Gravel Birds 2025: an unforgettable experience

The route passes through dozens of villages and small towns, but some more remote sections truly feel like they're at the end of the world. In the vast inland plains, the gravel tracks are smooth and allow you to maintain a good pace. But as you approach the Guadiana Valley and the Serra do Caldeirão, the terrain becomes significantly more technical, rough, and sometimes challenging... but always magnificent. An unforgettable experience !

I arrived in Castro Verde on Thursday evening, which allowed me to take advantage of a quiet Friday to stroll through this charming little town in Alentejo. The atmosphere is relaxed; it's easy to run into participants in the streets, and you can share breakfast with other cyclists before the start. This conviviality is at the heart of the event. The briefing, both clear and warm, sets the tone. Then, everyone is invited to a meal offered by the town, served in the high school cafeteria. A simple and precious moment where exchanges flow naturally, in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish, around a good meal. Great stories to come...

217.8 km, 3368 mt

The meeting point is at 6:30 a.m., at sunrise, in the Castro Verde parking lot. Since most of the participants are staying at the campsite or in one of the two small hotels in the center, we naturally meet up to cycle together toward the start—a friendly, slightly surreal atmosphere, somewhere between excitement and the gentle morning air.

The first few kilometers pass by quietly. Both routes, 750 km and 350 km, follow the same path for a while. It's a real pleasure to ride through these open landscapes, bathed in golden light. The trails are smooth, and the legs feel good. And from the first river crossing, we find ourselves together, laughing with our feet in the water: the adventure truly begins, and the atmosphere is high.

I decide to push on to Beja, around kilometer 100, for a proper break. I run into Alice in a tiny local café, and we share a nice moment with João and a few other riders. A few kilometers further, in Serpa, it's the same old story: an impromptu meeting with Rui and Alice. It's these kinds of coincidences that make the atmosphere so special at an event like this. Then, things get a little more complicated. We enter a more isolated section, the trails become more technical, the terrain toughens: steep hills, rough descents, and river crossings galore. It's demanding, but absolutely magnificent. And as is often the case on this kind of journey, once the difficulties are over, we come across a small group of cyclists, sharing a sandwich and a cold drink. A moment suspended in time.

Then we approach one of the most striking places on the route: the Minas de São Domingos. This former mining area, perched in the Iberian pyrite belt, is steeped in history. The ruined buildings, the colors of the earth, the strange and silent atmosphere... It's impossible to remain indifferent. We quickly cross this incredible setting on a smooth track, a real pleasure after the previous jolts.

Next, head to CP1, located a few pedal strokes from the Spanish border. The welcome is warm, as it always is on the Gravel Birds. And there, I find myself imagining: tomorrow or the day after, I'll be on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Just thinking about it fills me with emotion. Another 20 kilometers, and the day ends beautifully with the arrival in Mértola, bathed in the light of the sunset. This town touches me every time I pass through it—I meet Rui there by chance, and we head off to enjoy a well-deserved meal. Honestly, this first day was simply perfect.