Friday, June 13, 2014

Selfguided Tours in Catalonia with Montefusco Cycling

Selfguided Tours in Catalonia with Montefusco Cycling


All pictures by Sergi Ros www.rosdemora.com
One of the best options to cycle in whole Europe is Catalonia.
Why should you choose Catalonia for your next cycling vacations?

Many reasons, let me list some of them:
- Obviously weather is one of the most important reasons you should come to cycle to Catalonia. Nice weather all year long. Even in winter it is not that cold. Specially recommended spring and autum!
- Quality of the asphalt. Many solitaire roads, some other busy but with good shoulder, but always a good quality asphalt!
- Education of the drivers, which means safety while cycling.
- Quality of hotels and restaurants
- Good infrastructures. Airports in Barcelona and Girona
- Lots of things to learn, history, culture.
- Vicinity of Pyrenees. This famous range of mountains, known worldwide thanks to Tour de France is just a few hours away from Barcelona (2 hours!)
 
Here you have an option Montefusco Cycling is oferring to you:

Catalonia Cycling Breakaway. 10 nights, 9 cycling stages. Nice overview of Barcelona, Girona, Costa Brava, Figueres, getting closer the Pyrenees in Olot, reaching France in Banyuls sur Mer. These are the stages:


1)      Barcelona-Tossa de Mar 95 km It is a stage to get closer the Costa Brava. Flat, quite crowded road, although riding on Sunday will be also plenty of cyclists riding beside the sea. We have introduced a different possibility. Instead of leading straight to Tossa, get a small nice hilly road in Mataró towards Arenys de Munt and Sant Pol de Mar. After that, back to the main road NII leading to Tossa.
2)      Tossa de Mar-Caldes de Malavella 50 km One of the nicest roads you can cycle in whole Catalonia is the one from Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guixols. It is time to enjoy landscape, views, weather… cycling. Once in Sant Feliu de Guixols must follow direction Santa Cristina d’Aro and afterwards to Romanyà. Finally, a crossroad leading to Llagostera will put you in the right direction to Caldes de Malavella.
3)      Caldes deMalavella-L’Escala 77 km. Few miles after the start begins the climb of the day, a beautiful, solitaire and not very steep climb named Santa Pellaia. After the descent towards La Bisbal we will cycle through not very crowded roads, and then a stop in Peretallada is worth. Old and touristic town, cars are not allowed to pass and lots of restaurants and shops welcome the tourists. After Peretallada we will continue through Torroella de Montgrí till L’Escala.
4)      L’Escala-Banyuls sur Mer 83 km Steep climb to the Monestry of San Pere de Rodes. Nice aerial views from there to Port de la Seva and Costa Brava. Afterwards, precious up-and-down road beside the sea from Llança to Banyuls sur Mer, all the time with nice views. This area maybe windy, with the so named, tramuntana wind, very strong if it blows. Another possibility would be going from Roses to Alt de Perafita and stop in Cadaqués, where genious Salvador Dalí lived. From there ride to Llança and continue the stage till Banyuls sur Mer.
5)      Banyuls sur Mer-Figueres 46 km It is really a short stage till Figueres, but a tricky one. Col de Banyuls is not that steep as Tour de Madeloc, but the last 2 km are really challenging. You will need maximum gear to get to the top and success. After some pictures at the top, you will find a nice, narrow and solitaire road, leading to the Empordà region, crossing small pretty villages. Figueres is a quite big town, really worth to visit.

Wonderful landscapes
6)      Figueres-Olot 64 km Going out from Figueres through N260 is a quick way out. Wide road leading Besalú that you will leave direction Esponellà and Banyoles. It is worth, the visit of Banyoles, the village beside the famous lake, where a lot of triathlon competitions take place. A good place to stop and enjoy the place. Afterwards there are severals climbs, not very steep, to get some height reaching finally Olot at 440 meters height.
7)      Olot-Girona 55 km. This is also a quite short stage, mostly in descent. It is a quite wide road C-63 till getting the crossroad in Sant Feliu de Pallerols to a more narrow road leading to Girona. If you like steep climb, there is a very good option from Olot and Sant Esteve de’n Bas, this is the climb to Coll de Bracons, challenging climb with nice overviews of the valley at the top. It is really worth. Afterwards it is possible to go back and follow the normal suggested stage.

Coll Formic-Montefusco Cycling
Coll Formic
8)      Girona-Viladrau 60 km Beginning in Girona, at first there will be some flat kilometres, but afterwards there will be a long long climb although not very steep. Solitaire roads and mountain landscape to finish in the nice village of Viladrau.
9)      Viladrau-Barcelona 97 km Last stage, long and breathtaking, both for the distance and for the landscapes at the beginning. After the start in Viladrau, there is a flat zone till Seva. There begins the climb of the day: Coll Formic, that raises to 1145 meters. The long descent with incredible views over the Montseny mountain will lead you till Sant Esteve de Palautordera and Santa Maria de Palautordera, following direction Granollers and afterwards to Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Barcelona. 

At the beginning of each stage you will receive all the details in order to follow the route. And when you arrive at your destination hotels, you baggage will already be there.
More Information in  http://www.montefuscocycling.com/