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El Piri 2024 El Piri 2025
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ABOUT EL PIRI

El Piri is a Self-supported bikepacking adventure, from the ancient city of Girona to the wild natural parks of the Catalan Pyrenees, and back again. 

El Piri is short for L’esperit del Pirineus, Catalan for ‘the spirit of the Pyrenees’. The logo is inspired by our family dog Piri; a Catalan sheep dog, who’s fun, energetic and adventurous nature embodies the spirit we seek for the event. He loves nothing more than being outside and free in the mountains.  

El Piri offers a fun but achievable challenge – but we are not saying it’s always easy! This route will really show you the true wild nature of the Catalan Pyrenees. While previous riders have commented it was tough at points, the second edition of El Piri in 2025 had a 78% finish rate. We want people to go on a fun and fulfilling adventure, stepping beyond their comfort zone and deepening their love of the sport. 

 
 

THE details 

Start: Sunday 14th June 2026 

Registration: Saturday 13th June 2026 (afternoon)

Start/finish location: Girona, Spain 

Event closing party: Saturday 20th June 2026 

Maximum no. participants: 200  

Cost: €385 (inc. VAT 21%)

Tracker: Included in cost 

CATALUNYA

From the vibrant cities of Barcelona and Girona; to the long sandy beaches of the Costa Brava and up to the wild and untouched mountain peaks of the Pyrenees; Catalunya has it all.  

Catalunya is an autonomous community, located in the Northeast of Spain. It has its own language, strong culture and welcoming people.  

Home to some of Spain’s best national parks, it’s a haven of incredible fauna and flora, from soaring vultures to wild bears, and more recently the elusive lynx. The Catalan Pyrenees is a protected wilderness, offering a true untouched experience.  

Join us and experience Catalunya like never before - in the heart of its best wild landscapes, powered by your own energy! 

 
 

THE ROUTE

El Piri is a fixed route of mixed gravel and tarmac terrain through the most beautiful areas in the Catalan Pyrenees.

The route has been developed from scratch by James Hayden. Having made Catalunya his home in 2020, he set about exploring the land intimately. Putting the route for El Piri together was about joining the ancient city of Girona to his new home in the Pyrenees, linking the most beautiful areas on the way, via the nicest tracks and small roads possible.  

The route is designed to be as rideable as possible, with only a couple of brief rougher sections, thus generally pushing your bike will only be required if fitness or gearing forces it. While the route follows the best gravel available, it is not all perfectly smooth, and with near 20,000 meters of climbing, the route is demanding. The tarmac sections are quiet back roads with little vehicle traffic. The route has been designed to flow well, with hard climbs and off-road sections leading into flowing tarmac or seemingly endless descents.  

The route for 2026 will be very similar to 2025, with only small changes to improve the flow. The distance and elevation will remain similar. 

The route regularly passes through small Catalan villages and towns at roughly 50 km intervals. 

The route is available online for anyone to ride when they want.

The route is only fully ridable between May to September due to higher parts being covered with snow in winter. The route would be best enjoyed over the course of a week. 

Fastest time - MEN

ULRICH BARTHOLMOES

49 Hours 54 Minutes

FASTEST TIME - WOMEN

HANNAH SIMON

78 Hours 47 Minutes

Riders will be treated to sublime high mountain gravel and stunning vistas, rewarding any hard riding.

 

LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

 

GIRONA CITY [START]

Departing from GIRONA CITY Centre, the 800km route will loop around some of the most spectacular gravel roads of the Catalan Pyrenees, finishing back in Girona. Girona is famed for its medieval architecture - being the location for Game of Thrones, and beautiful old city centre, Barri Vell. The city was encompassed by a vast wall and over the years has seen 25 sieges. Today you walk a part of the Passeig de la Muralla, city wall, and enjoy beautiful views off to the Pyrenees. Girona is a vibrant town with a strong student life and many great places to eat and drink, while you soak in the sun and fulfilment of your adventure.

