After a super successful season which saw ultra-endurance gravel athlete Sofiane Sehili raise his arms aloft on numerous occasions, he was mentally and physically tired. But then an invitation dropped onto his doormat for a new event in a country that he hadn’t ridden in before. Did he take up the challenge of doing “just one more” challenge for the year? Of course he did. Head past the break if you’d like to find out how he got on.

theGOATS is a brand new off-road bikepacking race that takes daring cyclists through some of the most scenic parts of Portugal, writes ultra-distance gravel racer Sofiane Sehili. Not for the faint-hearted, it looks on paper like an event for climbers and it is. With relentless ascents on steep gradients, it tests both your legs and determination.

At the end of a rather successful season that saw me win the Bright Midnight and the Silk Road mountain race, I signed up for one more challenge – the inaugural edition of theGOATS to enjoy the final days of summer in the Mediterranean and explore a country I had never been to. 

And I have to say, Portugal – this small strip of land, stuck between Spain and the Atlantic, that you don’t often hear about – delivered beyond my expectations, proving it has seemingly endless possibilities to offer to gravel enthusiasts. And a cup of coffee will only set you back 90 cents.

Blessed by perfect weather and spread over a ‘mere’ 750km, I experienced the best the country has to offer. Highlights included visiting Monsanto, known for being the nation’s most picturesque village and climbing to Portugal’s highest point, Torre, which stands at 1993m of elevation. Maybe the only thing missing was the coast, but it’s not like we had time to swim and sunbathe - we were here for a race.

It took my tired legs four days to complete the beautifully crafted course. Climbing close to 19,000m takes a bit of dedication, so even though I was not really in this for the thrill of racing, I still ended up spending anywhere from 13 to 15 hours on the saddle each day. 

The good news is that there was an all-you-can-eat buffet at the end and I can guarantee you I got more than my money’s worth. But enough chit-chat, click play on the video below and join me on my journey along the roads, paths, tracks and other unpaved ways of Portugal.

Photos courtesy of Nuno Pereira