Anyone thinking of cycling in Spain quickly thinks of the Costa Blanca, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. To the north, in the Catalan country, you will find the beautiful cycling village of Girona, some 100 kilometres north-east of Barcelona. This village has developed as a favourite winter residence (and summer stay) for many professional cyclists (Robert Gesink and Kasia Niewadoma, among others, were and are often found there.) Why, of course, you ask? The reason is obvious. Not only are you close to the Pyrenees, but you also have the opportunity to enjoy everything Catalonia has to offer after a long ride. The beach, the food, the culture.
Girona itself is a fantastic cycling community. Not only are there many providers of cycling-related activities, but also the range of coffee shops and restaurants make for a lovely atmosphere. Add to this the fact that you are close to two airports (Barcelona El Prat and also Girona-Costa Brava) and you have a perfect mix for a great cycling holiday.
The old town
Girona is a beautiful medieval city, with an old city wall, which you can also walk across very nicely. Its location, close to the mountains, yet close to the coast, provides endless opportunities for cycling and enjoyment.... The city itself is very lively all year round. The most frequently taken photo though is the one you also see above, with the view of the river. The colourful houses, with the sun falling on them: a typical image of Girona. In addition, the cathedral (Cathedral de Girona) is an unmissable point in the old town. With its baroque facade, it is a recognisable landmark. Game of Thrones fan? This is the place to take a snapshot
Cycling in Girona
Of course, we could make another whole tourist guide to the city, but this platform is about BIKE. Right yes, cycling. Two wheels, a handlebar, a route and then enjoy. Girona is the ideal place for a great cycling adventure. That's why, in collaboration with Catalonia Bike Tours picked some great spots for you.
Classic Els Angels
From Girona, many will do the magnificent Els Angels climb. A lovely long run, of over ten kilometres, with an average of just 3.6 per cent. Truly a wonderful climb to warm up, with beautiful views at the top. At the top you'll find the Santuari dels Àngels, which you should definitely pay a visit to. An added bonus is that from there you can look out over the beautiful region, seeing Girona, the Empordà and the Pyrenees in the distance.
Rocacorba
From Girona, this is the climb that everyone rides to see how their form is at the moment. Rocacorba is a climb that will really hurt, especially after you reach Collet de Pujarnol. From then on there is only double digits in terms of gradient. The climb still starts quietly with a kind of false flat. That gets steeper and steeper towards Camos. You really feel like you're not moving forward. The climb really starts when you cross the small bridge and then the road turns left between the trees. Prepare for the worst....It is 10 kilometres to the summit from here. You get particularly little rest and it really is a painful exercise. With a maximum of 13.3 per cent, you will have to bring the right form.
Famous by David Millar
Everyone who is a member of the Rocacorba Cycling Club, David Millar's invite-only club has a target time of age +10 minutes. Then you know. Only disadvantage of this climb is the fact that it is a dead-end. So you have to go back the same way.
Girona and surroundings in three or four days
Want to explore the area properly? Then you can use this tour make three or four days a perfect long weekend for yourself. You will get to see all the highlights of the area and you will also drive a beautiful stretch along the coast. Surely that's something special. In this tour, you first drive towards the coast at Platja D'Aro. You then ride along the challenging and beautiful Sant Grau. This is a challenging stretch of cycling, but according to those in the know, one of the most beautiful stretches for cycling in all of Catalonia.
Beautiful surroundings
You can now choose to add an extra day to your tour and ride the classic climbs of Sant Pelaia, Puig D'Arques and La Ganga. If you don't do this, then grab the route along the coast from Platja D'Aro towards L'Estartit straight away. Places I only know from the GOGO Tours holiday guide from 25 years ago. Never knew you could cycle so beautifully there.
Back to Girona
The road back to Girona leads through several medieval towns, of which Pals, Palau-Sator and Monells are the most impressive. This route is mainly on inner roads, through beautiful fields and in 80 kilometres you pick up almost 1100 altimeters. We added a little bit ourselves, just for fun!
All focused on cycling
Girona knows its added value in cycling. The city is really geared to cyclists. You can see that in the many coffee shops, bike rental companies, but also especially in the hotels. They are equipped to welcome you. Bicycle-friendly, in other words. Some tips that will make your stay in Girona fantastic.
- Eat Sleep Cycle: This is a lovely café and restaurant in Girona, where you can also rent a bike if you like, but we recommend it mainly for its coffee and delicacies.
- Service Course Girona: Also is now a classic, where you can hook up with one of the rides, you can find bikes (beautiful bikes!) and you can shop for clothes and accessories.
- La Fabrica Girona: in terms of food and drink, you'll get your money's worth at La Fabrica. Former pro Christian Meier and his wife Amber run this cafe/restaurant. It breathes cycling and whether you come for a pre-ride coffee or a post-ride lunch, quality is guaranteed.
- Hors Category: This is a beautiful venue with great food and a good atmosphere. The café is owned by Robert Gesink. So if you want a good coffee and a delicious meal, especially for cyclists. This is the place to go!
