Day 6: Abrantes to Montargil

June 29, 2025

Extreme heat

Route data and details https://strava.app.link/ZIxqNL0hBUb

I did not sleep particularly well, in spite of the extremely comfortable bed and the fantastic air-conditioning which chilled it down to subzero which is my preference recently. We had been promised breakfast at 6:45 so I set a 6 am alarm but woke up early in that in order to make sure I was 100% finished apart from actually eating breakfast. So I went to breakfast taking all my luggage with me to the van.

We managed to leave by about 715, and pleasantly cool conditions but promising to warm up very quickly. An immediate 150 m said descent to the river, and then across with the planned route taking him very much immediate right turn into some hills which included 10%150 m climb. Steve had suggested a possible shortcut which is to continue along the main road which cut 9 km off the route and cut out that one short sharp Hill and a couple of other less owners ones.

The main road, was in fact what was in most countries be a relatively quiet country Lane. Only 10 km to the next village, very slight incline and a petrol station which although it looked like it was possibly closed down did in fact have a brand-new fridge for the freezing cold drinks.

from Herur we were back on our official route and there were only a small number of designated climbs, one or two which would really not any difficulty at all, and a couple with sections of 7 to 8%. What I found was that that has the heat went up if the Hill was more than 7% and the temperature of more than mid 30s I would really struggle to keep going on the sharp bits. This is not helped by concerned about unclipping, and I need to have a fiddle with the settings to work out whether I can resolve that.

The van in the Support car, we’re both on hand with extra water which is very helpful. Very pretty southern Portuguese countryside with the first sign of Cork Oaks and signs of cork production. Also, what appeared to be eucalyptus plantations.

By 10 o’clock it was already 37° and we arrived at the village of our destination at about 1045, and stopped in the village for multiple cold drinks. we are staying at a five star resort hotel which being a Sunday and particular meant that those people checking out were doing so as late as possible and we knew that we would have to wait for our rooms. This in fact took about 2 to 3 hours, which was perfectly understandable

sitting in reception to cool down I was convinced that their air-conditioning wasn’t particularly effective, until I went to the pool bar and South under a parasol to have some lunch, when it was like someone had opened another door and turned on a big industrial hairdryer at the same time. Temperature by them was up to about 41, and when I got to my room. I put the air-conditioning on full.

The hotel has multiple swimming pools and I have a lovely short swim in the very warm pool right by my room. Then a good one hour nap and woke up quite chilly which is a very nice experience.

dinner this evening is a buffet in the hotel as there is really nowhere nearby being a standalone hotel in the middle of nowhere.

We again have a 7:30 meeting before dinner to discuss the plan for tomorrow. That is 95. KM. not particularly hilly but it’s going to be 42 by the afternoon. So we need to be finished by about 11 or 12 which means leaving at 6 am probably. The hotel agreed to provide breakfast at 6:30 if we want to, but also offer a packed breakfast as well which we may well end up taking and leave before then.

Today's ride: 61 km (38 miles)
Total: 390 km (242 miles)

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