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Trips > Catalonia

Catalonia

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Varied terrain, a warm climate, and an airport. These are the reasons that Girona tops the list of any professional cyclist looking for a home. But the city, and the region of Catalonia in general, has so much more to offer riders – especially if your list of priorities puts food and fun times a little higher than race-winning fitness.

This part of Spain isn’t just a mecca for bike riders, either. There might be more tourists in Barcelona, but the Catalonian capital’s sister city is preferred by more experienced travelers who know that Girona is second-to-none when it comes to serious cuisine and culture. From Roman ruins to the hippest bars and eateries, it has something for everyone.

From to the foothills of the Pyrenees to the picturesque Costa Brava beaches, we’ll show you one of the world’s very best cycling destinations like it’s never been seen before.

Included With Trip:

  • All lodging*
  • All food and beverages**
  • Pinarello Dogma F Disk with SRAM RED eTap AXS
  • Daily Bike Wash
  • One custom Castelli × inGamba cycling kit
  • Daily post-ride massage from a professional soigneur
  • Laundry service for cycling clothing

 

*Pre/post-trip lodging is not included

**Beverages ordered by guests beyond normal amounts and away from group activities will incur additional charges

Trip at a Glance

Start Location :

Barcelona

Finish Location:

Barcelona

Days Riding:

6

Group Size:

8 – 12

Total Distance:

527km

Total Elevation:

6,298m

Longest Day:

Day 5. Santa Pellaia. 116km

Biggest Climbing Day :

Day 5. Santa Pellaia. 1,476m

...

Day by Day Breakdown

1

Bruniola

¡Bienvenido a España! This short loop should give you an introduction to the area and whet your appetite for the week to come. Your bike should be perfectly set up, but if there's an issue, now is the best time to speak to your mechanic.
2

Els Angels

We’ll climb through lush woodlands on quiet roads towards the Santuari dels Àngels. Heading west, it’s uphill again to Ermita de Sant Joan and then south through the Catalan Transversal Range.
3

Tossa del Mar

Today's route packs most of the climbing at the beginning. Our goal today is to see Cadaqués, a whitewashed fishing village on the Cap de Creus peninsula. Long before cyclists starting coming here, Cadaqués was a popular haunt for artists and writers, and many of the 20th century's brightest talents were regular visitors. Regulars included Spain's great poet Federico García Lorca and Pablo Picasso, while Salvador Dalí liked it so much that he built a home nearby.
4

Begur

In today's loop, we ride along flat roads until we reach our midpoint and climb to Muntanyes de Begur. The characteristic cliffs of this area provide a refuge for several rare, endemic Mediterranean plant and animal species. On our way north and back to L'Escala, we pass by Castell de Montgrí, which was built between 1294 and 1301 with cylindrical towers and sturdy 13m-high walls.
5

Santa Pellaia

This is going to be a long day in the saddle, but it promises to be a fun one too as we tackle more of the the Massís de l’Ardenya (aka Massís de Cadiretes) mountains, with three sizeable climbs to test your legs. Starting out south, there will be stunning views, and an opportunity to roll through La Bisbal d’Empordà, an ancient town that will give you some idea of Catalonia’s rich history and culture. The two biggest climbs will come in the second half of the ride, first to Romanyà de la Selva, and then another 6km climb to Santa Pellaia, where a couple of sections will exceed 10%.
6

Porte de La Selva

This loop starts and ends on flat terrain, with all of the day's climbing coming right in the middle over two climbs on the Cap de Creus peninsula. The second, more challenging ascent will bring us up to the beautiful ruins of the Monasterio de Sant Pere de Rodes, a former Benedictine monastery that dates from the 9th century.
7

Departure

This is our final morning together and after a leisurely breakfast, it will be time to say goodbye, or at least arrivederci, until we meet again. Transfers to the airport will be arranged by our hard-working crew but if you’re planning on staying a few extra days, let us know if we can help with reservations or a few recommendations. 

YOUR Guide

Eros Poli

The Champion

The night before Eros Poli took victory atop Mont Ventoux he couldn’t sleep. It was not like he was dreaming of victory or even had the slightest idea the next day's stage would change his life forever. It was just that it was hot. Unbearably, unsleepably hot in his less-than stellar French hotel. His roommate had taken his mattress off the bed and was sleeping on the small balcony outside their room. And the man who would shortly become known as Monsieur Ventoux was watching football, Italy vs. Brazil in the World Cup final, to be exact. Italy lost. The following morning as Eros dragged his weary, tired legs out of bed and down the stairs, as there was no lift, James Brown came into his head. “I feel good, I knew that I would now,” started to repeat over and over in his head. As it would the rest of the day. He felt good and the rest, as they say, is history.

BIKE OPTION

PINARELLO DOGMA F

FRAMESET:

Pinarello Dogma F

COCKPIT:

ZIPP Service Course SL

GRUPPO:

SRAM RED eTap AXS

PEDALS:

Speedplay (or your own)

SADDLE:

Selle Italia

WHEELSET:

Zipp 303 S Carbon Tubeless

TIRES:

Vittoria Corsa

BOTTLE CAGES:

Elite Custom Race

BIDON:

Elite Corsa Team

COMPUTER:

Garmin Edge 1030