Girona Escape (4 or 7 nights)
Riding Days
5 or 8
Number of Nights
4 or 7
Total Distance
445km / 760km
Total Climbing
6,850m / 11,200m
Difficulty
3/5
At a Glance
Girona Cycling Tour
Girona has now become the base of so many pro riders that you can’t turn a corner without bumping into someone recognisable; in the city itself, you can see EF Pro Cycling riders relaxing in the sun on Plaça de la Independencia or Lotto Jumbo riders sipping 'café cortado' at Federal Cafe run by current professional cyclist Rory Sutherland of Israel Start-up Nation. Federal Cafe and Hors Categorie are the latest coffee shops to pop up serving the growing cycling community, so you are bound to bump into a pro cyclist or two.
What makes Girona such a great place to ride? the quiet tranquil roads with a great mix of hills, mountains and flat riding, and did we mention the gravel riding? That can wait for your next adventure!
We've assembled the highlights of Girona into this action-packed 4 or 7 night tour. You'll get to ride; possibly the best coast road anywhere in the world; Rocacorba, used by so many pros to test their legs ahead of their big races; Els Angels, the local climb literally just outside the town boundary; then continue to explore further afield between the Pyrenees mountains and the shimmering blue waters of the Mediterranean.
The longer 7 night option sees you start with 2 nights based on the beautiful Costa Brava, an area that is wonderfully warm and sunny, even in the early months of the year. On the 7 night trip, you will transfer on the bike to Girona for the final 5 nights where you will meet up with the shorter trip. The 4 night trip is based entirely in Girona and coincides with the longer 7 night trip.
This Escape tour is not only about cycling but also allows you to explore the Catalan way of life. The tranquillity and calm which visitors feel when they come to the region along with the delicious tapas and cuisine of the region. The Girona province has been world-renowned for its excellent cuisine, whether it be delicious tapas such as 'Botifarra' sausages, pa amb tomàquet, calçots or the more refined establishment of the world's number one restaurants 'El Celler de Can Roca' or previously 'El Bulli'.
Ride with us and you’ll be treated to some of the best hospitality we can offer: experienced La Fuga guides, local knowledge, great restaurants, nutritional and mechanical support on every ride, plus anything else we can offer – the follow van is always right there, so all you need to focus on is enjoying the ride. Experience the beauty of the region and test yourself on the local roads.
Tour Highlights
- Beautiful vistas of the Costa Brava coast road and Lake Banyoles
- Test yourself on the climbs of Rocacorba, Els Angels, Sant Grau and Santa Pellaia
- Hang out where the pros hang out in the cafes and restaurants of Girona old town
- Tranquil Catalan way of life characterised with courteous drivers
Book Tour
€900.00 – €2,200.00
Overview
Girona Cycling Tour - The region & the challenge
Catalunya is nestled in the northeastern part of Spain, adjacent to the French border and hemmed in by the mountains of the Pyrenees.
Catalunya, Cataluña or Catalonia depending on which language you speak has a strong identity which is distinctly separate from that of the rest of Spain. Under the dictatorship of Franco, the region endured many years of repression of their identity, language and traditions. The result being the tensions you see bubbling up in the most recent calls for Catalan Independence and the recent clashes with the Spanish authorities.
As you travel around the province of Girona – one of the four provinces in the Catalunya region – you will hear a language which is not the familiar chatter of accented Spanish. Catalan is spoken more widely in the Girona Province than the larger metropolitan area of Barcelona and the further you venture away from the coast the more you will hear the tones, sounds and words which have a greater similarity to a French/Italian than to Spanish.
The traditions of this region are also intriguing. You won’t find the familiar stereotypes of bullfighting Spaniards here; you’re more likely to find extreme feats of strength – which symbolise the character of the Catalans – as they build immense human towers called ‘colles castellers’. Working under the motto ‘Força, equilibri, valor i seny’, the castellers represent the strength, balance, courage and common sense ingrained into the people of Catalunya.
As you travel around the province of Girona, you will be pleasantly surprised by the tranquillity and welcoming nature of the Catalans as they patiently wait behind a group of cyclists, passing only when called to do so, something which most cyclists are not so accustomed to!
Girona and the pros
Girona first began attracting cyclists in the 1990s when professionals such as George Hincapie chose the city for its mild climate, quiet roads and convenient location between mountains, sea and the international airport at Barcelona. But it was when the infamous Lance Armstrong bought an apartment, that the city was really put on the cycling map and it’s now a mecca for pro cyclists, some permanently relocating with their families, others simply enjoying a few months of winter training in the hills around the city.
This small corner of Catalonia is now the base of so many pro riders that you can’t turn a corner without bumping into someone recognisable; in the city itself, you can see EF Pro Cycling riders relaxing in the sun on Plaça de la Independencia or Lotto Jumbo riders sipping ‘café cortado’ at Federal Cafe run by current professional cyclist Rory Sutherland of Israel Start-up Nation. Federal Cafe and Hors Categorie are the latest coffee shops to pop up serving the growing cycling community; you are sure to bump into a pro cyclist or two.
