Desafio Picos do Açor

The Desafio Picos do Açor is a trail race in the Serra do Açor, a mountain range in central Portugal rising above Arganil, in the district of Coimbra. Created in 2019 and held every December by Evolução Vertical, a company specialising in outdoor sports, with support from Arganil town council and the parishes of Arganil and Folques, it links several villages of the municipality along mountain paths. The event takes place in mid-December, with the races on the Sunday.

The three timed races start from the former Cerâmica Arganilense, an old ceramics factory in town. The long course, about 32 km with 2,100 m of elevation gain, sets off at 8:00 and climbs to almost 960 m; it counts towards the Coimbra district long-trail series. Its aid stations are at Póvoa de Folques, by the chapel, then Monte Redondo, Selada das Eiras and Nogueira, with cut-offs at 4, 6 and 7 hours of racing and an overall time limit of 8 hours. The 18 km, with about 1,000 m of climbing, starts at 9:30, passes through Póvoa de Folques and Nogueira and tops out at around 830 m; the 13 km, with about 600 m of climbing, starts at 10:00, stays below 420 m and has a single aid station, at Nogueira.

A 13 km walk with about 540 m of ascent, the Caminhada do Açor, starts at 8:30, so walkers share the morning with the runners. The day before, on Saturday afternoon, the Açor Trail Kids welcomes young people aged 6 to 15 on age-appropriate courses, while the ExpoTrail Açor showcases sports gear and regional products throughout the weekend.

With its repeated climbs and descents, the 32 km is a demanding race, open to over-20s used to mountain trails; the 18 km suits runners with some trail experience, and the 13 km those taking their first steps in the sport. The paths link hamlets, woodland and ridges of the serra, on ground where wind, cold, fog or rain are all part of the game in December. The course is marked with brightly coloured tape and flags, and a rescue team covers the remote sections.

For all three races, mandatory kit includes a phone, a windproof jacket, a whistle, a water reservoir and a survival blanket; no cups are provided at aid stations, so each runner brings their own. Bibs are collected at the Cerâmica Arganilense on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning from 6:00, on presentation of ID. Showers are available at the neighbouring municipal swimming pool, and basic floor accommodation is offered in a school sports hall in town. Roads are not closed to traffic, so the highway code applies at every crossing.