Estrela Road Challenge
Where
Manteigas, Portugal
Date
25 October 2026
Distances
Registration cost
€30–50
What runners say
When you reach Torre with burning legs and all of Portugal at your feet, you understand why you came all this way. The Serra da Estrela isn't a backdrop — it's the reason you run.
Why it's special
An uphill road race to the summit of the Serra da Estrela at 1,993 metres: 21 km with 1,600 metres of positive elevation from Manteigas to Torre, the highest point in continental Portugal. Also available as a 42 km uphill+downhill format.
What's around
The Estrela Road Challenge takes place on the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in continental Portugal: starting from the centre of Manteigas and climbing to Torre at 1,993 metres altitude, with 1,600 metres of positive elevation over 21 km entirely on road. Those choosing the 42 km format also take on the descent, with a total of 3,200 metres of accumulated elevation. Three formats: the 21 km Uphill, the 42 km Uphill+Downhill and a two-person relay over the same course. The race is co-organised by Estrela Outdoor Events and the Municipality of Manteigas, with a strong identity rooted in the territory — social, cultural and environmental. Outside Portugal it is practically unknown. And yet climbing by road to the highest point in continental Portugal, through a region that is still authentic and far from mass tourism, is an experience that few European races can offer.