Puiggraciós, mountain close to Barcelona

 

Puiggraciós is a very interesting unknown climb close to Barcelona. A challenging one to tell the truth.

The starting point is at L'Ametlla del Vallès, a village about 30 km from Barcelona, close to Granollers. The length is 3,23 km, according to the created Strava segment, with an average gradient of 8,5%, with some shorter parts at 15% maximum. The Strava segment is here:

https://www.strava.com/segments/11039030

The road heading to Puiggraciós is not especially nice, most of it into some residential areas, just a few bends, it is a mostly straight road. You don't focus on the landscapes, you just focus on the road and it is pure survival! 

To get to the Sanctuary you have to follow on a gravel path once the asphalt is finished. It is just 800 mts. long and you will see the nice church. If you get to Puiggración on a gravel bike, then a very interesting loop is following to Montmany, and then descending to El Figaró. The first couple of kilometers are graveled, but then in Montmany there is a nicely surfaced road with no traffic at all.

Then, the options are multiple, one of our favorites is climbing to Tagamanent, coming next...

New Specialized Tarmac to rent in Barcelona

 

We just received some brand new Specialized Tarmac 2022.

Available to rent in Barcelona and all of Catalonia from November 1st , 2021.

They are equipped with Shimano 105 groupset and disc breaks.

We can deliver to Barcelona and all of Catalonia. Delivery at hotels, airbnb, etc. with additional cost.

Remember that we are also offering guided routes 

https://roadcycling.barcelona/guided-cycling-tours-barcelona/

Gravel cycling in Montseny mountain (Barcelona) - 1

Gravel cycling in Montseny

Montseny mountain is simply a paradise for cycling. So close to Barcelona (hardly 45 km) and you have a big range of mountains to explore and enjoy.

Being road cycling or gravel cycling, the options are endless. Let's focus today on gravel cycling. And specially in a quite popular place for locals, which is Pla de la Calma. This is a relatively flat zone at about 1100 mts height that you can reach from several places, and specially from the top of Coll Formic climb. Coll Formic is probably the best known road in Montseny (together with the climb to Santa Fe del Montseny). Your reach Coll Formic at 1145 mts height either from Palautordera (26 km ascent from C-35 road), either from Seva (shorter climb about 9 km long. The views from Pla de la Calma are amazing, specially to the Pyrenees on the north side, but also to the Mediterranean sea to the south. Of course the views to Montserrat and its rounded shapes, are also possible, not being far away.

But there are some other ways to reach Pla de la Calma. A very interesting way to reach it is from Tagamanent. This is an asphalted road, very demanding at some parts. The road leads to the etnologic park of Tagamanent and afterwards to the old Tagamanent Castle. The asphalted road ends at about 1000 mts (see profile attached) and then the path keeps going to about 1300 mts. This way you get the whole Pla de la Calma, from Tagamanent to Coll Formic, about 10 km long with stunnig views, always above 1100 mts.

A second very interesting way (probably my favourite) is a gravel path starting at Piscines del Montseny (a little before Montseny village). This is a path in quite good condition climbing for 10 km at about 9% gradient, reaching 1300 mts close to the highest point of Pla de la Calma, which is Puig Drau at 1345 mts. It is difficult to name this side of Pla de la Calma, but the best indication is to get to El Molar, an isolated house (Masia in catalan language) on the way up, about half way. In  my wet dreams, this climb could be included in a professional road cycling race (such as Volta a Catalunya or Vuelta a España), and then descent on the road via Coll Formic. That would be our "Coll delle Finestre".

But the gravel bikes allow a much higher number of new places to reach inside the Montseny mountains. One of my favourite places is Ermita de Sant Elies. This is an old church at 999 mts height. The highlight of this climb is the final 5 km stretch at about 10% in a gravel path in quite good condition. Very demanding part though. Considering the whole climb from the Refugis del Montseny, including an asphalted part at the beginning, you get 6,35 km at 10,3% average. Not bad.

On top of the plateau where the church is, you can get a little higher to the firemen observation area with amazing views over the Valles region and even over the Mediterranean sea. Fantastic place, worth a stop.

