The road feels like departure almost at once: Pontevedra’s old lanes fall behind, then river valleys, vines and small Galician villages take over. After Arcade, the first proper climb sets the tone – about 5 km, moderate, more rhythm-builder than leg-breaker. Later, the view opens towards Tui and Valença, with the cathedral, fortress walls and the wide Minho marking a grand border moment. Portugal arrives with rolling green hills: two longer climbs gather almost 400 m of ascent, steady and patient, before the descent into Ponte de Lima.
