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Great Outdoors
Mountain Bike Challenge Lures Riders For 15 Days Through Drama Of Iberian Peninsula From Madrid To Lisbon


Referred to as "the biggest mountain bike adventure in Europe" the Madrid-Lisbon MTBike is a 15-day, 15-mountain adventure covering 12,000 kilometers that begins June 14, 2014 in Madrid and arrives June 28, after traversing the Iberian Peninsula, on the Atlantic Ocean in Cabo da Roca Cape, the westernmost point of Europe.

The organizer is Portugal Nature Trails ( http://www.portugalnaturetrails.com/) that handles everything for the cyclists during the crossing from one European capital, Madrid, to another, Lisbon. Limited to just 20 participants, included are guides, support vehicle, quality accommodations, all meals, luggage transfers, airport transfers and bike mechanical assistance (and spare bikes if required). The per person (double) rate for the 15-day, 15-stage tour is 2,750€ (about $3,814).

Experiences traversing the Iberian Peninsula include, among countless others, high altitude plains, forest tracks and cultural sites, including cycling on a ridge through a windmill park, single track trails, Roman bridges in the medieval city of Avila, villages seemingly stuck in the Middle Ages, isolated and wild mountains accessing Portugal, canyons, waterfalls, Eucalyptus forests and finally Roca Cape, the western point of Europe and where transfers to Cascais are arranged.

The overall distance for this mountain bike challenge that is rated "very difficult" is 1230 meters and the overall cumulative altitude gain is 28,750 meters. Participants may expect to ride distances of 100km per day for several days continuously. For more details and reservations please see http://www.bikemadridlisbon.com/#/guided-tour/4563290905.

For those who can't commit to the full tour, the adventure can accommodate rides for eight days in Spain (June 14-21) and seven days in Portugal (June 22-28) at 1550€ (about $2,149) and 1450€ (about $2,011) respectively.
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