Monday, November 13, 2017

Catalonia long week end breakaway

Road cycling in Catalonia
Map of a sample tour
If your group doesn't have much time, we will help you to have the most of your time. You just need 4 days and 3 nights to enjoy cycling in Catalonia. We will take yout to the nicest roads, and also the kind of routes you would like (ergarding distance, etc.). You don't have to worry about the bike (we will provide some), nor the routes (we will design the best stages), nor the hotels (we will book the best hotels for you) nor the food (we will provide lunch in our supporting van). Here you have a sample tour:

Bike lane from L'Escala to Sant Pere Pescador
Bike lane from L'Escala to Sant Pere Pescador
Day 1: Arrival to Girona airport. Caldes de Malavella-L’Escala 80 km.
We will pick you up at Girona airport and transport to starting point, to have a quick breakfast, will do bike setup and start first stage, including about 80 km with some climbing. 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 and lots of restaurants and shops welcome the tourists. After Peretallada we will continue through Torroella de Montgrí till L’Escala..
Arrival to the nice L’Escala, coastal town to enjoy a nice hotel by the sea.

Day 2  L’Escala Figueres 95 km 
L’Escala-Figueres 95 km including the climb from Roses to Alt de Perafita and stop in Cadaqués, where genious Salvador Dalí lived. And also the steep climb to the Monestry of San Pere de Rodes. Nice aerial views from there to Port de la Seva and Costa Brava. This area maybe windy, with the so named, tramuntana wind, very strong if it blows. Figueres is a must, with the Museum dedicated to Salvador Dalí.

Road Cycling in Catalonia
Amazing views from Mare de Deu del Mont
Day 3 Figueres-Olot 110 km
The first climb is the toughest all over the trip. Mare de Deu del Mont, at 1100 mts. In my opinion much nicer than the much more known Rocacorba (nearby). Very steep parts and incredible views from the top to the Canigou peak, the highest in the Eastern Pyrenees. Once gain in the valley the stage continues to Banyoles (worth a stop for lunch/coffee) and then to Mieres and the Vulcano de Santa Margarida, as Olot is the main town of the vulcanic La Garrotxa region.

Day 4 Olot-Olot 90 km. Transportation to airport.
If you thought that the main part of the trip was done, you failed. Last stage includes the very tough and beautiful Coll de Bracons, and the even nicer Coll de Condreu and El Far. El Far is the perfect ending for a trip in Catalonia. Unbeatable views.
We will be able to have a shower and be transported to the airport (Barcelona or Girona)


Thursday, October 26, 2017

The best Granfondos in Catalonia, which one is for you?

Coll de Bracons by Montefusco Cycling
Coll de Bracons, included in Terra de Remences route (long loop)
Nowadays in Catalonia we have many Granfondos, to discover some of the best roads around. Also to try to go fast and beat your club mates. Here we will suggest some of the best sportives organized in Catalonia, from our point of view. All of them are really worth, and remember, this is just a sample, you've got a lot of choices...

Terra de Remences by Montefusco Cycling
Tough route, indeed!
Terra de Remences:
This is a classic sportive, the most popular all over Catalonia. The route is simply perfect. There are 2 choices, the short version (95 km), including Coll de Capsacosta and Coll de Canes, and the long versions including an extra loop about 80 km long with Coll de Bracons and Coll de Condreu, a couple of very interesting climbs.
In short:
Website: http://www.terraderemences.com/
Starting point: Sant Esteve de'n Bas (close to Olot)
When: 13/5/2018
Distances: 95 km (short) and 176 km (long)

Els 4 cims by Montefusco Cycling
La Creueta and Coll de Pal, the beauty and the beast!
Els cuatre cims:
It was organized over 20 years ago and then just since a couple years it is again on the catalan calendar. One of our favourite climbs (Coll de Creueta) reaching almost 2000 mts, and the very steep Coll de Pal are the highlights of the route. The climb to Coll de Pal at the end of the route, with over 150 km on your legs, is a real challenge...
In short: Website: http://www.4cims.com/
Starting point: Bagà
When: 1/7/2018
Distances/Elevation: 162 km, 3600 mts elevation

La Ruta Minera by Montefusco Cycling
Coll de Pradell, the monster!
La Ruta Minera:
No doubt the highlight of this route is Coll de Pradell, one of the steepest climbs you can find all over Catalonia. The famous section at 20% is one of the classic "survival" sections to struggle while climbing.
In short:
Website: http://www.larutaminera.org/
Starting point: Berga
When: July
Distances:154 km (3800 mts elevation) or 116 km (2800 mts elevation)

Is there a flat road there??
Gran Fondo La Mussara:
Organized for the first time in 2015, in just a couple years it has become a very popular meeting point for catalan cyclists, also for foreigners to discover a real paradise for cyclists, as Costa Daurada, close to Tarragona (south Catalonia) .