There is another nice summit you can get nearby which is Turó de la Cova, at 1100 mts height, and you can see one from the other (Sant Elies and Turó de la Cova). The condition of the path is similar to Sant Elies. The characteristic of Turó de la Cova is a bench on top of the climb, which you can sit at, together with a catalan flag. Picture compulsory there. From Turó de la Cova you can descend to Piscines del Montseny, but the path is very rough, and being on the north side it can be frozen and icy in winter.

There are many other options in the Montseny mountains. I'll keep digging, but I am sure this is a good start point. Enjoy!!

Top 10 roads for cycling in Spain

Same as we did a few weeks ago with France, here we go with a list of the best roads for cycling in Spain. Same as in that post about France, let me remind that this is a subjective list. 

Following roads are amazing, that's for sure, but I have no doubts that there are other similar ones and maybe better.

This is my choice:

1. Desfiladero/Cañón de Añisclo (Huesca). This road was included in last Vuelta a España 2020 for the first time (5th stage). This is part of the spanish Pyrenees.
   
2. Jaizkibel (Guipúzcoa). One of the most iconic climbs in all of the Basque Country, part of the route of Clásica de San Sebastián. The road, linking San Sebastián with Hondarribia is a fantastic balcony over the Cantabric sea. Also, steep and challenging climb!
   
3. 
   Coll de la Creueta. This is the first of 3 following roads being in Catalonia. Coll de la Creueta is an amazing road reaching almost 2000 mts.
   
4. Costa Brava (Tossa-Sant Feliu de Guixols). 25 km of amazing coastal road, with very scarce traffic and very smooth surface. Also, very good weather all year long. This is part of the charm.
   
5. Montserrat (Barcelona). This is an iconic mountain in Catalonia. Its unique shape has a magic touch, as the rounded forms suggest the mountain was under the sea for milions of years. The roads surrounding the mountain give different views depending on the angle. Fantastic.
   
6. Sa Calobra (Mallorca). Possibly one of the most famous roads in Mallorca and the target of all the cyclists arriving to the spanish island. The odd thing about this terrific climb is that you have to descend to the coast to climb it opposite direction.
   
7. Far de Formentor (Mallorca). Another iconic destination in Mallorca island. The road heading to the Lighthouse (meaning for Far) is just stunning.
   
8. 
   Portillo de Lunada (Cantabria).This is a very long and scenic climb in Cantabria province (just beside Basque country). The perfect loop in the area includes Alisas, Ason and Lunada in hardly 100 km and 2300 mts elevation.
   
   
9. Desfiladero de la Hermida (Cantabria) This road 21 km long is also located in Cantabria and it is the longest gorge in Spain. You get there from the twisty road N-621. The vertical walls get at some points 600 mts. Amazing.
   
10. El Torcal de Antequera. This place in Malaga province was declared World Heritage site by UNESCO. It was included in Vuelta a España route in 2017.  

Sure there are other great roads for cycling in Spain, as this is cycling paradise. 

Which roads would you include in the list?

Olot, a great destination for cycling in Catalonia

Climbing Coll de Bracons

 

Olot is one of the biggest destinations for cycling in Catalan Pyrenees.

Olot is the capital of the vulcanic region of La Garrotxa, an amazing destination with old vulcanoes, very known for local tourism, but not so many for foreigners. But it is absolutely worth to visit.

The choices are so many. The most popular granfondo (sportive) in Catalonia, takes place in a little village close to Olot: Sant Esteve de'n Bas. It is called "Terra de Remences", honoring an historical fact in history of Catalonia.

The double loop in Terra de Remences is fantastic: first loop including Coll de Capsacosta and Coll de Canes, and second loop including Coll de Bracons (steep!) and Coll de Condreu. From Coll de Condreu (a solitaire not-very-steep climb) you can reach Santuari del Far, an amazing place with stunning views. Worth a visit!

