Algarve Great Derby 2025. ACTIVATION Race

Hello friends, Ringo checking in after a wild ride today!

This morning was the big one – the Qualification Race from 164 km. And just like the trainers predicted, the North wind was blowing hard, giving us a strong tailwind. The higher we climbed, the stronger it pushed. Some of the clever ones went way, waaay up into the sky and then came diving down to the loft like true acrobats – it was quite a show!

But let me tell you, for the trainers those first minutes were nerve-wracking. In the first 7 minutes only 27 pigeons arrived, most of them alone or in tiny groups of 2 or 3. It felt like forever… until suddenly the big flocks started to roll in, one after another, filling the sky. Relief and excitement all at once!

What was fascinating was that pigeons came from all directions – North, South, East, West. It showed how much we’ve all learned since Training 6, when the strong winds tricked us over the loft. This time, most of us corrected our direction early enough and got it right. Progress, baby!

Here are the official weather notes (remember, these are ground measurements – up at 200–300 m the wind was much stronger):

Release place (8:00 AM):

Temp: 17,9 °C

Humidity: 72%

Wind: NO 11,2 km/h

Arrival place (10:00 AM):

Temp: 24,7 °C

Humidity: 52%

Wind: NO 16,2 km/h

Podium Winners – Qualification Race (164 km)

A huge congratulations to today’s Top 3:

Adriano & Rui – B (Portugal)

PT-25-5347735 · Great 735

29/08/2025 09:42:36.570

1871.9431 m/min

Frits & Wytse Mantel – B (Netherlands)

NL-25-1526044 · R1 – FM 044

29/08/2025 09:42:57.790

1864.4167 m/min

Team Westerwald (Germany)

DE-25-0779-178 · HH 178

29/08/2025 09:43:11.080

1859.7337 m/min