Girona Collection

Girona's answer to Alpe d'Huez. A 25km warm-up through flat countryside before the famous 10km Rocacorba climb — averaging 5-9.5% with sections reaching 15% near the summit.

Relaxed road ride through the quiet lanes around Sant Andreu Salou near Girona. Gentle terrain, pretty villages, and a perfect introduction to Catalan cycling. An ideal warm-up or recovery ride.

Easy-going gravel ride along quiet lanes and farm tracks near Girona. Perfect for beginners or a recovery day — flat terrain, gentle surfaces, and peaceful countryside scenery. Curated by Eat Sleep Cycle.

Easy gravel spin along the Via Verda greenway near Amer, Girona. Flat, well-surfaced former railway path through beautiful river valley scenery. Perfect for families or a gentle spin between bigger rides.

Intermediate road loop through the undulating terrain near Les Serres and Mas Llunes. Quiet country roads, steady climbs through woodland, and views across the Girona countryside. A solid mid-range ride.

Probably the most-ridden loop out of Girona, and for good reason. You can be through the city in fifteen minutes and onto quiet roads that feel nothing like the Costa Brava two-lane madness. The climb to Santuari dels Àngels is two distinct efforts — a warm-up drag through Celrà then the real climb from Bordils, steepening to 10% on the hairpins below the chapel. Dalí got married here; you'll be suffering too much to care about the architecture. The descent into the Baix Empordà is fast and well-surfaced, and the return through Púbol is flat enough to make up time you lost on the climbs. Under 1,100m of gain means it's achievable on tired legs — which is exactly when most people ride it.

The old Carrilet railway ran from Olot to Girona and on to Sant Feliu de Guíxols — narrow gauge, closed 1969, converted to greenway. Packed gravel with occasional asphalt through town centres; rideable on a road bike in a pinch though 32–35mm is more comfortable. The Olot-to-Girona section gains barely 200m across 54km, genuinely flat by local standards — useful for recovery rides, groups with mixed ability, or anyone who wants to see the Garrotxa volcanic zone without suffering for it. Lava fields, beech forest, views of the Puig de la Sacra. Tourist traffic on summer weekends; weekday mornings it's mostly locals and school kids.

Classic intermediate road loop featuring the famous climb to Santuari dels Àngels — where Dalí was married — and the quieter ascent to Santa Pelaia. Rolling Girona countryside with two rewarding summit views.

Intermediate gravel loop starting from the iconic lake town of Banyoles. Mixed terrain through forests and farmland with some punchy climbs. Named 'The Monster' for its variety of surfaces and rolling terrain.

Popular Girona cycling loop featuring the classic climb to Santuari dels Àngels chapel where Salvador Dalí got married. Two climbs through woodland and medieval villages in the Gavarres mountains.

Intermediate gravel loop through the rolling countryside near Girona. Quiet farm tracks, shaded lanes, and gentle climbs through Catalonia's rural heartland. Curated by Eat Sleep Cycle.

The local's answer to a big day out — you earn the coast with 1,200m of climbing before you see saltwater. Leave Girona heading south, pick up Sant Grau from Quart, and settle in for the 6km monastery climb at a consistent 7–8%. The chapel at the top gets busy with Sunday walkers but the coffee machine inside is worth the queue. From there it's rolling ridge roads to Tossa de Mar and the first view of the Mediterranean. The coastal stretch north towards Lloret has fast descents where the road drops right to the water — keep your speed honest, the tarmac is greasy near the beach bars. Return through Santa Cristina and the Gavarres for a quiet finish.

Advanced gravel take on the famous Rocacorba climb near Girona. Mixes paved and unpaved sections through forests and farmland with punchy climbs. A unique gravel perspective on one of Girona's iconic ascents.

Advanced road ride along the stunning Costa Brava coastline. Punchy coastal climbs, turquoise Mediterranean coves, and winding roads through seaside villages. A signature Eat Sleep Cycle route showcasing Girona's coastline.

When the tramuntana is blowing hard enough to knock you off the road climbs, the Empordà plain is where Girona riders go to turn their legs without drama. Flat fields, irrigation channels, the occasional flock of flamingos if you catch the Aiguamolls at the right time of year. The gravel here runs between agricultural plots on firm packed stone and holds well in dry weather. You're exposed though — there's nothing stopping the north wind and a headwind home from Roses can make 380m of gain feel like double. Good for long aerobic days, summer evening rides, or anyone still getting confidence on gravel.

Classic Girona loop to the Costa Brava coastline through Sant Grau. Features a 6.3km climb to Sant Grau monastery, stunning coastal roads past crystal clear bays near Tossa de Mar, returning via quiet country lanes.

The Traka 100 — 2026 provisional route through Girona's finest gravel terrain.

The Gavarres massif sits between Girona and the coast and most road cyclists drive straight through it on the C-66 without knowing what's underneath. The gravel network here is dense — cork oak forest, mossy fireroads, the occasional Roman ruin — and it's rarely crowded because the tracks don't go anywhere convenient. This loop climbs out of Girona through Sant Martí Vell, crosses the main ridge twice, and drops toward the coast near Palamós before turning inland. You'll want a route file and the ability to read it; some junctions have three plausible-looking options and the wrong one takes you into someone's farm.

