Mountain biking events in Portugal: Characteristics, temporal and spatial distribution and occurrence over the national network of classified and protected areas

Abstract

The increase of sports activities such as mountain biking or trail running in protected and classified areas is undeniable. Due to its diffuse and informal nature, monitoring the effects that they cause in these territories is difficult, therefore the study of its sports events can be a good opportunity to build a national image on these modalities in the view of future management. Through the systematization and subsequent georeferencing of 677 mountain bike events that took place in 2018 in Portugal, it was possible to identify some of its main characteristics. Competitive Marathons/Raids/Routes and non-competitive Tours are the submodalities or typologies that bring together the greatest offer and most participants. Its distribution is national and is characterized by having on average, although with a certain variability by typology, 1.5 courses, 50.6 km, and 228 participants. In seasonal terms, most events take place in the spring and autumn periods. Since 29.7% of the national territory is included in the national system of classified areas and 62.9% of the events take place in or near these, it is evident that these territories play an important role in the distribution of the offer, reinforcing the importance of this study.