Among the vast maze of Catalan roads and hills, one climb stands out as an emerging legend; Rocacorba. It might not be the name you currently recognise, but the same would have been said about the Col de la Madone back in the late 1990s. Rocacorba is a 13.8km climb, averaging a reasonable 7% gradient, but the flatter sections mask the real difficulty of the climb with a few 10-15% sections to challenge your strength. It is the type of climb that can’t be faked, you will know exactly how well you’re riding, but your reward is an incredible panoramic view – showing both the high Pyrenees and the still blue of the Mediterranean.
Charming villages
In addition to the attractive landscape, cuisine and the people of Girona Province, some places in this region have a truly unique air about them.
This is the case of the charming villages that you will discover as you ride through Girona old town, Monells, Pals, Santa Pau or Basalú, among some others.
Girona has so many attractions that it is hard to know where to begin. It is one of the most important medieval towns in Catalunya: don’t miss its unique Jewish quarter and the Girona Cathedral.
The fact that almost one-third of the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees is a natural protected area should give you a good idea of what you’ll find there: with just a few kilometres separating the snow-capped Pyrenees peaks from the Mediterranean’s most charming beaches and coves.
In such a short distance there’s room for fishing villages and high mountain rural towns, for Romanesque monasteries and churches, for Iberian settlements, Greek and Roman ruins, Jewish quarters and medieval fortifications, and the surrealist legacy of Salvador Dalí.
Climate
Gearing
Details
What's Included
- 4 or 7 night’s accommodation
- All breakfasts at the hotel and 2 evening meals at local restaurants*
- Airport transfers – transfer times to be arranged
- Experienced and local language guides
- Mechanical support / building and packing of bikes
- Support vehicle to follow rides
- Road side picnics on ride days
- Digital route files for your GPS Devices
- Complimentary sports nutrition
- La Fuga welcome pack
*Meals are included up to a specific budget after which a supplement will be applied
What's not Included
- Flights
- Café or restaurant lunches and coffee stops
- All drinks with meals
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Incidental Expenses
- Parts and spares used during the trip
- Tips and gratuities
- Massages - available at the hotel
- Bike Rental option available during the checkout
Itinerary
Our La Fuga guides will pick you up from Barcelona airport and transfer you to your hotel. Once checked in, your bikes will be assembled or fitted if using rental bikes. There should be time for a quick spin along the coast and an up the short climb of Romanyà de la Selva.
There will be time ahead of dinner to have a quick walk along the seafront and grab a drink ahead of a delicious meal.
Your guide will brief you over dinner about the format of the next few days of riding. After dinner, you can explore the local streets of Sant Feliu de Guixols or just sit on the terrace and enjoy the views over the Mediterranean.
After a breakfast overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean, you’ll be ready to explore the beautiful coastline further. Today’s ride takes us along quiet roads tracing the coast with glimpses of the blue waters below. There are several short peaks that we climb as the road continues north until we head into the flatter roads of Baix Empordá. The climb of La Ganga again gives views of the sea from the summit. A beautiful descent then gives way to the final climb of Romanyà de la Selva from the opposite direction to the warm up yesterday before an easy spin back to the hotel and an afternoon of relaxation.
Take in a massage at the hotel or just sit back and relax in the sun gazing at the sea stretching out in front of you. Tonight’s dinner will be at a local restaurant in the town.
Your two nights based on the Costa Brava are over, and tonight you’ll be in Girona city. Your bags will be packed into the support vehicle, and you’ll transfer to Girona by bike. First, off La Ganga, a beautiful and steady climb that takes you over to La Bisbal d’Empordá, before you’ll head north through the beautiful medieval villages of Monells and Pubol. A quick ‘cafe solo’ will ensure you have enough energy for the rest of the ride. After crossing ‘El Ter’ river, you’ll head into the rolling hills towards the Alt Empordá area, the remainder of the ride will be through beautiful rolling terrain to the north of Girona. You’ll arrive at the cobbled centre of the ‘barri vell’ (old town) before arriving at your hotel for the next 5 nights with views overlooking the beautiful city.
We’ll take a short journey to a local restaurant for a typical local Catalan meal in a farmhouse overlooking the city.
Day 1 (4 night trip)
7 night group
Today you will be joined by riders who arrive for the 4 night trip, but not before a special treat for the longer group! In our opinion, today’s ride up ‘Mare de Déu del Mont’ is one of the most beautiful mountains in the area. Literally translated it means the ‘mother of God mountain’ and on a clear day affords views of the coast on one side and the higher Pyrenees towards Andorra on the other. The ride to get there is composed of rolling farmlands and forests until you get to the bottom of the climb. When you arrive on the upper slopes the views over the valley unfold, you’ll struggle to continue the rhythm as your gaze turns to the amazing vistas below.