 
 

ESPAI NATURAL DE LES GUILLERIES

The route heads out West from Girona, and we enter ESPAI NATURAL DE LES GUILLERIES which meanders through wild low mountain forests and the quiet waters of the Sau Reservoir. You will be able to see the sad effects of the permanent drought Catalunya is under, with the exceptionally low reservoir levels. Les Guilleries is famous for being the hideout for Joan de Serrallonga together with his gang of bandits in the 1600s. It might only be 20 kilometres from Girona, but it is a truly wild mountain.

 
 

SERRA DEL CATLLARÀS

From here, the route will go Northwest towards the SERRA DEL CATLLARÀS, an area of natural interest that features impenetrable pine, oak, and beech forests. The gravel roads we use to cross it are at times hewn from stunning rock faces. This area is not a natural park, and thus it benefits from a lack of visitors, you will be able to enjoy the beauty in solitude. Crossing through this section will give us our first views of the Pyrenees. 

 
 

REFUGI LA CLUSA

Located at the top of one of the steepest and toughest gravel climbs in the route, the refugi and its custodian Ramon are a welcome sight for tired legs. Many riders will stop for food, and some spend the night. During the event, this quiet mountain location becomes a bustling community of El Piri riders.  

CADÍ-MOIXERÓ

Travelling further West, we arrive at the CADÍ-MOIXERÓ where the iconic twin peaks of Pedraforca stand, visible for hundreds of kilometres as the route approaches and circles in its shadows. The southern side of the Cadi has softer pine forests and is very lush due to the greater levels of precipitation. Riding in the shadow of Pedraforca will be a highlight.

SERRA BOUMORT

The route moves out of the Pedraforca shadow and down one of the most amazing descents into the paragliding mecca of Organya. Resupply well in Organya as the route then heads deep into the hills of SERRA BOUMORT. Here riders will be graced with the possible presence of many wild animals, from the more mundane cow to incredible animals such as eagles and ibex. Its wild nature and switchback climbs will be a true highlight of the event.

PARC NATURAL DE L’ALT PIRINEU

Passing in and out of Pobla de Segur on the lake (washing in the lake is recommended but optional), the route now heads North into the largest national parc in Catalunya - PARC NATURAL DE L’ALT PIRINEU, the real wild mountains. Commemorated in 2003, it preserves not just the flora and fauna of the area, but the lifestyle too. With an incredible size and location, the diversity of fauna is immense; from lizards to big vultures and brown bears. Crossing through the parc will be a true privilege, experiencing nature in its true peaceful state. The parc is also home to L’esperit del Bikepacking in d’Àneu, at roughly the mid-point of the route.

ESTERRI D’ÀNEU

The hometown of L’esperit del bikepacking, Esterri d’Àneu, is located deep in the Catalan Pyrenees. The town and its surrounding mountains were one of the last strongholds during the Civil War. The town hosts the mid-way control point for the event, at Hotel Trainera, where riders are treated to a free ice cream and warm hospitality. From Esterri d’Àneu, the route climbs out of the Parc Natural de l’alt Pirineu through the beautiful Catalan mountain villages of Tírvia and Os de Civis.

CERDANYA

Leaving Andorra, and resupplied with duty free, the route heads East along the CERDANYA valley. This valley has its own microclimate; warm and sunny when other areas are shrouded in fog. The route will keep high off the busy tarmac roads, favoured by other events, and will instead go up into the alpine pastures with the herds of animals. The route will pass through ancient mountain villages, from a time of subsistence farming forgotten to busy cities. Having passed through the Cadi south side, riders will be treated to the spectacular vista of the Cadi’s vertical granite North face.