100% Tondo elevation profile

But it is not only these clouple of amazing loops that you can do from Olot.There is another granfondo, called 100% Tondo (honouring the catalan cyclist Xavier Tondo who died in a very young age while being professional rider), that starts at Sant Joan Les Fonts (very close to Olot). The final climb of this Granfondo is Vallter 2000, a 1st category climb, included several times in Volta a Catalunya.

Terrific climb: Collfred!

From Olot you can also reach a couple of very steep climbs such as Collfred (starting at Sant Privat de'n Bas), which profile you can see attached, and another big (but short climb) is Falgars de'n Bas, with the road in quite bad shape, but also big numbers, very steep climb.

Really close to Olot you can lead to Castellfollit de la Roca, the place to start a couple of very nice (and very steep for some parts) climbs, they are the climb to Oix and Beget (a couple of little villages) through a very nice and quiet road, and the second climb is Colldecarrera, a road through Vall de Bac (Bac valley), with some concrete and supersteep parts. Again, an amazing solitaire road.

Regarding places to stay close to Olot, my favourite place is called El Ferres, a house in Joanetes (starting point of Coll de Bracons). All of our customers love it, and they also love Carme, the lovely lady managing the house, the mum of all the visitors!

Top 10 best roads for cycling in France

The scary Parpaillon Tunnel! Long, unlit, wet, it has it all!

We cyclists are always dreaming of the best roads for cycling. Usually big mountains but not only them. Also other kind of roads with personality, with something special that makes most of us be willing to ride them and get another road ticked in our personal list.

The following is my personal list of best 10 roads in France. Did not ride all of them but I did most. And of course I am open to include other roads if they are proven to be better!

1. Combe de Laval. When there is a list of the best gorges in France, this road in Combe du Laval comes always to the top. Please visit https://www.cycling-challenge.com/combe-laval-col-de-la-bataille-loop-vercors/
2. Col de la Loze : This is the brand new road only for cyclists linking the high ski resorts of Meribel and Courchevel. Opened in May 2019, and is the seventh-highest mountain pass in France. The ascent featured in the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir, and will also feature in the 2020 Tour de France. See video on top of the list.
   
3. Gorges du Verdon. One of the nicest Gorges in France, amazing place for cycling close to the mediterranean coast. A couple of amazing cycling loops to discover the region: https://claudi.blogspot.com/2020/03/gorges-du-verdon-un-paraiso-y-no-solo.html
4. Voie Fignon (Tourmalet). Tourmalet is the most important climb in cycling history, linked to Tour de France. And a part of it is dedicated just to cyclists. Can you imagine that amazing spot without any car and amazing views? Voie Fignon, that's it.
5. Ventoux/Gorges de la Nesque. That's the best and the most classic loop when you visit the big mountain in the Provence. The right thing to do would be climbing from Bedoin side (the steepest), then Simpson monument and the top. Back same way to Chalet Reynard and then direction to Sault and Gorge de la Nesque to Bedoin again.
6. Lacets de Montvernier. Included in the Tour de France for the first time in 2015 (and also later in 2018), there are very few roads as scenic as the Lacets de Montvernier, stunning. The Lacets are in the Alps, close to the famous Col de la Madeleine.
   
7. Cirque de Navacelles. Little unknown place southern France, but fantastic spot.
8. Cirque du Litor. One of the key places in the Pyrenees on the way to Col d'Aubisque from Col de Soulor. You are lucky if you get it on claer day witout mist, with amazing views.
   
9. Passage de Gois. Another little road discovered by the Tour de France in 1999. This road is covered with mud as it is under the sea 12 hours a day (high tide). And then, when the low tide you can ride it. Weird feeling riding there.
10. Tunel de Parpaillon. This a scary no lit tunnel over 1 km long at 2300 mts height, one of the highest in the Alps. Very special place. Last half of the ascent is not asphalted, then MTB or gravel bike needed. https://claudi.blogspot.com/2011/08/el-tunel-du-parpaillon-en-busca-de-un.html

France has plenty of amazing roads, a dream for every cyclist. But this top 10 list is hard to beat. Do you agree? Any other road that should be on the list. Comment below!