Advanced gravel ride climbing through dense forest toward Sant Hilari Sacalm. Technical unpaved sections, significant elevation gain, and rewarding mountain views. A challenging gravel adventure from Eat Sleep Cycle.

Rocacorba via the gravel approach is harder than it sounds. The road version already has a reputation — Porte, Thomas, and half the WorldTour peloton have used it as a benchmark — but coming from the back through Fontcoberta and Mieres on loose stone adds a different kind of suffering. The gradient is similar (5–9% average, 15% near the telecom tower) but traction is the extra variable. Views from the top span from the Costa Brava to the Pyrenees on a clear day. The gravel descent back into the Pla de l'Estany is loose in sections; run more tyre volume than you think you need. Café at Banyoles on the way back.

Mare de Déu del Mont doesn't come up as often as Rocacorba or Els Àngels in conversation, which means the climb is usually quiet. The ascent from Beuda runs 18km at 5.4% average with sections hitting 14% on tight forest switchbacks — long enough to genuinely knock you about if you go too hard in the first half. The sanctuary at the summit is 11th century; the espresso machine in the café beside it is more recent and more important after 2,000m of climbing. Return via Banyoles for a flat rolling finish and a second coffee stop at the lakeside. Don't start this one in summer without a full bidon and two bars minimum.

This loop earns its 1,710m by never really letting you rest. From Girona you head northwest through Anglès and begin the long drag up to Sant Hilari Sacalm — 20km of gradual climbing through wooded hills, never steep enough to call a proper climb but relentless enough to hollow out your legs. The Susqueda dam descent is technical and spectacular, the road carved into the cliff face above the reservoir. Surface is rough and patched — demands attention. The return leg through Amer is easier going, rolling and fast if the wind is neutral. Bring a jacket; Sant Hilari sits at 800m and the clouds come in fast from the Atlantic.

La Traka is the one Girona locals point to when someone asks what gravel looks like around here. 100km, 2,200m of climbing, a mix of Pyrenean foothills fireroads and technical singletrack that'll test whether your bike fit holds up past hour four. The route links Girona into the Serra de l'Albera and back through the Empordà, with the hardest climbing saved for the middle section where there's no easy bail-out. The event version draws 1,500 riders each spring; doing it solo mid-week in October is a different experience — just you, wild boar tracks in the mud, and the occasional startled shepherd. Minimum 40mm tyre; 2.1" if you're running an MTB.

Punchy Girona loop with 1,710m of climbing through quiet winding roads. Features a gradual 20km climb to Sant Hilari Sacalm, twisting forest descents, and the dramatic Susqueda dam and reservoir.

Challenging Girona loop centred on the notorious Mare de Déu del Mont climb — 18km averaging 5.4% with sections hitting 14%. Quiet rolling countryside, forest terrain, and panoramic summit views. Returns via Banyoles lake.

Epic all-day gravel adventure through the Empordà region of Girona. Covers a huge variety of terrain — vineyard tracks, forest trails, coastal paths, and medieval village roads. A signature Eat Sleep Cycle route.

Quite roads and beautiful riding

160km ride around Montseny national park. A really nice climb that should be on your bucket list if you are ever in Girona.

The highest point in the Montseny massif at 1,706m, reached via a mix of tarmac and deteriorating fireroad that rewards bigger tyres and lower gears. Coming from the Girona side you approach through Sant Celoni, climbing through beech forest that goes orange in October in a way that makes you glad you didn't wait until November. The upper section above the tree line is loose stone on exposed ridge — wind can be a proper problem up here even in summer. The descent back is fast on the lower fireroads but drainage channels cut across the track every hundred metres and they'll launch you if you're not watching.

Epic full-day road ride to the medieval cliff-top village of Rupit in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees. Multiple mountain passes, dramatic volcanic landscape of La Garrotxa, and over 3,000m of climbing. One of Eat Sleep Cycle's most demanding routes.

The Traka 200 — 2026 provisional route through Girona's finest gravel terrain.

The back road to Bracons is one of those climbs that sorts out who trained over winter and who didn't. From Girona you head northwest through Anglès and Amer, passing the Pantà de Susqueda reservoir before the road pitches up through dense forest. The col tops out at 1,257m — not the highest around here, but sustained enough to hurt. On a clear morning the Pyrenees sit on the horizon all the way back down. The descent into the Vall d'en Bas is fast and technical; take the corner onto the factory road wide or you'll be scrubbing speed into the barrier. Loop back via Les Preses and Olot if you want a café stop before the long flat roll home.

The Traka 360 — 2026 provisional route through Girona's finest gravel terrain.

The legendary Traka Adventure — a 558km multi-day gravel and mixed-surface loop through the stunning landscapes of Girona and the Catalan Pyrenees. Part of The Traka 2026 event, this epic route features 9,400m of climbing across mountain passes, volcanic terrain, and Mediterranean coastline with 52% unpaved surfaces.