Algarve Great Derby 2026. Final race - oneloftracingworldleague

FINAL RACE

ALGARVE TEAM:

𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹!

Hello everyone! Ringo here!

What a race! What a day! What an incredible atmosphere!

Around 1,000 pigeon fanciers joined us at the AGD loft, cheering for every winged hero who made it home. A truly unforgettable celebration of our sport!

At 08:00, we were released in Valpaços and immediately headed home, with 501 km ahead of us.

As predicted, this was a very demanding Final. The first part was relatively favourable, but the conditions became increasingly difficult as we travelled south.

𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 – 𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

IPMA weather stations recorded challenging conditions in the Alentejo:

Mora:

32.4°C |

5.4 km/h |

31%

Portel:

30.2°C |

11.5 km/h |

44%

Castro Verde:

29.5°C |

11.9 km/h |

44%

Alcoutim:

28.6°C |

15.8 km/h |

48%

With temperatures exceeding 30°C, low humidity and unfavourable winds, the final 200 km were a real test of endurance. Fortunately, the expected rain didn’t seem to cause any trouble.

And then, at 15:16, our first hero appeared!

The winner arrived alone, almost 13 minutes ahead of the second pigeon! Most arrivals were one by one, showing just how demanding this Final had been.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