agostinho beat everyone and took another win.
In the middle of the forest i took some time for a panshot.
Gabriela Vasconcelos on her way to 3rd place.
Here you can see the neighbor of Ponte de Lima, meet Viana do Castelo.
Riders rolling up for the penultimate stage.
After an uphill, riders had a food point to refill and get ready for the last stages.
Powered by Abakir Trails, the second day of racing was totally new for everybody.
Mounted on a Rocky Mountain blasting some corners on the begging of Stage 6.
Surrounded by breathtaking scenarios, riders still managed to get 100% focus.
Guilherme Simões riding his Intense Tracer into a second place as Duo with André Rodrigues.
A bit of rocky sessions to relax arm muscles.
Rebeca Lemos with her Commencal heading into the finish of stage 6.
By this time of the year the Portuguese mountains get painted by the yellow color of Genisteae plants.
Final Results
Men
1) Killian Callaghan - 24:52m
2) Nuno Sousa - 28:06m
3) Jose Ucha - 29:01m
1) Killian Callaghan - 24:52m
2) Nuno Sousa - 28:06m
3) Jose Ucha - 29:01m
Duo
1) José Oliveira / João Gomes - 25:56m
2) Guilherme Simões / André Rodrigues - 26:24m
3) Sauro Agostinho / Pedro Oliveira - 27:33m
1) José Oliveira / João Gomes - 25:56m
2) Guilherme Simões / André Rodrigues - 26:24m
3) Sauro Agostinho / Pedro Oliveira - 27:33m
Women
1) Aurea Agostinho - 33:13m
2) Leandra Gomes - 39:06m
3) Gabriela Vasconcelos - 43:10m
1) Aurea Agostinho - 33:13m
2) Leandra Gomes - 39:06m
3) Gabriela Vasconcelos - 43:10m
Rookie
1) Dan Hole - 27:57m
2) Tomás Chumbo - 33:33m
3) Henrique Marques - 37:40m
1) Dan Hole - 27:57m
2) Tomás Chumbo - 33:33m
3) Henrique Marques - 37:40m
Master
1) Luís Ferreira - 28:32m
2) Carlos FIlipe Lopes - 28:48m
3) Miguel Cruz - 29:30m
1) Luís Ferreira - 28:32m
2) Carlos FIlipe Lopes - 28:48m
3) Miguel Cruz - 29:30m
Super Master
1) Ruben Amoedo - 28:28m
2) David Guerra - 28:53m
3) João Cordeiro - 29:06m
1) Ruben Amoedo - 28:28m
2) David Guerra - 28:53m
3) João Cordeiro - 29:06m
Veterans
1) Jose González - 31:54m
2) Amandio Pereira - 31:58m
3) Acácio Pires - 41:41m
1) Jose González - 31:54m
2) Amandio Pereira - 31:58m
3) Acácio Pires - 41:41m
E-Bike
1) Paulo Machado - 31:57m
2) André Fernandes - 34:33m
3) Vitor Pereira - 40:58m
1) Paulo Machado - 31:57m
2) André Fernandes - 34:33m
3) Vitor Pereira - 40:58m
All the results here.
Visit Pé do Negro facebook to shred the best trails of Ponte de Lima.
Author Info:
Member since Dec 21, 2012
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Obrigado a este artista por mostrar o que de melhor há na minha terra.