VILA POUCA DE AGUIAR
Registration closedGeneral information
LOCATION
From June 29 to July 6, 2024, during the 18th UECT European Week, cycling tourists from all over Europe will be welcomed in Vila Pouca de Aguiar (Portugal), a town of 13,000 inhabitants located at an elevation of 771 meters on the legendary N 2 highway, 120 km northeast of Porto and 30 km north of Vila Real. The Spanish border is only 50 km away, and Santiago de Compostela is 230 km away. MAP
Vila Pouca de Aguiar and its tourist attractions can be explored on Planet Portugal; it is a region near the Douro River, ideal for cycling tourism with its small roads winding through the bucolic landscape of high-altitude pastures.
The town is known as the “capital of granite.” This reputation stems from the extraordinary quality of the marble extracted from the region’s quarries.
The Pedras Salagas thermal springs—from which the water for the famous Bock beer is drawn—are 6.5 km away and will host the opening ceremony of this event.
CLIMATE
The climate is oceanic, with temperate summers due to the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and average summer temperatures ranging from about 20°C to 27°C in July.
Weather in Vila Pouca de Aguiar
EXPLORE THE REGION ON VIDEO
Scenic Views of Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Cycling in Vila Pouca de Aguiar
Alto Tâmaga and the Barroso Region Alvão
Lake
THE ORGANIZATION
In close collaboration with the UECT, the Portuguese organizers from the FPC Cycling Federation—Cycling for All—and the municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar will welcome you at the “administrative” center, Pavilhão Desportivo Dr. Gomes da Costa - Av. Dr. Carlos Alberto de Sousa - Vila Pouca de Aguiar, where the following events will take place:
- registration
- information desk
On the “Practical Information” page of the same website, please review the details regarding:
- the UECT federal campground and other lodging options
- excursions
- Dining
- road bike routes
- recreational activities.
If you would like additional information:
- about registration and the organization of the national
camp
info@uect.org
responses in French and English - about general logistics in Vila Pouca de Aguiar
sect24@fpciclismo.pt
responses in French, English, and Portuguese
Relive the event
Video - Opening
Ceremony Video - Closing Ceremony
FFVélo MAGAZINE
Feature on the 2024 SE in the December 2023 issue of FFVélo magazine.
Practical information
Program
We invite you to check out the organization’s schedule (as of June 1, 2024).
Various Accommodations
Are you looking for accommodations in Vila Pouca de Aguiar and the surrounding area, such as hotels, apartments, group hostels, or guest rooms
> Find all the information you need in the list of accommodations
> Vila Pouca de Aguiar Tourist Office: email geral@cm-vpaguiar.pt
Camping
Location and capacity: The UECT federal campground will be organized within the town into 6 distinct zones, as follows:
- 5 zones for motorhomes/caravans : soccer field (grass) at the sports complex—municipal pool parking lot (Portuguese cobblestones)—2 Marcahado fields near the pool (grass), with a total capacity of 265 pitchs and 199 electrical hookups
- 1 zone tents : elementary school near the pool (grass and dirt) with a total capacity of 54 pitchs and 22 electrical hookups.
View the location of the camping areas in Vila Pouca de Aiguiar
Due to logistical constraints, it will not be possible to accommodate both:
- motorhomes and caravans with electrical hookups and motorhomes and caravans without electrical hookups.
- motorhomes and caravans with tents.
- For owners of electric-assist bicycles, battery charging (for a fee) will be available at a single designated location within the school grounds.
See the UECT Federal Campground Rules and Regulations
Excursions
A sightseeing program in the Trás-os-Montes region is offered; see the program to discover the area’s natural and historical surroundings.
Reservations for excursions must be made in advance exclusively via the online registration form.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner (by reservation) will be served from Saturday, June 29, to Saturday, July 6, 2024, in the dining area of the school building. There is no limit on the number of people who can make reservations.
The closing/gala dinner will take place on Friday, July 5, 2024, at the Hotel/Restaurant Aguiar da Pena in Vila Pouca de Aguiar. A reservation has been made for a maximum of 250 people.
Meal reservations must be made exclusively in advance via the online registration form; no on-site reservations will be accepted.
Road bike route
The following is planned (as of June 1, 2024):
- A 72-km discovery route on Saturday and a 67-km route on Sunday afternoon, with elevation gains suitable for all experienced cyclists
- Monday through Friday, with a choice of three routes each day: short (30–45 km), medium (56–74 km), and long (91–119 km), with varying elevation gains depending on the distance, but suitable for any trained cyclist
- We’ll be in a low-mountain region; the routes on paved roads will range in elevation from 187 m to 1,096 m. Please bring gear ratios suited to your individual goals.
Route details (km, elevation gain): DOWNLOAD the routes in GPX formatView the route maps: LONG - MEDIUM - SHORT
Download the routes via QR code, viewable on a smartphone
Bike Rental
If you’d like to rent a bike: all information HERE
If you’d like additional information:
- regarding registration and the organization of the national
campinfo@uect.org
response in French - about general logistics in Vila Pouca de Aguiar
sect24@fpciclismo.pt
response in French/English/Portuguese
We invite you to check this page periodically; various updates will be posted here regularly.