Volta a Portugal stage through Peneda‑Gerês faces environmental opposition

The Liga para a Proteção da Natureza (LPN) says the planned seventh stage of the 87th Volta a Portugal, scheduled for 13 August, is "inaceitável" because it crosses the heart of Peneda‑Gerês National Park. The group warns that the route, which would pass through the ecologically sensitive Mata da Albergaria in Terras de Bouro, could cause significant disturbance and degradation of protected habitats. LPN has asked the race organizers to modify the course to avoid the most vulnerable zones, citing the park’s regulation that restricts sporting activities in highly protected areas.

The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) is currently reviewing the request for an official opinion on the route. The Volta a Portugal, a 1,388‑km cycling race from Lisbon to Porto, runs from 5 to 16 August and attracts national attention. If the course is altered, it would set a precedent for how large sporting events are managed in Portugal’s protected natural areas.