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Saddle up for a great week riding in cycling haven: Catalunya, the Costa Brava, and its mountainous hinterland, the foothills of the Pyrenees. Its favorable climate, diverse terrain, and extensive network of cycling routes have made many professional cyclists choose to reside here, such as Lance Armstrong and Chris Froome. Roads that are seldom used by anyone other than cyclists attract the two-wheeled community and make Girona, the starting point for our tour, a world leading cycling destination. But the area has so much more to offer than just training miles. The historical treasures we'll be able to admire along the way bear witness to the region's rich medieval past, which has forged its strong identity. Ancient town centres and villages punctuate our journey. Alternating between land and sea, we also discover the secret roads of the volcanic area of La Garrotxa and the breathtaking panoramas of the northern Costa Brava. After a perfect ride, let's embrace the exquisite flavors of Catalunya with its renowned seafood dishes, savory paellas, and delectable Catalan cream.
No hassle at all: This trip offers different route options with varying distances and altitude gain (levels 2 and 3). Ride at your own pace and pick your preferred route option, depending on your fitness level, daily form and preferences.
Check the programme below for detailed information on distances and altitude gain of the route options.
Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organisation team is on day 1 at 9 am at Girona railway station. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Gerona.
Rendezvous in Girona, the historic heart of Catalonia and famous for its medieval architecture. Soon enough, we leave the city behind and head west along a pleasant, wooded road that winds through the small Guilleres massif. We pass the Ninxols d'Osor, beautiful stone "niches" dating from the 1950s, built to prevent landslides on the road up to Sant Hilari. We head for the pretty village of Viladrau before continuing west to reach the plain. If we choose level 3, we will then make a short incursion into the Montseny massif along a pretty road that takes us to the Turo del Home culminating at 1706m (optional ascent via a small road), via a succession of small passes. From the summit, we can see Barcelona! After crossing the Col Formic, we finally arrive in Vic, a town well known for its medieval architecture, marking the end of our first stage.
Distances and altitude gain:
This morning we leave Vic and enter the La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. If we opt for Level 3, we'll make a diversion to the picturesque village of Tavertet and rejoin the main route along a scenic rural road that runs alongside impressive cliffs. This small road offers a beautiful view of the Pantà de Sau lake and its submerged village, where only the church tower remains visible! Our route continues northwards, still in the heart of La Garrotxa. A series of small secret passes (Camporioll, Pera, Salomé, Bucs, Boixeda) takes us to Camprodon, a small authentic village at the foot of the Pyrenees, where we spend the night.
Distances and altitude gain:
Today, we're following in the footsteps of our Grande Traversée of the Spanish Pyrenees. The ascent of the Col d'Ares (1513m) is the highlight of the day, because once we've climbed it, we're back in France. After catching our breath, we begin the descent into the La Preste valley, before gradually leaving the mountains behind to ride along the slopes of the Eastern Pyrenees. Our laps gradually bring us closer to the Grande Bleue and we plunge, not into the sea, but into a gentle descent to the port of Collioure. What a pleasure to be able to relax our feet in the Mediterranean at last!
Distances and altitude gain:
We set off this morning on a rollercoaster ride, offering magnificent panoramic views of the Pyrenean foothills, vineyards, cliffs, coves and beaches that shape the coastline between Collioure and Port de la Selva in Spain. We take a short, high-altitude route over the Mollo, Gascons, Llagostera, Belitres, Frare and Sant Antoni passes, one after the other, to make the most of the scenery. We continue our journey towards Cap de Creus, the most easterly stretch of wild, unspoilt land on the Iberian peninsula, where the lighthouse marking the tip of the cape is only accessible by a small road that we take on the return journey. Finally, we arrive in Cadaques "la blanche", an intimate little town with white facades, famous for being the "home" of the painter Salvador Dali. We spend the night here, enjoying the authentic setting of this small seaside town.
Distances and altitude gain:
Today, after crossing the Perafita pass, we cross the Empordà plain, a chance to rest our legs and contemplate the local riches. Here, wheat, maize and rice crops shape the landscape, thanks to the many canals built to take advantage of the marshes. We take the opportunity to wander through the narrow streets of Castello d'Empuries, a small village dating back to the Middle Ages and boasting an impressive basilica. Our route continues south to Sant Martì, another medieval village in the region that bears witness to the Empordà's historic past. After passing through l'Escala, a fishing village and small seaside resort, we continue on towards Begur. We end our stopover in Calella de Palafrugell, a pretty little town with a picture-postcard feel, with its white facades, cobbled streets and boats washed up on the beach.
Distances and altitude gain:
What a joy it is this morning to realise that we have the whole day ahead of us to enjoy the Costa Brava to the full. Our route takes us along the pretty coastal road that winds between San Feliù de Guixols and Tossa de Mar. The views are splendid: coves, cliffs, turquoise waters and Mediterranean vegetation enchant us. We finally arrive in Tossa de Mar, a rare fortified town in Catalonia. We stroll through the historic centre of the town, with its cobbled streets, tower and surrounding walls, and above all, enjoy the beach and the many terraces lining the seafront.
Distances and altitude gain:
Adios to the sea! This morning, we're taking small, little-travelled roads through the heart of the Cadiretes and Gavarres massifs. We're enjoying the peace and quiet of these mountains on our mounts. We pass through Bisbal d'Empordà, a town famous for its ceramics, and stop off at the medieval village of Monells. The cobbled streets and vaulted arches are the charm of this village. We continue through the Gavarres massif along a narrow road. One last push to the Portell pass before descending to Girona, signalling the end of our road bike tour of Catalonia...
Distances and altitude gain:
Itinerary end: The trip ends in Girona arond 4pm.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
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