Not for nothing is this region in Catalonia called ‘the Gold Coast’; the sandy beaches on the Costa Daurada are beautiful and the sea clear blue. Cyclists visit this region for its favourable climate and beautiful cycling routes in the Prades mountains and the even further inland Montsant mountains. Extraordinary rock formations, vineyards and charming villages define the landscape here. The roads are quieter than in other popular training destinations on the Spanish coast, but at least as beautiful. That is why many cyclists choose a cycling holiday or training camp in this area.
The Costa Daurada, like the Costa Blanca and Costa Brava, is a great training location, especially in the winter months. There are coastal roads where you can cycle flat, but also mountains where you will find numerous beautiful climbs finds. The road network is extensive, allowing you to create endless routes.
The advantage of the Costa Daurada is that this destination is still slightly less popular than the other coasts. As a result, here you can still cycle among locals and groups of cyclists who, like you, prefer a quieter destination search.
Climbs such as La Mussara (16 kilometres with 782 altimeters) and Montsant (11 kilometres with 749 altimeters) are literally and figuratively the highlights of the region.
The mild Mediterranean climate on the Costa Daurada makes for mild winters. With daytime temperatures between 12 and 16 degrees on the coast and only five rainy days per month, the weather is great for training for the upcoming cycling season. In the mountains, it is slightly cooler.
In late spring and early autumn, it is sunny and warm enough for a refreshing dip in the sea or the beautiful Siurana reservoir, located in the middle of the Prades mountains.
In summer, it can get very hot on the Costa Daurada, but you can still cycle well in the mountains; especially if you leave early in the morning.
The coastal landscape on the Costa Daurada is flat, but it is not far cycling from there to the popular climbs. So you can perfectly combine a beach holiday and a cycling holiday. The roads towards inland are often flax flat, making them a great warm-up for the real climbing.
These are the climbs not to be missed when cycling on the Costa Daurada:
La Mussara / Coll de les Llebres - 16 kilometres with 782 metres altitude
A beautiful route with a special destination; that's the climb to ghost village La Mussara. The village has been officially abandoned since 1959. Yet it still attracts visitors; the route to La Mussara is popular among cyclists. Cycle the climb as a round trip, or make a round trip via Vilaplana and Alforja.
Siurana from Cornudella de Montsant - 6.7 kilometres with 314 metres altitude
This climb is not that long, but very beautiful.
Rojals from Montblanc - 11 kilometres with 635 altimeters
Montblanc is a beautiful medieval village, which you should visit anyway when you are in the area. Then immediately combine that with the hairpin climb to Rojals. This climb is a round trip, unless you cycle up on a gravel bike; from the top, the smooth tarmac turns into a gravel road that eventually leads you back to a paved motorway.
Curious about more great climbs and routes? Then take a look at the website of Cycling Cambrils For GPX files for various disciplines from Cambrils.
Between late March and early October, many cyclists choose seaside accommodation; you can then perfectly combine cycling with relaxing moments of rest by the sea. The first climbs are about 20 kilometres (false flat) cycling from the coastline. Cambrils is a perfect base for your cycling and beach holiday on the Costa Daurada. In this coastal town you will find several bicycle-friendly hotels, such as Hotel Monica, where you can even rent bikes.
Go cycling or gravelling in the Prades mountains and don't necessarily want to stay on the coast? Then stay at Park Prades in your own tent or camper van, or in a cosy bungalow. From here, you really can go in any direction!
During your bike rides on the Costa Daurada, you will see beautiful, ancient villages encounter. Due to the isolated life in the mountains and the still fairly limited tourism, many of these places have hardly been affected by modernisation. Narrow streets, stone squares and centuries-old churches give you a glimpse of authentic Catalonia. Culture lovers should definitely visit Tarragona; this city was once one of the main Roman cities of Spain. Today, you can still see a lot of history in the city, such as the city wall, which is well preserved.
After a sporty day on the bike, local cuisine tastes extra good. Taste the “pa amb tomàquet”, a simple but delicious toast with tomato, olive oil and garlic. Enjoy esqueixada, a fresh salad with salted cod, and try fideuà, a paella variant with noodles and seafood. Don't forget to leave a spot for crema catalana, a dessert with a crispy layer of caramelised sugar. Pair all this with a glass of wine from the region Priorat, which you may have discovered on your way through the Montsant mountains.
