PTR 55

Course

The course climbs 3207 m+. With 59 m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 38% of the distance is uphill, 36% downhill and 26% flat. The longest climb runs 4.7 km at an average 11.3% grade (531 m of vertical). The longest descent runs 8.1 km at 16.4% (1326 m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 35.9% over 0.4 km. The steepest descent drops at 34.9% over 1.7 km. Surface: 58% trail, 23% road, and 14% smooth. Flat-equivalent effort: 82.0 FlatKM.

Summits

The highest summit on the course is Pedra da Macela (1850 m), 30.4 km from the start.

Poles

Trekking poles are worth taking: about 8.6 km of the course favours them.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 37 of 100), with 30% of the load in the first half: 1 descents deserve a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Control on the marked descents until km 26, target pace until km 42, free after that. Short descents not listed: target pace.
• #1 · 11.2–13.6 km · 286 m D−, -12.0% · 74% of the race ahead → control
• 21.6–23.1 km · 274 m D−, -17.7% · 56% of the race ahead → control
• 30.4–32.7 km · 358 m D−, -15.6% · 37% of the race ahead → target pace
• 36.1–47.9 km · 1581 m D−, -13.4% · 8% of the race ahead → even, first half under control, let go at the end

Weather

Historically on race day, start temperatures range from 16°C to 22°C, around 20°C at the highest point; the chance of precipitation is about 50%. Heavy rain of 10.0 mm or more falls on about 9% of days around this date.