Girona, a Mecca for Cycling in general and Gravel in particular. We get a week of magically good cycling, food and coffee.
When: 6-14 May 2023. (5-14 May for those who wish)
Where: Girona
How: Gravel camp on fantastic gravel roads
Hotel: We live in a nice hotel in the old town
Eat: Breakfast at the world famous La Fabrica is included.
Girona
Girona has established itself as the best training base for professional cyclists – the city has only 100,000 inhabitants but is home to more than 100 members of the peloton. In fact, you don't have to spend long bike rides in Girona to understand that this is very much a cycling city. Hit the road and you'll soon see a rider in team kit; maybe a mini peloton of pros?
Wander the labyrinthine streets of the medieval old town and you'll quickly discover like-minded cyclists. Cafes, bicycle shops and restaurants, everything breathes bicycle!
Gravel in Girona
Girona has in recent years blossomed into a premium destination for Gravel. A multitude of fine roads and a mixture of mountains and flat land make Girona a dream!
The week
We have selected the best of the best in terms of routes and accommodation. Most routes can be shortened if you want so there is something for everyone no matter what legs you have on a given day. All tours offer several places to have coffee and lunch
Escort car
Our faithful van will act as a companion car most days. The driver, a local talent will also operate drones and take pictures. When we meet the car, there is access to water and energy. If you have problems with your bike, body or stamina, you can choose to ride it for a while. It also has tools, tires and hose.
Food and accomodations
We live in a very nice hotel, (Hotel CMC) which is about 1 km from the train station. You can opt for a single room if you wish. Breakfast is included in the trip, lunch coffee and dinner you pay for yourself, depending on what you want. We have booked a shared table most evenings, but if you want to eat alone or in smaller groups, it is of course perfectly fine. We have booked all breakfasts at famous La Fabrica – a fantastic cycling café, full of tradition and top-class food.
Travel and arrival
The event starts Saturday at 12.00 in Girona. Fly preferably to Barcelona. From there you can take a train directly to Girona, if many people arrive at the same time we can arrange a bus transfer.
Weather
We have chosen carefully, it is not too hot but ideal cycling weather with around 14 degrees in the morning and up to 22 during the day.
Routes
We have enlisted the help of the most famous and experienced guide in Girona to create an epic week. We will cycle in all directions and experience the best of the best. You will find all routes HERE (The page is password protected)
Cycle
Bring your own, or rent a really good gravel bike on site.
Saturday 6 May Day 0 Check Out Ride
A nice ride along the river of 42 km and 187hm. We have coffee in Anglés and make our way home on cool roads, similar to the Australian Outback, the last bit back to Girona along the Via Verde cycle path.
Sunday 7 May Day 1
We have a soft start with a flat ride (90km /279hm) and have lunch at a classic Rustic, the famous eatery. After returning to Girona, you can choose to continue for another 4 miles and be rewarded with fantastic ice cream.
Monday 8 May Day 2 Banyoles
(82 km 651 hm) Now we go north. A day with a little more altitude and absolutely fantastic roads. We will have lunch in Banyoles after 55km.
Tuesday 9 May Day 3 Santa Vall
Southward! (95km 700hm). We start along the north bank of the river, when we turn south we get a climb, followed by a fantastic dirt road downhill. We will have lunch and a coffee along the route.
Wednesday 10 May Day 4 – Rest day
We take a rest day and discover Girona, perhaps an excursion to the birthplace of Salvador Dali, Figures and the famous the museum, or why not take the train to Barcelona, it only takes 38 minutes. For those who don't want to rest, there is of course a nice and gentle gravel round available.
Thursday 11 May Day 5 To the sea
The Mediterranean Sea! (100 km 800 hm) We cycle gravel to the sea. A really nice trip with a chance to take a dip if you want. Lunch by the water.
Friday, May 12, day 6 Rocacorba
Climbing day (78km 1,500 hm). We walk Northwest along the valley, and reach today's challenge, 7 km with 8.8% on average to placa de Finesters (Window Square). The reward is an absolutely stunning view. We cycle home via another valley. Coffee and lunch on the way.
Saturday 13 May Day 7 Santuari de la Mare
We finish in style and a relatively gentle round (79km/895hm) which has a climb towards the end. We will pass by the famous monastery and, as usual, will both eat and have a good coffee. When we get home we pack our bikes and go out for a better farewell dinner.
Sunday 14 May – Home journey
We pack, have breakfast and let our bus take us to Barcelona for the return trip.
What can you expect?
We cycle to have fun, there are no intervals and it is not about cycling the fastest but having the best experience. If you want to splurge, it's of course fine, you wait further on. We may also split the group, if it turns out to be better. Our Guides have a lot of experience in arranging and holding these tours.
We cycle according to Grusets Vänner's principles.
* No one is left alone.
* Sprint or peel off if you like but let the group catch up again
* We take care of and help each other in case of mechanival issues.
* We bike safely and keep our distance, remember the "three second rule" especially on gravel.
* It's all about having the nicest of days.
Information
Tenps and advice on what should come with it.
Gear: Gravel or MTB. Tubeless is recommended of course, as well as a good kit on the bike, Click here for a list. Foot pump and tools are included in the car. Clothing is the norm for Swedish spring/summer, with a vest/arms or windbreaker as a spare and when driving downhill if it gets cold. We will have coffee and lunch, but a little extra energy is never wrong. It is possible to have clothes washed at the hotel.
Routes: All routes will be shared some time before departure and will also be downloadable on site.
FACTS
| When | 6-14 May 2023 |
| Where | Girona |
| Hotels | Girona 6-14 May |
| What is included | Accommodation (shared double room for two people) with breakfast, routes, safety car, bike bag storage, guides, photo/film. |
| Price | Gravel Camp 6-14 May SEK 17,500 |
| Single room | + SEK 4,500 |
| Payment | Buy ticket below 2023-02-15: 70% Swish to CJ: 123 139 2919 enter "Girona" and your name |
| Insurance | Participants are responsible for their own insurance |
| Flight | We recommend booking flights to Barcelona |
| Receipt | Will be provided upon request |
| Cancelation | The following will apply, if we cannot find a substitute traveler. (Failure to pay automatically means cancellation) before 2023-02-15: No Refund Empty 2023-03-15: 50% of paid is refunded |
| Conditions | Participation is at your own risk. The fine print |
Registration:
Go to the full page to view and submit the form.
