3C Project
The 3Cs - Cycling, Campus & City Program will
facilitate travel between Cities and Campuses through more sustainable
means of transport and promoting the health and well-being of the
universities community.

The central scope of this working group under the Erasmus + programme
is to promote sustainability through sport and ecological mobility and
identify, promote, improve, and enhance an active and green mobility.
Bicycle, whether electric or conventional, will be used as the main
means of transport, and cycle paths will be identified and promoted,
primarily to, from and within the university campus and the city. Other
forms of healthy and active mobility will also be explored in this
project such as walking. Overall, it aims to identify good practices,
collect data from the pilot group of participants by using a tool
produced by the project and through two studies (habits and behaviours
and best routes), collect practical and educational content, promote
sustainable travel habits, change behaviours for greater local and
European impact and raise awareness of the importance of contributing to
a greener world through sport and use of sustainable means of
transport.
The “3Cs - Cycling, Campus & City” project is funded by the
European Union.
A sustainable route connecting the 4 Campi
This route (in test mode) will connect the 4 campi of the Project’s
partners:
- Universidade de Coimbra
- Universidad Camilo Jose Cel, Centro de Ensenanza Universitaria Sek
Saucjc (Madrid)
- Universite Paul-Valery Montpellier 3
- Universita Degli Studi di Torino
Criteria used for planning the routes
Only sustainable transportation is used, such as walking,
cycling, train, and ferry.
Destination spots with available amenities, including food,
camping, and accommodation.
Route profile for easy ride (not superman/woman).
Stages from 35 to 100 km long.
Avoid gravel and busy roads as much as possible.
Coimbra - Madrid
This connection is a challenge. The train line which offers the best
connection in Portugal is suspended for improvements until 2026.
Option 1 COI-MAD
Option 1 COI-MAD bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
Notes
|
2
|
Fundão, PT
|
Monsanto, PT
|
45
|
1150
|
3.0
|
|
3
|
Monsanto, PT
|
Moraleja, ES
|
55
|
570
|
3.4
|
|
4
|
Moraleja, ES
|
Plasencia, ES
|
62
|
720
|
3.7
|
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 162 km
- Total Up Gain: 2440 m
- Total Days: 6
- Days on Bike: 3
- Accommodation cost: 320 €
- Train cost: 53 €
- Food cost: 240 €
- Total cost per person: 613 €
- [Extra] Air and Train cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to
Lisbon): 90 €
Pros and Cons
- Less days, with shorter distances
- Not very hard stages
- Uses some secondary state roads
- A good first trial
- There is an alternative to take the train to Vale
de Prazeres (before Fundão), and skip 11 km fo the first stage, possibly
start pedalling right away the remaining 35 almost flat km, when
arriving at 15h15. This would skip a travel day.
Option 2 COI-MAD
Option 1 COI-MAD bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
Notes
|
2
|
Fundão, PT
|
Monsanto, PT
|
45
|
1150
|
3.0
|
|
3
|
Monsanto, PT
|
Moraleja, ES
|
55
|
570
|
3.4
|
|
4
|
Moraleja, ES
|
Plasencia, ES
|
62
|
720
|
3.7
|
|
5
|
Plasencia, ES
|
Navalmoral de la Mata, ES
|
67
|
500
|
4.2
|
|
6
|
Navalmoral de la Mata, ES
|
Talavera de la Reina, ES
|
69
|
420
|
4.4
|
Allways paralel to the freeway
|
7
|
Talavera de la Reina, ES
|
Torrijos, ES
|
54
|
420
|
3.3
|
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 352 km
- Total Up Gain: 3780 m
- Total Days: 8
- Days on Bike: 6
- Accommodation cost: 430 €
- Train cost: 36 €
- Food cost: 320 €
- Total cost per person: 786 €
- [Extra] Air and Train cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to
Lisbon): 90 €
Pros and Cons
- More days, still with shorter distances
- Not very hard stages
- Uses some secondary state roads
- Uses train to arrive to Madrid. If well planned, the last stage can
be done all in 1 day (54 km bike + 1h train + air back to Lisbon)
- There is an alternative to take the train to Vale
de Prazeres (before Fundão), and skip 11 km fo the first stage, possibly
start pedalling right away the remaining 35 almost flat km, when
arriving at 15h15. This would skip a travel day.
