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If you speak about road cycling hubs these days, you can’t get far in the conversation without mentioning the Catalonian town of Girona. Primarily know as one of if not the most popular European base for many professional cyclists, it has also become a a cyclo-tourism hotspot in recent years. Its amazing landscapes, quiet roads and world-famous cuisine attracts riders from around the world. Head out for a ride with Mireia Simó and Kathrin Schafbauer to get the low-down on this cycling reference.
Girona, Catalunya. A town and its surroundings that attracts more and more visitors. A popular place that many cyclists and athletes choose as their residence. Endless films were shot in the medieval center of Girona and you can hardly find anywhere else with such a huge variety of outstanding restaurants. The fact that Girona is closely linked with cycling is immediately apparent when you pass through its streets. Cozy and super-stylish cycling cafes on every corner and I see a couple of professional riders passing by on their way out to train. Nope, Girona doesn’t suck.
It's early morning and I have a coffee with Mireia at Café Hors Categorie. We plan our tour with a delicious piece of cake and a great coffee. Mireia is from Barcelona and her parents have a house close to Girona. She knows every corner in the area – the perfect riding buddy for a great day on the bike.
Well-fortified for the day we swing on our bikes and cross the city to start our first climb of the day - "Els Ángels". The road winds through pine forests, which provide some shade and make for great scenery. I am pleasantly surprised that there are almost no cars on the road. It is a nice climb to start the day, not too steep, but perfect to get your engine warmed up for the rest of the day. The view at the top of the climb is beautiful and invites you to linger. For Mireia it was even the place where she fell in love with cycling in the first place. Her first ever road bike tour took her up this climb. From that moment on she was hooked by the sport and spends most of her free time on two wheels, just like me.
Meanwhile, it is getting hot and we are looking forward to getting going again. It's a fast descent with plenty of curves. A perfect descent for all the adrenalin junkies. After another hour through fields and nice rolling terrain we end up in Monells. The perfect place to fill up your water bottles and have a quick break. In the market square in this picturesque place, many (cycling) tourists take a break in the shade, and the cozy cafés and restaurants invite you to stay a bit longer.
For us it goes further to the second climb of the day – plenty of butterflies are in the air and cyclists are at every corner. We stop for a photo and take it all in. The good thing is that it goes steadily and very evenly uphill, the slope amounts to a maximum of 8%. The sun is gradually getting lower and we get closer and closer back to Girona.
To end a perfect day on the bike we get an ice cream on the stairs of the cathedral to repass the day together. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.
The route starts in Girona and immediately begins with a 10km climb up to Els Angels followed by a fast descent to Madremanya. From there it is a rolling terrain for the next 30km. The second climb of the day is 6km long with 300hm to Puig Moliner. After a fast descent it is mainly flat for the next 30km until the climb up to Puig d’en Carreres. It is 5km long and 250hm before it is time to head back to Girona. In total it is 135km and 1710hm.