In short:
Website: http://www.polargranfondolamussara.com/
Starting point:Reus
When: 3/06/2018
Distances:189 km

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The toughest cycling climbs in the Pyrenees

Cycling Pyrenees Montefusco Cycling Envalira
Port d'Envalira, the highest asphalted climb in the Pyrenees!!
It is very difficult to make a ranking of the most demanding cycling climbs in the Pyrenees. Some days ago was unveiled the Tour de France 2018 route and one of the new climbs included is Col du Portet, said to be the new Tourmalet by the TdF director, not a joke... Still to be asphalted the last part (so far it is just asphalted to Pla d'Adet, at 1680 mts) this new climb will have real big numbers, and will deserve to be among the king climbs in the Pyrenees.
Cycling Pyrenees Montefusco Cycling
Col de Portet, the novelty for Tdf 2018

If you are interested to know the best climbs all over the Pyrenees there are a couple of lists you should know.
Cycling Pyrenees Montefusco Cycling Tourmalet
Col de Tourmalet, the king
Highest cycling climbs in the Pyrenees (asfalted):
Port d'Envalira (Andorra/France): 2407 mts height
Port de Cabus (Andorra, just one side) 2300 mts height
Gavarnie-Boucharo (Luz St Sauveur-France) 2270 mts height
Col de Portet (St Lary Soulan-France) 2215 mts height
Cim de Coma Morera (Bourg Madame) 2205 mts height
Cycling Pyrenees Montefusco Cycling
Pierre St Martin, such a climb!
Cycling climbs with more elevation in the Pyrenees:
Port d'Envalira 1687 mts elevation (from Ax les Thermes)
Col de Pailheres 1601 mts elevation (from Axat)
Gavarnie-Boucharo 1560 mts elevation (from Luz St Sauveur)
Pierre St Martin 1510 mts elevation (from Arette)
Col du Tourmalet 1405 mts elevation (from Luz St Sauveur)
Col de Portet 1400 mts elevation (from St Lary Soulan)

Cycling Pyrenees Montefusco Cycling
Great climb to Col de Burdinkurutxeta!
Cycling climbs with the highest average gradient in the Pyrenees:
Erroymendi (from Laugibar) 9,58% for 10,2 km
Burdinkurutxeta (from Bassaburua) 8,76% for 9,3 km
Col de Mente (from St Beat) 8,70% km for 9,7 km
Artzamendi (from Itxassou) 8,61% for 10,3 km

Friday, October 13, 2017

Vallter 2000, a not-so-known climb in the Pyrenees

At the top of the climb, where there is a Ski resort

Vallter 2000 is one of the gems of the spanish Pyrenees.

Reaching 2114 mts height, the total length of the climb is 11,2 km from Setcases with 7% average gradient and some full kilometers at 10%. Steep, very steep!

cycling Vallter 2000 Pyrenees
Great views while climbing (Picture by Sergi Ros de Mora)
This climb has just one side, then when included in a race it has to be stage ending. This has been the case in Volta a Catalunya years 1986 (winner Juan Fernández), 1992 (winner Tony Rominger, ahead of A.Martin and a certain Indurain...), 2013 (Nairo Quintana), 2014 (winner T. Van Garderen) and 2019 (Adam Yates).

Here you can see the Strava segment for this climb. There is a certain Steven Kruiswijk as KOM... A real climber, no doubt.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Rocacorba

Classical picture at the top!
Rocacorba is one of the most famous climbs around Girona. There are other very known climbs (Els Angels, very close to Girona probably the most popular one), but if you are searching for some steep climb, do not hesitate, this is it.

Here you can see details km per km
Rocacorba is a Sanctuary and it means literally "folded rock". The road leads to an antena at the end of the climb (it is a "cul de sac" as french say), and the desviation to the Sanctuary is about 200 mts before you get the end of the road. Obviously you have to descend the same way you climbed.

Views at the top are spectacular, specially overlooking the Banyoles lake (the climb begins at Porqueres, very close to the popular Banyoles lake, where triathlon is really popular).

This road is a pretty modern road as it was just asphalted on 2006 (!), no wonder it has become a very popular climb just in recent years.

Here you have the link to the Strava segment of this iconic climb. Notice some popular riders on top 10: Simon Yates, Adam Yates or David de la Cruz.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Ebike tours 60 km long around Barcelona

ebike tours Barcelona
Tour around medieval villages in Girona with ebike
Montefusco Cycling is also offering private guided tours with ebikes. Can you imagine our Barcelona hills tour, our Girona or Costa Brava tour with ebikes? Now you can do that.
Our ICElectric bikes offer over 60 km autonomy. Flat handlebar, confortable position on the bike.
Road bike tires, a really nice experience with some helping watts!!!

ebike tours Girona
Isn't it a nice bike?



Wednesday, March 22, 2017

5 days Montserrat-Penedes selfguided tour around Barcelona

Amazing views over Montserrat
We are offering a cycling trip in 6 stages from Barcelona to Montserrat and Penedes wine region.
Recommended all year long. This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements.
 
Road cycling in Penedes
Cycling among Vineyards in Penedes region

In short:
  • 4 cycling days
  • From 300 kilometers
  • 5 nights in 3-4 stars hotels
  • Recommended march-november
  • This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements

    We will take you to the best roads around. We know every small road you will enjoy and keep away from busy and dangerous roads.
    We can adapt every stage to your needs. We can make them longer or shorter (we might change some destination towns)
    Tour itself can be shortened or made longer if needed.
    Our hotel selection is very accurated. We mix some of the best urban hotels (in Barcelona you will enjoy a fantastic 4 stars hotel with the best location) with other hotels at the seaside and even some rural cozy hotels. You will enjoy all of them.

    Solitaire roads in Penedés