2022 // HSW#01
HSW'22, the inaugural edition. It was the first official gathering of the national community of long-distance cyclists. The event played a key role in the development of the Portuguese ultracycling and bikepacking scene.
Route Highlights // Departure from Coimbra, through the magical mountains of Serras da Arada e da Freita, finish point in Germano biciArte Café in Alte, Algarve.
The Fastest // (1) Sam Thomas [NL] -- (2) João Pinto [PT] -- (3) Luís Medeiros Pereira [PT] -- (1W) Lucie Hogger [UK].
2023 // hsw#02
The second edition kept the main goal of community development. Despite it started in Coimbra and ended in Alte, as in the inaugural edition, the route explored new territories. For the first time HSW reached the Douro Valley.
Route Highlights // Departure from Coimbra, through Serra da Estrela and Douro Valley, finish point in Germano biciArte Café in Alte, Algarve.
The Fastest // (1) David Herranz Perez [ES] -- (2) Marco Rodrigues [PT] -- (3) André Carvalho [PT] -- (1W) Charlotte Brandt [CH].
2024 // hsw#03
For the first time HSW had a circular route for easier logistics, with the goal of reaching new riders. The route focused in the North of Portugal, the national road cycling paradise. Casa da Bicicleta in Aveiro was proudly our basecamp.
Route Highlights // It started from Aveiro, reached Parque Natural da Peneda-Gerês, and finished in Casa da Bicicleta, Aveiro.
The Fastest // (1) João Pinto [PT] -- (2) Luís Medeiros Pereira [PT] -- (3) Luís Cordeiro [PT] -- (1W) Hanna de Sousa [SE].
2025 // HSW#04
HSW'25 had two relevant milestones: Marco Martins was the fastest in a third different ultracycling event in Portugal and Rita Lopes was the first Portuguese to be the fastest woman in Heading SouthWest.
Route Highlights // Aveiro and Casa da Bicicleta was again our basecamp, but the route explored new territories, joining Serra da Estrela e Gerês in a same route.
The Fastest // (1) Marco Martins [PT] -- (2) Miguel Pecegueiro [PT] -- (3) Diogo Borges [PT] -- (1W) Rita Lopes [PT].
2026 // HSW#05
HSW'26 is basecamp was in the Portuguese city at the highest altitude. The departure from Guarda provided a beautiful but harsh experience from the first to the last kilometer, with an epic climb to Torre at the final part of the route.
Route Highlights // Briefing, departure and finish in the historical centre of Guarda. Trás-os-Montes region was the highlight in the hardest edition ever.
The Fastest // (1) Wilson Oliveira [BR] -- (2) Paulo Caçoete [PT] -- (3) André Alves [PT] and Sérgio Sánchez Alcalde [ES] -- (1W) Magda Pereira [PT].
2027 // HSW#06
After five editions seeking the development of the Portuguese community of bikepackers and long-distance cyclists, Heading SouthWest will finally follow its purpose: head southwest.
Departure from BRAGANÇA, the northeasternmost city of Portugal. Finish in the edge of Europe: Cabo São Vicente, SAGRES. .
HSW'26 will have two routes available: Heading SouthWest [road] and the new Travessia Nacional Bikepacking [off road], the paradigm shift in the Portuguese bikepacking scene.
the southwesterners // Heading SW finishers :