La Vuelta 2024:-Stage 2: Sunday 18th August, Cascais – Ourém, 194km ***Spoilers***

Stage 2:- Cascais – Ourém, 194km

Sunday 18th August.

Start Time: 11-50BST.

The peloton follows the Portuguese Atlantic coast for the first road stage. The riders travel on undulating terrain from Cascais to Ourém in the 2nd stage of the Vuelta a España. The route covers 194 kilometres. Following the start in seaside town Cascais, to the west of Lisbon, the riders travel north. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome, but certainly no big climbs. The elevation gain adds up to almost 2,700 metres.

Profile.

Map.

Final Kilometres.

Alto da Batalha, which stretches for 7.1 kilometres at 3.3%. There are 19.1 kilometres remaining from the summit to Ourém. The old part of Ourém is perched on a hill, but the race finishes in the modern part, which is situated on the valley floor.

What to Expect.

There is hardly a flat section to be found in the 2nd stage, but at the same time, the uphills are not very demanding either. There’s a climb close to the end but expect a somewhat uniform bunch sprint.

Cascais.

Cascais makes its debut hosting a La Vuelta stage departure.

214,124 inhabitants.

Cascais was historically a fishing village. Cascais’ desirability as a holiday resort dates back to 1870, when King Luis made the citadel his official royal summer residence. The town’s popularity continues to thrive, having become a retreat for the Portuguese bourgeoisie, particularly during the summer months. Over time, the city has also become a popular tourist destination for all types of visitors, offering numerous cultural and gastronomic options, with a cuisine focusing mainly on seafood. Its beaches also make it particularly attractive to fans of water sports, such as surfing.

Cataplana

Sharing the same name as the frying pan in which they are prepared, cataplana refers to an extensive group of Portuguese dishes that can be prepared with various ingredients such as meat, seafood, rice, or pasta. Originally invented by fishermen, cataplana dishes are today found throughout Portugal. The most famous version of the dish is cataplana de marisco, prepared with a variety of seafood.

Bitoque

Bitoque is a traditional Portuguese dish which consists of a lean fried steak that is usually accompanied by fries, rice, and various salads. Most commonly it is enjoyed as the main course complemented with tomato or mustard sauce and topped with a crispy fried egg.

Ourém.

Ourém makes its debut hosting a La Vuelta finish-line.

44,538 inhabitants

High up on a hilltop stands the impressive Ourém Castle and its Medieval village, the locality’s oldest urban nucleus, with its characteristic cobblestone streets arranged in a circular pattern around the fortress. This place was settled as far back as prehistoric times. Further down, in the valley, is the locality’s main nucleus and the location of La Vuelta 24’s Stage 2 finish-line.

Acorda

The Portuguese açorda is a popular bread soup appearing in numerous varieties throughout the country. Most açorda soups have a smooth and thick consistency and employ a variety of pounded herbs, garlic, olive oil, and boiling water that is poured over diced bread and left to soften. Two of the most famous types include the seafood-based açorda de marisco and açorda Alentejana, a regional specialty in which whole slices of bread are served over the broth. Even though it originated as a poor man’s dish, today these comforting soups represent an integral part of Portuguese national cuisine.