Ultra Bikepacking in Portugal | Gravel Birds 2025

DISCLAIMER: I'm not one of those super athletes who ride ultra's like it's nothing. But....I DID IT! I managed to finish Gravel Birds 2025, a self-supported bikepacking ultra in the Alentejo region in Portugal. And it was amazing! It took me 4 days and 11 hours to do the 750km and +10.000 meters of elevation route. I pushed my bike up steep climbs, held on for dear life on sketchy downhills, met amazing people, slept under the stars, broke my #tailfin but did it all with a huge grin on my face. I'm hooked and definitely want to do more of these events in future!

00:00 Shake out ride the day before the start
01:30 Registration and rider briefing
02:38 So it begins
04:43 First of many river crossings
06:40 Further than planned already
08:03 Failed river crossing means wet shoes
09:32 Meeting Snorre at a cafe in the middle of nowhere
11:07 Shower and sleep outside in Sao Domingos
12:11 Starting day 2 in a Star Wars scene
13:42 Making it to CP1
14:03 A morning of gratitude and saying thanks
14:44 Raiding the supermarket in Mertola
15:40 Riding into no man's land
17:08 High and low points
18:17 Help from the lovely people of Sao Barnabe
19:13 Going on without my friend
20:13 Hike-a-bike hike-a-bike hike-a-bike
20:59 Breakfast in Santa Clara
21:23 Reaching the Atlantic Ocean and CP2
21:49 MTV Cribs at the best B&B ever!
23:53 Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean
25:15 Breakfast with lot's of espresso
25:37 My KitKat tried to escape
25:55 Attack of the sand people
26:52 Meeting a dotwatcher
28:03 Trying to reach CP3 in the dark
28:57 To the finish we go!
30:19 People snoring at CP3
31:00 Excuse me, sir
31:05 55km to go but definitely feeling tired now
31:40 My Tailfin snapped off the frame
32:30 Finish line in sight!
32:48 And it's official, I did it!
33:05 The morning after
35:01 Saying goodbye (for now)