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| Selfguided Tours in Catalonia with Montefusco Cycling |
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!)
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