PARC NATURAL DE CAPÇALERES DEL TER I DEL FRESER

Girona city is irrigated by the river Ter, and it would only be right to follow it from source to city. The sources of the rivers Ter and Freser are found in the PARC NATURAL DE CAPÇALERES DEL TER I DEL FRESER, hence its name. The route for the event follows the gravel roads used for summer herd grazing. This area is bounded by the French border to the north, the Parc Natural de les Capçeleres del Ter i del Freser offers more than 14,500 hectares of breathtaking scenery. It was awarded natural park status in 2015.

GIRONA CITY [FINISH]

Descending from the high gravel roads in the Parc Natural de Capcaleres, riders will almost feel as if the route is downhill all the way back to Girona! When you arrive in Girona at the finish you will be able to enjoy food, beers and storytelling between riders and friends. You will no doubt feel tired but extremely accomplished as you relish in your achievement and having made memories to last a lifetime.

 
 

RULES

El Piri (L’Esperit dels Pirineus) is a SOLO and SELF-SUPPORTED bikepacking event.  

To qualify for a Self-supported Finish and Time, full adherence to the rules is required. If you choose not to follow the rules, you can qualify for a Unclassified Finish, without Time. Non-compliance with any rules could lead to penalties, or disqualification. There is not a time cut off, anyone that makes it back to Girona is a finisher.  

There are five rules, clicking on each of them will give you their full detail.  

  • Integrity is: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. 

    Serendipity is: Luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for.  

    The integrity of the event and rider is important, and riders should depend on self-reliance, not serendipity. 

  • Say hello to other riders, but do not spend greater than 90 minutes on a single occasion riding with them (within talking distance). No drafting. Stopping to share a meal and stories is fine – it does not count as riding. Sharing a hotel room is fine. If a person who is not part of the event wishes to ride with you, the above still applies; politely let them know it is a solo endeavour.  

    Pairs are considered a solo entity. 

  • 3.1 Allowed: 
    Use of or purchasing from commercially available public services. Water can be considered like air; you should aim to be self-reliant however if you need water just ask anyone. 

    3.2 Not allowed (considered support): 

    • No resupply caches on the route.

    • No pre-booking accommodation for during the event, before event starts.

    • No taking or using anything from other event riders.

    • No calling private individuals for help.

    • No asking on your social media for advice or help.

    • No taking items from dot watchers.

    • No knocking on a private residence to ask for anything (except water).

    • No over-reliance on painkillers.

    • No taking of WADA prohibited medication. 

    3.3 Allowed if considered serendipity: 
    Serendipity is a stroke of un-needed luck that helps a rider. Riders should not be relying on serendipity to get from start to finish. In such a situation, riders must answer three questions and accept serendipity is OK if it meets the test (see test here). If you cannot meet serendipity but require the help to finish, then accept and please report to Event Director.  

    3.4 Mechanical: 
    If you have a mechanical problem you should attempt to maintain your ride unsupported, using publicly available services to solve the problem. You may use motorised transport to travel off-route as needed.  

    3.5 Finishing your ride:
    Finishing with support is better than not at all, so accept that you may simply be unable to continue your ride without support. If a ride is aided by support, you will not be awarded a ‘Finish Time’. You will however be classified as a ‘Finisher’. Finishing, under any means, is encouraged if safe to do so and is better than scratching.  

  • 4.1 Riders must:  

    • Obey all local laws and traffic rules. These can be read on ‘Direction General de Traffic’ here. 

    • Offer assistance to another rider in need of emergency help. Do not hesitate; such integrity will be looked upon favourably and finish times can be adjusted. 

    • Show consideration for other people or vehicles on the route. Give way to walkers and horse riders. 

    • Have suitable insurance that includes liability, injury, death, repatriation. Proof required. 

    • Wear a helmet while riding. 

    • Use front and rear lights from dusk to dawn. Carry spare lights. Without working lights, you must not cycle at night. 

    • Validate their ride. Maintain a GPX file of their ride and use a tracker at all times, except if turning off before sleeping. 

    4.2 Riders should consider: 

    • Oversupplying with water and food. Although the route might not be always remote, resupply options can be limited at certain times of day. 

