When should I go?

Being in the Costa Brava region of north eastern, the weather is generally relatively temperate, and as a result the surrounding country tends to be greener than the southern areas. You’ll find the lowest average temperature as two degrees in December, January and February, with the highest average readings in the same months at 13, 13, and 14 degrees respectively.

Of course, it’s between spring and autumn that most visitors head to Girona – cyclists included. The average high in May is 22 degrees, rising to 30 degrees in the peak of summer, and dipping down to the mid 20s again by the time September and October roll around. Besides the pleasant temperatures, Girona is a popular base for pro cyclists because of the relative lack of rainfall year-round.

Ultimately, April, May, June, September and October are the ideal months to visit tourist for a cycling trip. The weather is ideal and you’ll avoid the heat and extra tourist traffic of peak summer.

Wider Province of Girona

The Province of Girona is within Catalonia and stretches from the border with France in the Pyrenees down south to the border with the Province of Barcelona. It covers a total area of nearly 6,000 square kilometres, and is home to towns like Figueres, Lloret de Mar, Palafrugell as well historically-significant locales, such as Banyoles. What’s more, if you want to escape the city of Girona – perhaps to find an idyllic Spanish villa – then you should have plenty of choice.

Your base may depend on the kind of riding you want to do. If coastal riding is up your street, then to the east of the city is where you want to be based.

There are plenty of companies looking for your business when it comes to cycling holidays and training camps in the region, but if you’re going self-organised, then larger coastal resorts like Palamós, Lloret de Mar or Sant Feliu de Guíxols will offer plenty of accommodation (although you’ll be joining the coastal tourist crowds in summer), or there are also any number of the other smaller resorts literally dotting the coastline.

The more mountainous terrain lies in the inland eastern region of the province, so if you’re planning a training camp to prepare for a big mountainous sportive, just want to improve your climbing, or simply want to get out and ride some hills, you can base yourself in the volcanic Garrotxa area, perhaps in the town of Olot or Ripoli, which will offer great seclusion from the tourist hoards and easiest access to quieter roads and climbs.

How to get there

Conveniently, Girona has its own airport, located about 12.5km outside of the city. It’s a small airport but has flights throughout the year from most major UK airports, although in deep winter the availability of direct flights is significantly reduced.

Alternatively, if a direct flight isn’t available, you can choose to fly in to Barcelona which is served directly year-round by dozens of airlines and is 100km south of Girona. If you hire a car then it’s about an hour-and-a-half drive or you can catch the train via Barcelona city. Alternatively, you could choose to base yourself somewhere between Barcelona and Girona.

Els Angels

Els Angels is worth a look simply for its history: at the top, you’ll find the church in which renowned surrealist artist Salvador Dalí was married. It’s one of the closer climbs to Girona, and features in the eastern hills that separate the city from the Costa Brava.

It’s not the toughest climb, with a steepest grade of seven per cent and 2km flat section in the middle, but from the outskirts of Girona on the C-250 it’s a winding and twisting road that leads right up to the monastery at the top.

Be sure to turn left and arc round the holy place to finish the segment if you’re giving it the beans. Then you can choose to continue along the pass towards la Bisbal d’Empordà and the coast for a neat out and back beach ride.

Vital statistics

Length: 11.2km
Average gradient: four per cent
Elevation gain: 397m

Sant Hilari

Sant Hilari is another pro-recognised climb, although there are many roads that lead to summit depending on which way you approach it.

There are two from the Girona side. First, there’s the N-141e road that starts in Anglès and winds through Osor before continuing its long ribbon toward the Sant Hilari Sacalm. Then there’s the Caretera de Sant Hilari climb that tracks along the C-25 in the foothills before winding its way up too. Both are inconsistent, rocking and rolling over their considerable length all the way to the top.

Both can form part of a convenient loop from Girona, with a café at the top for a pit-stop and refresh, and it also gives a technical and challenging descent down the other way.

The third option is the GI-550 road, which is 10.2km in length from Arbúcies in the south of the region. Dutch climber Robert Gesink holds the Stava KOM on this one, incidentally.

