The security operations by two major law enforcement forces are ongoing across the various districts that the event traverses: Aveiro, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Porto, Santarém, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, and Viseu.
“This operation aims to ensure the safety of cyclists and the general public, as well as maintain traffic flow during the event,” stated the GNR.
Furthermore, it seeks to prevent accidents and minimize traffic disruptions due to the event, ensuring all security conditions are met for both the race convoy and the road users.
The PSP will be present in towns and cities along the cycling route “to prevent and address any disruptions to public order, peace, and safety, focusing on the protection of individuals and traffic regulation (both vehicles and pedestrians) during all phases and action zones under their responsibility, giving special attention to start and finish points to ensure the event proceeds without incidents or obstacles.”
The GNR urges spectators following the ‘Volta’ at various locations to “adhere to the safety instructions provided by GNR officers” and to “pay attention to and comply with the signage on the Guardia vehicles that are part of the mobile security unit.”
The PSP also requests that spectators “avoid crowding at start and finish points of each stage,” “watch the event from permitted areas, away from the road edges, and without interfering with the athletes and other event vehicles,” “not cross the roadway during the cyclists’ passage,” and “not travel by any means on roads used for the event.”
Additionally, spectators are asked to “supervise children at all times and prevent them from running onto the road,” “avoid unauthorized drone usage,” and “park safely without blocking access or emergency routes.”
The 86th Volta a Portugal, which concludes on August 17 in Lisbon, covers a total distance of 1,581 kilometers with the participation of 111 cyclists.
Following the prologue in Maia, won by Portuguese cyclist Rafael Reis (Anicolor-Tien21), the first stage of the event takes place today.
Cyclists face a 162.3-kilometer challenge between Viana do Castelo and the Santuário do Sameiro in Braga, where the finish line coincides with a second-category mountain climb, to be ascended twice.