    • Sleeping enough. Sleep deprivation can be dangerous, and the body warns us when it is tired. Sleeping and riding strong is often faster and always more fun. 

    • Being cautious for animals on the track. 

    • Carrying suitable equipment such as: emergency foil blanket, waterproof coat with hood, full finger gloves, insulated jacket, sleeping bag, bivi or tent, means of communication, backup navigation device, identity card, cash, paper with emergency details, repair equipment for their bike. 

  • Leave no trace 
    Riders should read, be familiar with and follow the ‘Leave No Trace’ organisation’s 7 Principles. 
    As per our final rule, leave no trace. Any rider found to be knowledgeably leaving trace of their presence will be penalised.  

    ‘Pack it in, pack it out’. If you need to defecate in the wild, it is best to put it in a bio-degradable bag and put it in the nearest bin. Digging a hole and burying it is acceptable only if necessary.  

 
 

FAQs

  • El Piri is a solo and unsupported bikepacking adventure through the Catalan Pyrenees.

  • The route covers 800 kilometres and features 20,000 meters of climbing.

  • The route is tough but fun, it is split 50/50 between gravel and quiet tarmac roads. The route is designed to take you to some of the most beautiful areas in the Catalan Pyrenees. 

  • Most gravel roads in Catalunya are not well maintained and thus not very smooth. The route tries to use the best roads available, but at times it will be rough for sections. Though tarmac accounts for 50% of the route, these sections are on smaller back roads and are a welcome respite.  

    The event does not feature any hike-a-bike. However, depending on a rider's ability and gearing, short sections of pushing might be necessary.

  • If you want a fun gravel adventure in the beautiful quiet Pyrenees, this is it.  

    This event is suited for anyone with some gravel or bikepacking experience.  

    We have seen many riders use El Piri as their first event who have also finished.

  • Yes, you are welcome to enter as a pair. This can be done through the entry form. 

  • Early summer weather in Catalunya is typically sunny and warm with pleasant nights and little rain. Be prepared though as a section of the course climbs above 2,000m and weather could be changing or cool at night. Storms are possible. 

  • Yes, the route passes through many towns and villages, roughly every 50 kilometres.

  • The route is half off-road. The off-road terrain is reasonably smooth gravel. The course has been scouted on a drop bar gravel bike and hardtail. 

    Gravel or XC type tires wider than 40mm would be wise. 50mm tyres will be comfortable and if you have front suspension, it can sometimes be welcome. 

    In 2025 we saw a mix of gravel bikes and hardtail mountain bikes. - you can finish the event on either. 

  • Yes, rider registration and briefing will be held in person in the afternoon on Saturday 13th June 2026.

  • Yes, there will be a secure area for storing bike boxes and/or bags. There will be a small supplement fee which can be booked and paid for at registration. 

  • No, it is not allowed to pre-book any accommodation before the event starts. This is so rooms are not taken up with riders who may not arrive on schedule. 

  • If your bike breaks you can take public transport or hitch to a shop to fix it. Once your bike is working you should use it, or public transport to get back on route - unless you decide to scratch. 

  • Scratching can be done via email (bike@lesperitdelbikepacking.org). You are responsible to make your own way back to Girona or onwards. 

  • Yes, to cover accident, liability, and repatriation, while taking part in a cycling event. 

  • Cycle! 

    Train – The train station in Girona is well served by fast trains from all over Europe 

    Bus – Girona is well served by international busses. 

    Drive/car share – We set up a discussion group for participants to help organise. 

    Fly - Girona Airport is close to the City Centre and easily reached by Seagles Bus or a short taxi ride. Barcelona airport is a short train ride away and bikes can be taken on the regional (slow) trains unboxed, or fast trains boxed. 

  • Yes, there will be a closing party in the evening on Saturday 20th June 2026. Everyone who made it to the start line of the event is welcome. Tickets will be available at cost nearer the time.   

  • Yes, full payment is made at point of entry.

    • