DESCRIPTION

Girona is an incredible city with a magnificent past reflected around the city. You can walk along its narrow winding city streets or a top of the medieval walls that span the eastern border of Old Town.

Another jewel of Girona, is the Cathedral de Santa Maria, where you can take a picture in the steps leading up to it, and if you are a fan of Game of Thrones you will hear the crowd chanting “Shame, shame, shame…”. Not only the cathedral but the streets of the Old Town, also known as the Jewish Quarter or “Call Jueu” in Catalan, were used as the setting for the streets of Braavos.

When visiting Girona you can’t also miss stopping at one of the many bridges that cross the Onyar river, including the Eiffel Bridge, constructed by Gustav Eiffel just before the Tower Eiffel. From the bridges you will be able to see the colourful cases that surround this river.

Museums, churches, historic monuments and bars and cafes, Girona is a city where you won’t get bored.

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DESCRIPTION

The first stage of this tour is a classic for road cyclists in Girona, the Hincapie Loop, named after George Hincapie, one of the first professional cyclists to make the city its base.

The traditional starting point of this route is The Stone Bridge, North of the main square in the city center. Exiting the city, the first climb of the day is found, Els Àngels, one of the most famous mountain ports in Girona. Its fame is not due to the harshness of the climb but due to its proximity to the city, which makes it ideal for those cyclists looking for a quick ride to stretch their legs and warm up.

When you reach the top, the descend towards the Emporda’s region and its medieval villages starts. Those charming villages are the perfect place to stop for a snack or coffee, before starting the next climb of the day to Santa Pellaia. This mountain port is cherished for its smooth and constant gradient upwards, as well as its fun and fast descent

Once in Cassà de la Selva you return to Girona while enjoying the views to the Gavarres Natural Area.

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DESCRIPTION

This bike route takes us to one of the toughest bike climbs in Catalonia, Rocacorba. These mountain ports have slopes of up to 15% and many sections above 10%. This, joined with the beauty of the route, regularly attracts the professional cycling teams training in between competitions and the off season.

At top, the Mare de Déu de Rocacorba Sanctuary is found and, from there, you get beautiful views to the surrounding mountains of the Pyrenees and the Pre-Pyrenees to the Mediterranean Sea. On the way you will also pass Banyoles, the capital of triathlons in Catalonia thanks to its perfect geography comprised of green hills and the largest natural lake in Catalonia.

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DESCRIPTION

This is the ideal route for those who love cycling with views to the sea. Leaving Girona and pedaling through a plain past Cassà de la Selva, you will enter the massif de l’Ardenya, also known as massif de Cadiretes.

In there you will climb Sant Grau, a light ascent of 9 km with a beautiful descend with sharp turns. Once you arrive to Tossa de Mar, you will continue to Sant Feliu de Guíxols, a “legbreaking” road with little flat terrain where to rest, which helps you understand why this coast is called the Costa Brava, the rugged coast.

Once in Sant Feliu the terrain becomes flatter and allowing you to rest while still riding next to the sea. Heading to Palamós and arriving in Calonge, you will turn to head inland again to climb up to Coll de La Ganga, a fun winding road that runs through the natural area of Les Gavarres. From there you will continue to Girona, passing through Monells, a beautiful medieval village that has been used in various occasions as a movie set.

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DESCRIPTION

Today’s stage will let you discover the Medieval Towns of l’Empordà region. Riding mostly through flat roads surrounded by sunflowers fields and apple orchards.

Some towns have only one building remaining from their historic past, such as the church of Santa Maria in La Tallada d’Empordà, or the Castle of Bellcaire in Bellcaire d’Empordà. Others have a plethora of buildings which will make you feel like you are in the set of a fairy tale movie.

Torroella de Montgrí, Corçà, Ullastret, Peratallada and Palau Sator, are all beautiful towns where the Old Town holds cobbled streets, arched squares, stone buildings or battlements where you can marvel at how the pass of time has affected some of this buildings.

To get back to Girona you will Monells and start your climb in the steeper side of Els Angels.

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