Option 1 MAD-COI
Option 1 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
Notes
|
1
|
Salamanca, ES
|
La Fuente de San Estebam, ES
|
66
|
550
|
3.8
|
|
2
|
La Fuente de San Estebam, ES
|
Vilar Formoso, PT
|
64
|
590
|
4.5
|
|
3
|
Vilar Formoso, PT
|
Guarda, PT
|
51
|
1000
|
3.0
|
|
4
|
Guarda, PT
|
Fornos de Algodres, PT
|
48
|
1050
|
3.0
|
Down, flat and then hilly
|
5
|
Fornos de Algodres, PT
|
Santa Comba Dao, PT
|
77
|
1700
|
4.5
|
Down, but hilly
|
6
|
Santa Comba Dao, PT
|
Coimbra, PT
|
52
|
1300
|
3.0
|
A 5km steep hill at 24km
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 358 km
- Total Up Gain: 6190 m
- Total Days: 7
- Days on Bike: 6
- Accommodation cost: 365 €
- Train cost: 20 €
- Food cost: 280 €
- Total cost per person: 665 €
- [Extra] Air and Train cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to
Lisbon): 90 €
Pros and Cons
- Train to Salamanca jumps arid region
- Less days, with balanced distances
- Not very hard stages
- Uses some secondary state roads
Option 2 MAD-COI
Option 2 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
Notes
|
1
|
Avila, ES
|
Penaranda de Bracamonte, ES
|
58
|
630
|
4.0
|
|
2
|
Penaranda de Bracamonte, ES
|
Salamanca, ES
|
51
|
170
|
3.3
|
|
3
|
Salamanca, ES
|
La Fuente de San Estebam, ES
|
66
|
550
|
3.8
|
|
4
|
La Fuente de San Estebam, ES
|
Vilar Formoso, PT
|
64
|
590
|
4.5
|
|
5
|
Vilar Formoso, PT
|
Guarda, PT
|
51
|
1000
|
3.0
|
|
6
|
Guarda, PT
|
Fornos de Algodres, PT
|
48
|
1050
|
3.0
|
Down, flat and then hilly
|
7
|
Fornos de Algodres, PT
|
Santa Comba Dao, PT
|
77
|
1700
|
4.5
|
Down, but hilly
|
8
|
Santa Comba Dao, PT
|
Coimbra, PT
|
52
|
1300
|
3.0
|
A 5km steep hill at 24km
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 467 km
- Total Up Gain: 6990 m
- Total Days: 9
- Days on Bike: 8
- Accommodation cost: 480 €
- Train cost: 13 €
- Food cost: 360 €
- Total cost per person: 853 €
- [Extra] Air and Train cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to
Lisbon): 90 €
Pros and Cons
- More days
- Not very hard stages
- Uses some secondary state roads
Madrid - Montpellier
For all the options, we opt to take the high-speed train from Madrid
to Barcelona and start biking from there.
Option 1
Option 1 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Barcelona, ES
|
Blanes, ES
|
67
|
1060
|
4.2
|
Yes
|
Ends with a small climb
|
2
|
Blanes, ES
|
Sant Feliu de Guíxols, ES
|
77
|
1200
|
2.8
|
Yes
|
|
3
|
Sant Feliu de Guíxols, ES
|
L’Escala, ES
|
58
|
560
|
3.7
|
Yes
|
|
4
|
L’Escala, ES
|
Maureillas-las-lllas, FR
|
68
|
860
|
4.5
|
Yes
|
|
5
|
Maureillas-las-lllas, FR
|
Le Barcarès, FR
|
59
|
150
|
3.3
|
Yes
|
Downhill
|
6
|
Le Barcarès, FR
|
Portiragnes, FR
|
85
|
440
|
5.3
|
Yes
|
|
7
|
Portiragnes, FR
|
Montpellier, FR
|
79
|
388
|
4.5
|
Yes
|
Ends with a climb
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 493 km
- Total Up Gain: 4658 m
- Total Days: 8
- Days on Bike: 7
- Accommodation cost: 465 €
- Train cost: 20 €
- Food cost: 320 €
- Total cost per person: 805 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 220
€
Pros and Cons
- 1 day longer
- shorter stages
- has some compact gravel roads
Option 2
Option 2 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Barcelona, ES
|
Lloret del Mar, ES
|
74
|
1350
|
4.8
|
Part
|
Busy 3.5km road between Blanes and Lloret to avoid steep hill
|
2
|
Lloret del Mar, ES
|
L’Escala, ES
|
107
|
1450
|
5.5
|
Part
|
Busy road uphill for 12km, including a tunnel
|
3
|
L’Escala, ES
|
Maureillas-las-lllas, FR
|
68
|
860
|
4.5
|
Yes
|
|
4
|
Maureillas-las-lllas, FR
|
Le Barcarès, FR
|
59
|
150
|
3.3
|
Yes
|
Downhill
|
5
|
Le Barcarès, FR
|
Portiragnes, FR
|
85
|
440
|
5.3
|
Yes
|
|
6
|
Portiragnes, FR
|
Montpellier, FR
|
79
|
388
|
4.5
|
Yes
|
Ends with a climb
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 472 km
- Total Up Gain: 4638 m
- Total Days: 7
