The ride, which is the last event on the 2009 racing calendar is this year being hosted by Portugal tests professional and amateur enthusiasts and their racing machines against the elements on six consecutive days of competition competing for individual and national team glory.
 
Riders faced their fair share of soft sand on the opening day on Portugal's Atlantic coast and KTM Enduro Factory Team riders were in the forefront of the first day's action with teammates Eero Remes of Finland and Italian Simone Albergoni finishing 1-2 in the E1 class. In E3 KTM's Samuli Aro was second across the line to boost Finland's overall position. KTM USA's Kurt Caselli was fourth in the class and Alessandro Botturi of Italy finished fifth. Alessandro Belometti of Italy finished seventh in the E3 class.
 
E1 Results Day One
1. Eero Remes, Finland, KTM
2. Simone Albergoni, Italy, KTM
3. Julien Gauthier, France, Honda
4. Marc Germain, France, Yamaha
5. Michel Szuster, Poland, Yamaha
 
E2 Results Day One
1. David Knight, Britain, Kawasaki
2. Rodrig Thain, France, TM
3. Juha Salminen, Finland, BMW
4. Oscar Balletti, Italy, Honda
5. Cristobal Guerrero, Spain, Yamaha
7. Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM
 
E3 Results, Day One
1. Christophe Nambotin, France, Gas-Gas
2. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM
3. Antoine Meo, France, Husqvarna,
4. Kurt Caselli, USA, KTM
5. Alessandro Botturi, Italy, KTM
8. Marcus Kehr, Germany, KTM