The making of our new cycle tours in Portugal

Joscha gives a run-down of creating a tour from idea to the finished article

My name is Joscha and I have been working in product management at Eurobike for many years. Last year, I was able to help develop our new Portugal cycle tours and put the routes through their paces for you. In autumn it gets particularly exciting when the new cycle tour catalogue is published, and the new tours can be booked online. I'm always excited to see how the brand new holidays are received.

But how is a Eurobike original tour created? Today on our blog I’ll tell you all about the effort that goes into developing a cycle tour. From the idea to the successful and fully organised cycling holiday, and the steps that need to be considered.

 

It all begins with a good idea

Cyclist in Vila Nova de Milfontes

As every year, interesting destinations are researched, cycle routes explored and hotels tested to create our brand new tailor-made cycle tours. At the very beginning, you need a good idea for a new route or destination. At Eurobike, we have countless ideas every year. Many more than we could possibly implement. Because for every new tour, three important pieces of the puzzle must come together so that an idea can turn into a cycle tour that meets our high standards: breathtaking scenery, cultural highlights and culinary delights. Preferably all within each daily stage. Not every region is suitable for cycle tourism - no matter how beautiful it is. In particular, the road conditions of the daily stages are enormously important to us. Portugal has excited us not only as a country, but also as an up-and-coming cycling destination, so we set about the extensive research and work so that we could offer you high-quality, exciting new cycle tours here.

Research and preliminary work in the office

Joscha checks the cycle path markings

Before we start working through our new Portugal cycle tours on site, we complete extensive research in the office in Obertrum. We think about the itinerary, intensively study maps, travel guides and Google Maps, roughly plan the route, prepare for the local topographical conditions with the help of an online planning tool and contact hotels. A decisive factor is whether suitable hotels are available for our guests in the potential stage towns. On the one hand, these should meet our high standards and on the other hand, they should be suitable for cycling holidaymakers. It is also important that the stages are manageable for our guests in terms of length and topography and that there is still enough time for relaxation, enjoyment and sightseeing along the route.

Once all this has been done in advance at the desk, it's time for an initial on-site inspection. Only then do we decide whether the idea and planning can really be turned into a new cycle tour. In the case of Portugal, it was finally decided: the tours are feasible and can be offered by us in 2023!

Checking the tour on site

Joscha with the bike in Faro

Now we are finally on site to work out the details of the cycle tour. To do this, we meet with hotel partners, look at the accommodation and check whether the bikes can be parked safely. We also check whether the ferries we want to use on our tour from Lisbon to Sagres run regularly. This is important for the itinerary.

Finally, we personally ride every single kilometre of the cycle tours. This complete check is extremely important before the start of the season. On site, we document in detail every route description, every variant and all interesting tips and sights. Finally, we compile all the details of the tour in our comprehensive route book and in the Eurobike On-Tour app.

Cycling holidays in Portugal – my recommendation for you

After spending several weeks on the Iberian Peninsula checking and finalising our new cycle tours, we can say: it was worth it! With our routes along the Portuguese west coast from Lisbon to Sagres and along the Algarve from Sagres to Tavira, we can offer you two varied new cycle tours. You can expect authentic stage towns, great cycling routes in nature parks with breathtaking cliffs and wonderful beaches that are almost impossible to cycle past. In Portugal you can also be active in the cold season, because even in winter the sun usually shines and temperatures reach up to 20 degrees. Welcome to our new trend destination of Portugal!

Robi on the bike
Joscha Koob
Look forward to an all-round successful cycle tour in a very trendy destination. Experience the impressive landscape of Portugal by bike, feel the sea breeze and marvel at the rocky coast – a dream!
Joscha Koob, Product Management
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