A Road Trip Following the Lost Dot 101 Ultra-Distance Cycling Race From Santiago de Compostela to Cordoba, Via Braganca in Portugal and Through Extremadura in Spain

The iconic, hand printed caps of a Lost Dot race, all laid out ready for their riders.

Praza do Obradoiro is full of pilgrims as usual. As many as 350,000 pilgrims arrive into this square, in front of the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela each year, completing one of the many Camino de Santiago pilgrimage/trekking routes which stretch out across Spain and Europe like a spiders web, the web’s centre where I’m stood now in Santiago de Compostela, north west Spain.

Today the usual pilgrims, in walking boots, cargo shorts and wide brimmed sun hats are joined by 150 new travellers, dressed in lycra, reflective bibs and on two wheels. These cycling pilgrims contrast sharply with the historic and sacred setting with the back drop of the intricate Romanesque facade of the Cathedral. The gathering is also attracting a fair share of inquisitive looks from locals and foot born visitors.

And just to reinforce this contrast these cycling pilgrims are about to depart Santiago de Compostela, their pilgrimage will take them south, through Portugal and to Cordoba in Andalusia.

I'm at the start line of the Lost Dot 101, a new ultra-distance cycle race for women, non-binary and trans Riders.

Over the next six or so days, riders will race south, entirely self supported, to the finish line in Cordoba navigating between mandatory control points and parkours (short mandatory routes set by the organisers, usually up steep climbs riders might otherwise avoid) to reach each control point and the finish line within strict cut-off times.

The route south to Cordoba is anything but a straight line. The control points and the mandatory Parcours sections create a meandering route, zig-zagging east and west as much as it points south, turning a route which could be as little as 850km into a 1,200km+ challenge through Portugal as well as Spain. Between the control points and parcours, riders plan their own routes, choosing to ride or avoid challenging terrain, climbs and always considering places to stop for refreshment, recovery and sleep.

As a spectator/follower of these races one of the fascinating aspects is watching the riders (dot watching), via their GPS trackers and on-line mapping portal, spread out across the route, choosing different paths to converge again at each compulsory point. Link here.

From the point at which the Praza do Obradoiro is filled with the electronic chirping of 150 cycle computers each announcing to their owner the start of the adventure, the riders are on their own, this is a self-supported race to Cordoba. All food, drink and equipment must be carried by the riders or acquired at commercially available services, including accommodation, there’s no third-party support, private lodgings or re-supply!

Whilst some participants are racing to be the first finisher in Cordoba, many of these rider’s race is to arrive at each control point, and the finish line within the strict ‘cut-off’ times set for them. Cut-off time at the finish line is Saturday at 23:59hrs, in 6 days time, or 150hrs to be precise.

Finishing ahead of each cut-off, and remaining within the race’s rules and spirit awards each rider with a General Classification Finish and an official finishing position - a much sought after, hard earned and prized award within the ultra-racing community.

What brings me here?

My wife, Karen, is one of these two-wheeled pilgrims and for the last 6 months I’ve listened to her planning and watched her prepare and train for her first, solo, ultra-distance cycling race.

We’ve followed Lost Dot’s other races, especially the legendary Trans Continental Race (TCR) for a few years, dot watching and listening to the news and stories emanating from within the races.

Last year we dipped our toes into competing in some ‘smaller’ long distance races (with varied success!) and, crucially, volunteered on the TCR, manning a control point in the Picos de Europa, a stunning location in northern Spain. The spirit of the race, the respect and support by everyone within the ultra-distance community was incredible, like nothing we’d experienced in other aspects of cycling. When Karen had chance to chat with Hannah at Lost Dot about the new 101 race the die was cast and plans started to form for Spain and Portugal in May ’26.

We’ve both been huge supporters of cycling, particularly women’s cycling, for many years and I’ve worked and supported the sport through my business, with a domestic women’s team for the last three.

Today I’ve been volunteering at registration, greeting the riders, setting them up with their GPS trackers and sharing their nerves and excitement as they make their last minute preparations and await the 6pm race start.

And tomorrow I’m driving south, taking a more straight-forward route than the riders, to Braganca in north eastern Portugal to help run the first control point for a couple of days.

The Race Begins - 148 riders roll out of Santiago de Compostela

I’ll then be continuing south, scheduled to work again at the finish line in Cordoba but not before I’ve explored a little of this ‘off-the-beaten-track’ area of Portugal and Spain, photographed some of the scenery and, with my own bike packed in the car, ridden a few of the parcours and other sections of the 101 route. Of course all the time dot-watching but diligently avoiding any contact with my wife until she crosses the finish line.