- Days on Bike: 6
- Accommodation cost: 405 €
- Train cost: 20 €
- Food cost: 280 €
- Total cost per person: 705 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 220
€
Pros and Cons
- 1 day shorter
- 1 long stage (100 km) in busy roads uphill
- has some compact gravel roads
Montpellier - Turin
Option 1
Option 1 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Montpellier, FR
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
67
|
168
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Downhill and then flat
|
2
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
72
|
210
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Climb at 42 km, Saint Remy de Provence
|
3
|
Cavailon, FR
|
Manosque, FR
|
79
|
1220
|
4.4
|
Part (64km)
|
1% uphill for 70km. After Reillanne is on road, 4km uphill and then
downhill
|
6
|
Limone Piemonte, IT
|
Moretta, IT
|
79
|
1000
|
4.5
|
Part
|
Always downhiill
|
7
|
Moretta, IT
|
Turin, IT
|
49
|
140
|
2.5
|
Yes
|
Flat
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 346 km
- Total Up Gain: 2738 m
- Total Days: 9
- Days on Bike: 5
- Accommodation cost: 530 €
- Train cost: 70 €
- Food cost: 360 €
- Total cost per person: 960 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 280
€
Pros and Cons
- 2 days on train (6h + 3h30)
- 1 longer stage 79km with constant 1% uphill
- cheaper
Option 2
Option 2 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Montpellier, FR
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
67
|
168
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Downhill and then flat
|
2
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
72
|
210
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Climb at 42 km, Saint Remy de Provence
|
3
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
Apt, FR
|
34
|
340
|
1.8
|
Yes
|
1% uphill
|
4
|
Apt, FR
|
Manosque, FR
|
46
|
1180
|
2.5
|
Part (31km)
|
1% uphill for 31km. After Reillanne is on road, 4km uphill and then
downhill
|
7
|
Limone Piemonte, IT
|
Moretta, IT
|
79
|
1000
|
4.5
|
Part
|
Always downhiill
|
8
|
Moretta, IT
|
Turin, IT
|
49
|
140
|
2.5
|
Yes
|
Flat
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 347 km
- Total Up Gain: 3038 m
- Total Days: 10
- Days on Bike: 6
- Accommodation cost: 600 €
- Train cost: 70 €
- Food cost: 400 €
- Total cost per person: 1070 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 280
€
Pros and Cons
- 2 days on train (6h + 3h30)
- 2 shorter stages
Option 3
Option 3 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Montpellier, FR
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
67
|
168
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Downhill and then flat
|
2
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
72
|
210
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Climb at 42 km, Saint Remy de Provence
|
3
|
Cavailon, FR
|
Manosque, FR
|
79
|
1220
|
4.4
|
Part (64km)
|
1% uphill for 70km. After Reillanne is on road, 4km uphill and then
downhill
|
5
|
Draguignan, FR
|
Cannes
|
75
|
2000
|
4.5
|
|
Low gradients
|
6
|
Cannes, FR
|
Nice, FR
|
35
|
400
|
2.3
|
Yes
|
|
8
|
Meyrargues, FR
|
Draguignan, FR
|
99
|
1800
|
6.0
|
|
Short gravel tracks
|
9
|
Limone Piemonte, IT
|
Moretta, IT
|
79
|
1000
|
4.5
|
Part
|
Always downhiill
|
10
|
Moretta, IT
|
Turin, IT
|
49
|
140
|
2.5
|
Yes
|
Flat
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 555 km
- Total Up Gain: 6938 m
- Total Days: 10
- Days on Bike: 8
- Accommodation cost: 610 €
- Train cost: 25 €
- Food cost: 400 €
- Total cost per person: 1035 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 280
€
Pros and Cons
- 1 longer stage 99 km, with 1800m gain
- still less days, but more on bike
- Scenic route
- Second best option
Option 4
Option 4 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Montpellier, FR
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
