Next June, I’ll return to the start line of The Goats, one of Portugal’s toughest ultra-distance gravel races. It’s 730 km long with more than 15,000 m of climbing across some of the country’s wildest and steepest mountain terrain. The name alone — The Goats — gives a hint about what’s coming: steep climbs, rocky descents, and endless horizons.

What Is The Goats Gravel Event?

The Goats is a self-supported ultra-cycling event designed for experienced endurance riders. Over several days, participants navigate a mixed-surface route across Portugal’s rugged interior, carrying their own gear and planning their own food and sleep stops. The route blends remote gravel tracks, singletrack, and winding mountain roads through tiny villages and vast landscapes.

Each day demands about 3,000 m of climbing — a relentless test of legs, lungs, and mental toughness. Riders must be prepared for everything from scorching sun to mountain fog, with little chance to refuel between towns.

My History with The Goats

Last year, I lined up at The Goats for the first time. The race started well, but by the third day, the weather turned stormy — torrential rain, strong winds, and flooding on the trails. I had to scratch for safety reasons. It was a tough decision but also a valuable lesson in respecting the mountains and listening to my body.

This year, I’m back with more experience, better gear, and a stronger strategy. My unfinished business with The Goats is a powerful motivator to reach the finish line this time.

Why I’m Racing The Goats Again

After completing events like Gravelbirds and Badlands, I’ve been looking for the next big challenge. The Goats represents a step up in elevation, remoteness, and technical difficulty. It’s also a chance to explore corners of Portugal I haven’t yet seen — high plateaus, deep valleys, and goat paths that connect historic mountain villages.

I’ve been training with long back-to-back rides, interval sessions, and core work to handle the sustained climbing. Nutrition planning, sleep strategy, and bike setup are now as critical as the training itself.

Preparing for The Goats: Training and Gear

My training plan includes:

• Weekly structure: rest on Mondays; intervals Tuesdays; tempo rides Thursdays; long rides Saturdays; recovery spins Sundays
• Climbing focus: finding hills near Lisbon to replicate the 3,000 m per day climbing
• Core and strength: 30-minute sessions twice a week for stability and endurance
• Bike setup: Cube Nuroad C:62 ONE tubeless, wide gearing (10–51T cassette), and lightweight bikepacking bags

Gear decisions are key for The Goats. With steep gradients and rough terrain, weight matters, but so does carrying enough food, water, and spare parts. I’ll bring an emergency bivvy, a compact repair kit, and redundant lights for long nights in the saddle. Last year’s storms also taught me to pack better rain protection and plan escape options if the weather turns extreme.

What Makes The Goats Unique

Unlike other ultra-distance gravel events, The Goats emphasizes raw, mountainous terrain. The route is designed to feel like a pilgrimage across Portugal’s spine. Expect:

• High-altitude gravel passes with panoramic views
• Fast descents through forested trails
• Remote villages where time seems to stand still
• A mix of technical and rolling terrain that tests every aspect of your riding

This combination of factors makes The Goats a true adventure — part race, part expedition.

Goals and Strategy for Race Week

I plan to break the route into roughly six days, targeting around 120–140 km per day with about 3,000 m climbing daily. This should keep me within the time limits while still allowing short rest stops and enough recovery for the next day.

Nutrition will revolve around high-calorie, easily digestible foods: rice cakes, bars, nuts, and occasional café stops in small towns. Hydration is critical, especially on the exposed mountain ridges.

Sleep strategy: light and flexible. Depending on conditions, I may stay in small guesthouses or bivvy in the open if needed. The goal is to minimize off-bike time but still get enough rest to ride consistently.

Why The Goats Matters to Me

Ultra-distance gravel races like The Goats are about more than finishing times. They’re about testing limits, learning self-sufficiency, and connecting with a community of riders who share the same passion for adventure. Every checkpoint, every climb, and every sunrise becomes a small story within the bigger journey.

Crossing the finish line will be about much more than a medal — it’s about proving to myself that I can handle one of the toughest challenges Portugal has to offer. Having scratched last year gives me an extra layer of focus, grit, and respect for the route.

Following My The Goats Journey

I’ll be sharing my progress and race report here after the event. If you’re curious about ultra-cycling in Portugal or planning to ride The Goats yourself, stay tuned — I’ll post updates on training, gear, and strategy leading up to race day.

In the meantime, if you’re thinking about doing The Goats, here’s my advice: train your climbing legs, dial in your bike fit, and embrace the adventure mindset. This event will test you, but it will also show you parts of Portugal that very few cyclists ever see.