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Updated 11:33 AM EDT, Fri March 17, 2017
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algarve cycle race tease
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International cycling 4 videos
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Updated 11:33 AM EDT, Fri March 17, 2017
" data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="false" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2017-03-17T09:02:58Z" data-video-section="sport" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2017/03/10/mountain-bike-algarve-challenge-uci-cycling-orig.cnn" data-branding-key="cycling" data-video-slug="mountain bike algarve challenge uci cycling orig" data-first-publish-slug="mountain bike algarve challenge uci cycling orig" data-video-tags="bicycling,europe,sports and recreation,algarve,southern europe,portugal,sports organizations and teams,union cycliste internationale" data-details="">
algarve cycle race tease
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Updated 11:33 AM EDT, Fri March 17, 2017
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TOPSHOT - The peloton rides during the first stage of the 8th edition of the cycling Tour of Oman between al-Sawadi Beach and Naseem Park on February 14, 2017 in Manumah. Norway's Alexander Kristoff from Team Katusha Alpecin won the stage ahead of Italian Kristian Sbaragli (L) from Team Dimension Data who came second and Italian Sonny Colbrelli (R) from Bahrain Merida in third place. / AFP / Eric Feferberg (Photo credit should read ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images)
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Updated 11:33 AM EDT, Fri March 17, 2017
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Breathtaking beauty seen from two wheels
02:49
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- Source: CNN

Story highlights

Portuguese race across three days

4,700 meters of uphill climbing

Teams are grouped in pairs

CNN  — 

The Algarve Bike Challenge is no ordinary race.

Staged annually in Tavira, Portugal, teams are grouped in pairs with placings determined by the slower rider.

The grueling 165 km race includes 4,700 meters of uphill climbing.

But that didn’t stop 1,000 participants from nearly two dozen countries taking on rivers, cobblestones and rocky roads in the pursuit of victory.

READ: Cycling’s ‘rock star’ forced to dodge dog

Visit cnn.com/sport for more news and videos

“For me it was a great event, especially because it was three days long,” said women’s winner Anne Tauber, describing the excitement of the night event on the first stage. “Amazing!”

Watch the video above to find out more.