10 Hardest stages ever in Grand Tours

Coppi in Cuneo Pinerolo

It is difficult to make a list of the hardest stages in Grand Tours ever. After doing some research, you can read this list of 10 stages showing some of the most epic stages in history. Distance and elevation make those stages very special, and some of them will be, no doubt, in cycling History forever.

I've chosen 4 for Tour de France, 4 for Giro d'Italia and 2 from La Vuelta a España.

- Stage Luchon-Bayonne in Tour de France. Classic stage 326 km long including Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, Aubisque and the much smaller Osquich. This stage was in the Tour de france route years1910, 1911 and 1912, and opposite direction Bayonne-Luchon (possibly harder as the big climbs are at the end of the stage) was in the years 1913, 1914 and 191 to 1929.

One of the most famous Tour de France stages, if not the most

- Tour de France 1983 stage Bourg d'Oisans-Morzine with 247 km and 7200 mts elevation including Col du Glandon, La Madeleine, Aravis, Colombiere, Chatillon and Joux Plane. The winner was Jacques Michaud in an amazing stage with 7 hours 45' 25". In this stage Laurent Fignon gave a big step to the final overall win.

Bourg d'Oisans Morzine, epic stage Tour de France 1983

- Tour de France 1992, stage Saint Gervais-Sestriere, 254 km long and 6500 mts elevation, including Col de Saisies, Cormet de Roselend, Iseran, Mont Cenis and Sestriere. Claudio Chiappucci was the winner in an amazing breakaway from km 28, wearing the polka dot jersey. It took 7 hours 44 minutes 51 seconds. Miguel Indurain bonked a few km to the finish line.

Epic stage ending in Sestriere, Tour de France 1992

- Tour de France 1996. Stage Argeles Gazost-Pamplona, 262 km including  Aubisque, Marie Blanque Soudet and Larrau (and still 100 km to go to Pamplona). The winner was the swiss Laurent Dufaux in 7 hours 7 minutes. Indurain said to be the hardest stage in his carrer. No need to say any more.

The stage should have been a tribute to Indurain.

- Giro d'Italia 1914. It is said to be the hardest big tour ever with 5 stages over 400 km long. Stage 1 Milano-Cuneo was 420 km long including the climb to Sestriere (this was the hardest stage ever in Giro d'Italia history as per La Gazzetta dello Sport), but according to other souces, stage 6 Bari-L'Acquila was the hardest, with many riders forced to retire.

- Giro d'Italia 1949. The epic stage Cuneo-Pinerolo won by Fausto Coppi is one of the most dramatic wins in cycling history, including the climbs to Maddalena, Vars, Izoard, Mongenevre and Sestriere. Coppi won in 9 hours, 19 min 55 sec.

One of the most famous stages ever. Cuneo-Pinerolo

- Giro d'Italia 2011 Conegliano-Gardeccia Val di Fassa, 229 km with the climbs to Piancavallo, Forcella Cibiana, Passo Giau, Passo Fedaia and Gardeccia. The winner was the basque Mikel Nieve in 7 hours 27 minutes.

Conegliano-Gardeccia Val di Fassa, Giro d'Italia 2011

- Giro d'Italia 2012: Caldes-Passo dello Stelvio: 218 km and total elevation 5900 mts, including Passo del Tonale, Aprica, Mortirolo and Stelvio. The winner was Thomas de Gendt in 6hr 54 min 51 sec.

Queen stage ending at Passo dello Stelvio

- Vuelta a España 1992 Viella - Luz Ardiden, a stage 144 km long including Portillon, Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden. Total elevation 4500 mts. The winner was Laudelino Cubino in 4 h 52' 36". It is said to be one of the hardes stages in La Vuelta history.

- Vuelta a España 2015, Andorra la Vella-Cortals d'Encamp 145 km with Collada de Beixalis, Ordino, La Rabassa, Collada de la Gallina, and finish at Cortals d'Encamp at 2005 mts height. About 5000 mts elevation. Stage winner was Mikel Landa in 4hours 34 min 54 sec.

Stage in Andorra, not a single flat kilometer

This is my list of hardest stages ever in Grand Tours.
Do you agree? Feel free to share and comment below.