67
|
168
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Downhill and then flat
|
2
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
72
|
210
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Climb at 42 km, Saint Remy de Provence
|
3
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
Apt, FR
|
34
|
340
|
1.8
|
Yes
|
1% uphill
|
4
|
Apt, FR
|
Manosque, FR
|
46
|
1180
|
2.5
|
Part (31km)
|
1% uphill for 31km. After Reillanne is on road, 4km uphill and then
downhill
|
6
|
Draguignan, FR
|
Cannes
|
75
|
2000
|
4.5
|
|
Low gradients
|
7
|
Cannes, FR
|
Nice, FR
|
35
|
400
|
2.3
|
Yes
|
|
9
|
Meyrargues, FR
|
Draguignan, FR
|
99
|
1800
|
6.0
|
|
Short gravel tracks
|
10
|
Limone Piemonte, IT
|
Moretta, IT
|
79
|
1000
|
4.5
|
Part
|
Always downhiill
|
11
|
Moretta, IT
|
Turin, IT
|
49
|
140
|
2.5
|
Yes
|
Flat
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 556 km
- Total Up Gain: 7238 m
- Total Days: 11
- Days on Bike: 9
- Accommodation cost: 680 €
- Train cost: 25 €
- Food cost: 440 €
- Total cost per person: 1145 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 280
€
Pros and Cons
- 1 longer stage 99 km, with 1800m gain
- more days
- Scenic route
Option 5
Option 5 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Montpellier, FR
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
67
|
168
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Downhill and then flat
|
2
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
72
|
210
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Climb at 42 km, Saint Remy de Provence
|
3
|
Cavailon, FR
|
Manosque, FR
|
79
|
1220
|
4.4
|
Part (64km)
|
1% uphill for 70km. After Reillanne is on road, 4km uphill and then
downhill
|
5
|
Meyrargues, FR
|
Salernes, FR
|
67
|
1100
|
4.0
|
|
|
6
|
Salernes, FR
|
Tourrettes, FR
|
71
|
1900
|
4.0
|
|
|
7
|
Tourrettes, FR
|
Nice, FR
|
68
|
1150
|
4.0
|
|
At 10km goes down and up a valley. From 23km always flat.
|
9
|
Limone Piemonte, IT
|
Moretta, IT
|
79
|
1000
|
4.5
|
Part
|
Always downhiill
|
10
|
Moretta, IT
|
Turin, IT
|
49
|
140
|
2.5
|
Yes
|
Flat
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 552 km
- Total Up Gain: 6888 m
- Total Days: 11
- Days on Bike: 8
- Accommodation cost: 665 €
- Train cost: 25 €
- Food cost: 440 €
- Total cost per person: 1130 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 280
€
Pros and Cons
- less days, and not very long routes
- 1 rest day in Limone Piemonte (Train)
- Scenic route
Option 6
Option 6 bike stages
Stage
|
Start
|
End
|
Distance
|
Gain
|
Duration
|
EuroVelo
|
Notes
|
1
|
Montpellier, FR
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
67
|
168
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Downhill and then flat
|
2
|
Saint Gilles, FR
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
72
|
210
|
4.0
|
Yes
|
Climb at 42 km, Saint Remy de Provence
|
3
|
Cavaillon, FR
|
Apt, FR
|
34
|
340
|
1.8
|
Yes
|
1% uphill
|
4
|
Apt, FR
|
Manosque, FR
|
46
|
1180
|
2.5
|
Part (31km)
|
1% uphill for 31km. After Reillanne is on road, 4km uphill and then
downhill
|
6
|
Meyrargues, FR
|
Salernes, FR
|
67
|
1100
|
4.0
|
|
|
7
|
Salernes, FR
|
Tourrettes, FR
|
71
|
1900
|
4.0
|
|
|
8
|
Tourrettes, FR
|
Nice, FR
|
68
|
1150
|
4.0
|
|
At 10km goes down and up a valley. From 23km always flat.
|
10
|
Limone Piemonte, IT
|
Moretta, IT
|
79
|
1000
|
4.5
|
Part
|
Always downhiill
|
11
|
Moretta, IT
|
Turin, IT
|
49
|
140
|
2.5
|
Yes
|
Flat
|
Statistics
- Total Bike Distance: 553 km
- Total Up Gain: 7188 m
- Total Days: 12
- Days on Bike: 9
- Accommodation cost: 725 €
- Train cost: 25 €
- Food cost: 480 €
- Total cost per person: 1230 €
- [Extra] Air cost (from Lisbon to Start and from End to Lisbon): 280
€
Pros and Cons
- more days, and not very long routes
- 1 rest day in Limone Piemonte (Train)
- Scenic route
- the most expensive option