CATALONIA - SPAIN

Montserrat: climb to the Monastery from Monistrol

By Artem Kazachkov

Distance
8.5 km

Gain
588 m

Grade
6.9%

Time
40 min

31-70

Moderate to hard

A must ride in Catalonia

Start

Monistrol de Montserrat

Finish

Montserrat Monastery

Distance

8.5 km

There is nothing more iconic for the Catalans than the Montserrat mountain, which is considered sacred. The monastery here attracts pilgrims by the hundreds of thousands. Same time the sheer beauty of nature here makes it a Mecca for hikers and cyclists alike. So we won't exaggerate to say that climbing this mountain is a must if you want some truly unforgettable and very local experience. The views are surrealist.

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MIND-BENDING LANDSCAPES

Vertical finger-like towers of stone is a unique feature of this massif. Some hundreds of meters high vertical walls and the road twisting up through the morning fog. You might have seen lots of unusual mountains but Montserrat will fill you with awe. Keep pedalling up as the valleys beneath you unfold.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

The Monastery of Montserrat is main Catalan sanctuary. You can ride up and see the buildings. Besides that you will get great views from several terraces where there are also cafes so that you can rest up and refuel. The box is ticked!

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

	Gradient
1	6.5
2	7
3	7.1
4	6.7
5	6.6
6	7.2
7	6.1
8	7.2
9	8.4

Fairly gentle climb for most, averaging 8.5% with some ramps maybe as steep as 10% but very short. It gets a bit steeper in the last part of the climb, though generally it is quite consistent. The road surface is excellent which makes you faster. You will see that Strava has this climb extremely frequented so it get super competitive here!

Nearby Climbs

La Mussara

Distance
10.5 km

Gain
636 m

Grade
6%

Time
45 mins

Alt de la Musara is a picturesque cycling climb situated in the Tarragona province of Catalonia. It has been used in the Volta a Catalunya professional race, most recently in 2017 when the riders descended this side.The climb on the Vilaplana side is characterized by a high number of hairpin bends, as it winds its way through forest towards the Prades Mountains. Very ocasionally the trees open out to offer some nice views looking back down the climb.Alt de la Musara is nominally open year round, with only very rare closures due to snow in winter.

Rocacorba

Distance
10.7 km

Gain
742 m

Rocacorba has a history every cyclist should become a part of. Used for over a decade by many local pros as a testing climb, the famous mountain is a challenge to anyone and everyone. The 10.7 kilometre 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.