The N2 was fantastic to ride. Long, challenging and absolutely stunning, the views alone make up for the serious effort needed to complete it. I think this is one of those roads you keep riding over the decades, to observe change around and within you. All 738.5km I rode without much preparation. But I’ve cycled since I was in diapers and can for example easily take on a hilly 40km stretch after months off-season. You’re always your own best judge.
North to South, my friend and I rode the N2 in 14 days straight, averaging 40kms per day. Here’s a quick breakdown of our segments and what you can expect if you decide to follow a similar riding schedule:
Chaves — Vila Pouca de Aguiar
This first segment is a nice introduction to the famous EURO Route 66. Prepare yourself, because the elevation is noticeable. Three hours of putting those legs to work, and they will, work. Get a goodnight’s rest in Chaves to wake up fresh and early.
Vila Pouca de Aguiar — Peso da Régua
50km of intensity. Massive curvy hills with massive curvy drops accompanied by rows of never-ending wild flowers, until the end.
Régua — Castro de Aire
Painful. But the air is drenched in the scent of sweet grapes that grow across the acres of vineyards that you almost forget about the painful, consistent climb to a “top” that is very much out-of-sight.
Castro de Aire — Viseu
Pronto. Sofreste para subir — dá fruta nas descidas! Cheguei aos 50km/h nesta parte do trilho. English: You suffered to climb — give it gas on the downhill. The end of this segment was rough, but the destination offers: ancient cobblestone roads, a castle, hilltop sunsets and delicious food.
Viseu — Penacova
The ride is soft (predominantly flat) and gorgeous, with almost all of it on the ecopista “Linha do Dão.” This ecopista is so pretty and well-maintained, painted cobalt blue for 50km following an old railroad track through a picturesque forest. At the end of the line, an almost forgotten town named Penacova awaits with a fairytaleness that lingers around each street corner.
Penacova — Góis
Lots of fun downhill segments that lead to a cute little town with a river beach. The water is crispy and a wicked treat after a hot ride.
Góis — Sertã
This segment was ridiculous. Lots of chunks with uncomfortable inclinations, most of them in the double digits, a couple at 23%. Twenty-three-percent! Ridiculous. You also get up real high, like 1400m high. Barragem do Cabril is the halfway point. It’s a must-stop spot for a quick dip and granola bar. Ridiculous the rest of the way until Sertã, unfortunately.
Sertã — Vila de Rei
The up and ups never seem to end. These 20km were just as brutal as the 60s of the previous days. We biked through this patch not long after huge fires had raged across many of the forested areas in Portugal. Seeing kilometres and kilometres of burnt forest was by far the most marking element of my N2 experience.
There is a geodesic centre point that’s not part of the official N2 route I’d recommend checking out.
Vila de Rei — Abrantes
Hilly — again. Big hills. But the big hills come with big drops. This segment is meant to train you. We should’ve rode this at like 06h30. Sun after 10h00 for this bit is extremely uncomfortable. Thankfully you finish at a river’s edge.
Abrantes — Montargil
Decent stamina for a less, but still continuously hilly segment. The only difference now is the scenery stays the same lol. Golden fields and olive trees for miles. Then you hit the Barragem. It’s a pretty one.
Montargil — Montemor-o-Novo
The only thing I recall about this segment is the heat. A very uncomfortable level of heat — you can only avoid this by hitting the road early. We clearly only got out at 09h00.
Montemor-o-Novo — Ferreira do Alentejo
Warning: this was an 80km stretch. It’s not hard, just fucking long. And because it’s still in the Alentejo, more of the above rules apply: heat and copy-paste scenery forever. We stayed at this cool spot called: Pátio das Andorinhas. Recommend.
Ferreira do Alentejo — Almodôvar
Another killer stretch with much of the same. All you’re thinking is: one, more, day.
Almodôvar — Faro
So excited to see the last stone at the 738,5 mark (comma five? haha) that most of the scenery blurs around you. There’s a lot of greens and blues, hills and sun, birds and then, the salty air.
The N2 was fantastic to ride. Long, challenging and absolutely stunning, the views alone make up for the serious effort needed to complete it. I think this is one of those roads you keep riding over the decades, to observe change around and within you. All 738.5km I rode without much preparation. But I’ve cycled since I was in diapers and can for example easily take on a hilly 40km stretch after months off-season. You’re always your own best judge.
Ridden on August 2019