Girona to Tossa de Mar

Coast Loop

By Jon Street

Distance
95 km

Gain
1188 m

Type
Loop

Time
3.5-4.5 hours

Start

Girona

Finish

Girona

Distance

95 km

A ride that will burn itself solidly into the memory banks. Twisting gentle climbs, grin-inducing descents, views for miles, turquoise seas, a cycling experience for the soul. If you are cycling in Girona this is a must ride, you won’t regret it. Head to the coast!

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Warming up heading south

Rolling out from Girona’s Plaça de la Independència the first 25km of this ride heads due south through the villages of Fornells de la Selva and Sant Andreu, then east to Llagostera. This scenic, flat, and quiet route is the perfect introduction to the days cycling, your legs and lungs will be ready to take on the climbs.

Can you smell that sea breeze?

It’s a fairly gentle 5km climb out of Llagostera with the familiar tree-lined roads synonymous with the area. Reach the peak though and you are in for some fun. It’s time to grab those drops and find your flow, you have 10km of downhill to relish on the way to Tossa de Mar. There’s a real opportunity to grab some speed and raise that adrenaline as you chase down the sea air and views of the Mediterranean. Need a break? Tossa de Mar is the ideal stop with the remarkable architecture of its historic walled town.

Memories are made of this

If epic views are your thing then the 10km along the coast will stay with you forever. Leaving Tossa de Mar you are truly spoiled. With perfect tarmac pinned to the rocky hillsides and overhanging the pure blue sea, it’s jaw-dropping at every turn. Drink it in and enjoy the undulations, because when it’s over it’s time to climb!

It just keeps delivering

The big climb of the ride! Sant Grau. 6km of quiet single carriageway road that winds its way up the hillside with panoramic views of the Med. It doesn’t get much steeper than the average gradient of 5% bar a last sting in the tail, you’ll just about see 12% (don’t worry it’s no more than a few hundred metres!). You can take a break at the monastery 1km from the end, enter into the impressive building through its large wooden doors to find the bar on the left, you’ve earned it.

Earned turns

It’s all downhill from here. All the way back to Girona. The Sant Grau to Llagostera descent is 10km long and a lot of fun. How about practising those aero positions? The corners are gentle and the views over the plains are plentiful, alternatively you could just sit back and reflect on the day. From Lagostera you retrace your route from earlier and your warm-up has now become your cool down. A ride you won’t forget and a talking point that will last far beyond the evening’s conversations.

Nearby Climbs

El Àngels, Girona

Distance
79 km

Gain
994 m

Type
Loop

Time
3-4 hours

A certain ‘ex’ seven times tour winner regularly rode this route for a tough short workout, but there’s far more than just a test of fitness to be had. This loop is an ideal introduction to road cycling in Girona.Heading west from Girona this famous loop climbs to the Santuari de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels (the chapel where surrealist artist Salvador Dali was married) up and over the winding roads of the northern Gavarres mountain massif and down to the village Monells. From here, we head due south east, back across the Gavarres to the town of Cassà de la Selva and into the valley, crossing and avoiding the main route back into Girona. It’s far quieter and more picturesque, so enjoy the views and villages on the final flat run back into town.

Rocacorba

Distance
14 km

Gain
798 m

Type
Single Climb

Time
1 hour to summit

Rocacorba has a history every cyclist should become a part of. Used for over a decade by many local pros as a test of form, the famous mountain is a challenge to anyone and everyone. The 10.7 km climb has a deceptive overall gradient of 7%. Starting teasingly gentle before levelling off and demanding your easiest gear on sections up to 11%, disciplined pacing will pay off for the last half of the climb that averages 9%. However, the quiet tree-lined road offers just enough respite to remain achievable for the determined weekend warrior. Keep your eyes peeled toward the top for the faded “Look Right” painted on the road to see spanning Pyrenean peaks through an opening in the trees.

Sant Hilari from Girona

Distance
114 km

Gain
1563 m

Type
Loop

Time
4.5 hours

For a good day’s challenge, we recommend taking on the Sant Hilari loop. This loop takes you up to the town of Sant Hilari Sacalm, inland from the coast, offering a great quiet alternative in the holiday season.If you are in the Girona area, this ride is not to be missed!

Gravel Girona Tour

8 days | Gravel | €1400

Distance
5000 km

Gain
4000 m

Temp
25°C

Fall in love with the stunning landscapes surrounding La Bruguera de Púbol, only 15km away from Girona - one of the world's most famous locations for cycling and professional training.

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