The descent is down the same way we came up for a short while before we head off in a different direction back towards Girona.
The 4 night group will have arrived by the time you arrive back at the hotel.
After some relaxation and rest, we’ll walk into the city to sample one of our favourite restaurants in the old town, and we’ll meet new friends who will be joining for the next few days of riding.
Route shown is 7 night trip route
4 night group
Our La Fuga guides will pick you up from Barcelona airport and transfer you to your hotel. Once checked in, your bikes will be assembled or fitted if using rental bikes. There should be time for a quick spin to the top of Els’ Angels before returning to the hotel.
We’ll take a short walk into town for an ‘aperitivo’ in ‘Plaça de la Independència’ before a delicious local meal in our favourite restaurant.
Your guide will brief you over dinner about the format of the next few days of riding. After dinner, you can enjoy a drink in one of the many bars on La Rambla or take a short stroll back to the hotel.
Day 2 (4 night trip)
Today’s route takes an excellent test of the legs and endurance. We start with a flat ride across the Selva valley taking in a few short sections of gravel along the way. These sections are easily doable on a standard road bike and are smoother than most roads in other countries. As we leave the beautiful town of Santa Coloma de Farners, we’ll start the big test of the day with the climb of Sant Hilari. The climb is around a 15km climb (but it goes up for essentially 18km) taking you up to the village of Sant Hilari. The gradient varies quite a bit during the climb, but the views are spectacular all the way up.
The descent is technical and will allow you to practice your technique and pick up some tips from your guide. There is an excellent short and steady climb left to finish before the rollback into Girona.
Tonight’s dinner you’ll be free to choose on your own as your guides leave you to explore the town.
Day 3 (4 night trip)
Today’s route takes us north and west into the area known as the volcano region of La Garrotxa. La Garrotxa is a huge natural park with many extinct volcanic cones, and it features medieval towns including Santa Pau, built around a castle, and Besalú with its Romanesque bridge.
We start with a flat 10 km, and the next 40 km see us climb up to the town of Santa Pau where we’ll have a well-earned coffee stop. The climb is long, but the gradients are low with only a couple of small sections going over 8%. We skirt around Olot before we start to gently climb again through Sant Esteve d’en Bas and then hit a fast open sweeping descent, it’s worth saving some energy for the final kick of the day a sharp 4 km kick with sections of 6-10%. Our final 20km is generally gravity-assisted all the way back to the hotel.
Tonight’s dinner you’ll be free to choose on your own as your guides leave you to explore the town.
Day 3 (4 night trip)
Today’s ride sees you ride what is probably the most spectacular section of coast road in the world – it is time to see the Costa Brava coast.
The name Costa Brava literally translates as ‘rugged coast’. The name was coined by a Girona-born journalist, Ferran Agulló, in a piece for the Catalan newspaper La Veu de Catalunya on September 12, 1908, when he first used the designation to refer to the coves and towns of the Mediterranean coast.
You’ll have plenty of time to warm up before you get to the coast by riding along small quiet road meandering between olive groves and farmland with barely a car in sight. The first real test is the climb of Terra Negra which separates the Selva valley from the coastal area. The climb is steady and the descent is a pure dream as it transfers you to the coast. We’ll have a little look around Tossa de Mar and grab a quick coffee too.
The Costa Brava coast road between Sant Feliu and Tossa de Mar is simply magical with dramatic rocky jagged cliffs high above the shimmering Mediterranean, affording glimpses of the tempting water as you sail around the curves and undulations in the road. We’ll have a bite to eat overlooking the waters before heading back towards Girona. After finish the coastal road we’ve got two more climbs left. The short 3km climb of La Ganga is a pure dream, it sinuous road takes you high onto the ridge of the Gavarres looking back at the coast. The equally beautiful climb of Santa Pellaia, a steady 6km climb, drops you back down to the Selva valley. All that remains are small lanes and quiet roads which take you back towards Girona where you can relax at the hotel with a cold drink after a great day’s riding.
Your final nights meal will be in the centre of the old town at one of our favourite restaurant where we can toast an excellent trip, although there is still one ride left for the next day.
Day 5 (4 night trip)
With an afternoon return flight home it allows you a chance to take on the local classic; ‘The Rocacorba’. This is a 69 km out and back loop since being restored and rebuilt this road has since been tagged the “Alpe d’Huez” of Girona.
It’s the local proving ground, test yourself against the pros. The main climb is 10 km long, and it has some steep ramps, especially on the second section with a 9% average. The views from the top over the valley below are breath taking and allow you to see the seas on a clear day. This is a tough but enjoyable way of finishing your Girona trip.
We will aim to return for lunch in Plaça de la Independència prior to departure. Our mechanic will pack your bikes ready for the journey home.
Accommodation
Hotels may be subject to change from time to time due to availability.
Girona Escape (4 or 7 nights)