Vital statistics

GI-550 (from Arbúcies)
Length: 10.2km
Average gradient: five per cent
Elevation gain: 534m

Mare de Deu del Mont

If you fancy a look at the Pyrenees, then you might like to try climbing the Mare de Deu de Mont. Like Sant Hilari, it’s a little way out from the city of Girona, but also has its fair share of pro ‘fans’, with the likes of Romain Bardet, Simon Yates, Tom Danielson and Lawson Craddock all having given it a crack over the years.

The segment is an 18.5km beast with an average pitch of five per cent starting near Cabanelles, rising gently to Sant Martí Sesseres. Once there, the road arcs round the left among a host of twists, turns and switchbacks and a steepening gradient of up to 11 per cent until it reaches the dead-end summit.

To give you an idea of its toughness, the fastest QOM time is set by Ashleigh Moolman Pasio in 54 minutes and 12 seconds, with the KOM held by Team Sunweb youngster Sindre Lunke in 49:27. Ouch.

It’s also a beauty, with views into the valley alongside stone outcroppings verging the road. Usefully, there is a turnoff at two thirds of the way up, so you can use this to bail and head directly back towards Banyoles and onto Girona should you need too, or as an alternative route to descend once you’ve reached the summit.

Vital statistics

Length: 18.5km
Average gradient: five per cent
Elevation gain: 919m

Preparation

A trip to Girona has the potential for some very varied riding, from challenging climbs to flatter coastal roads. As a result, you need to be prepared for the kind of riding you specifically have planned.

If riding around the Province of Girona for you is a main goal of your season – perhaps a holiday in which you want to enjoy everything it has to offer, then make sure you’re geared appropriately for your ability. While very strong climbers may prefer a standard double 53-39t chainset or (more likely) semi-compact 52-36t chainset, most riders will appreciate a compact 50-34t chainset paired to an 11-28t cassette. If you know if you know climbing really isn’t your strength, opting for a cassette with a 30 or 32-tooth sprocket (if your bike will accept it) will give you an extra gear or two to get out of jail.

Gearing will only get you so far. Ensuring you’re well-trained for the climbs and distances you’re going to be covering before you go will go a long way to making the trip a more enjoyable experience. A route planning tool like Strava will help you plot your routes, as well as gauge the length and severity of the climbs you’re set to take on.

Should you head out in the spring or summer, it’s wise to remember the sun is far stronger in this part of the world, even if it doesn’t feel it up in the mountains. Ensure you pack plenty of high-factor sun cream, including travel-style minis that you can easily carry in a jersey pocket, and try to plan in potential stops in towns and villages for water.

Remember that in non-coastal and tourist-dense regions, the Spanish are far more likely to honour their afternoon siesta traditions – so shops, bars and cafés may not be open in the peak heat hours of the day.

You also need to ensure you’re carrying at least the spare equipment you would have for a normal ride at home, with extra spares in your luggage just in case.

This should include spare tubes, tyre levers, and a pump or CO2 canisters (subject to airline restrictions), as well as puncture repair kit, a versatile multi-tool (some may even want to bring a toolkit for larger repairs back at base), and anything you may need over the course of your trip, including chain lube and the charger for an electronic groupset, if you have one.

Did you know?

If you wanted to technically visit the Province of Girona and have prime access to the Pyrenees, then the municipality of Llívia could be a good bet. It’s a Spanish enclave within the French département of Pyrénées-Orientales, relatively close to Andorra.

Useful Links

Places

• https://www.girona-tourist-guide.com
• http://www.girona.cat/turisme/eng/
• http://turisme.banyoles.cat/ca-es/
• http://www.turismeolot.com/en/
• http://en.costabrava.org

Travel

• https://www.gironacyclecentre.com
• http://www.bikecat.com
• http://www.gironacycling.com

Challenges

• http://gironagranfondo.com
• http://www.terraderemences.com
• http://www.terradelaigua.com
• https://www.ccbanyoles.com/les-goges/