Catalunya·Spain
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Girona has become the base for more professional cyclists than anywhere on earth, and the reason is on every road out of town: quiet, well-surfaced climbs up to the Pyrenean foothills, gravel through the Guilleries forest, and a coast road to the sea. The compact old town ties it all together with the best cafe culture in cycling.
In season: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov · Peak: Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Rolling to genuinely hard days with a climb like Rocacorba as the local benchmark, on roads with light traffic and endless variety. Spring and autumn are ideal; summer is hot inland but the coast stays rideable.
The training climb every pro rides out of the city
Long inland loop through forest, no traffic
Sea-cliff road south, the postcard ride
The hard one, and the benchmark local riders measure against
Fly to Girona or Barcelona and base in the old town. Bring your own bike or hire from one of the pro-grade shops; a GPS unit and the local route files sort the navigation.
Climbing3 sectorsSpain
The overhanging wall that produced La Dura Dura, one of climbing's hardest routes.
Climbing5 sectorsSpain
The cliff-top crag that shaped modern Spanish sport climbing.
Trekking4 routesSpain
Two hundred high lakes and the Carros de Foc hut circuit, in Catalonia's only national park.
CyclingFrance
The Route des Grandes Alpes: 700 kilometres and sixteen passes from Lake Geneva to the sea.
Cycling3 routesSpain
The Vuelta's fiercest climbs — the Angliru and the Lagos de Covadonga.
Cycling4 routesSpain
The winter training base of the pro peloton, climbs and coast under the Peñón at Calpe.
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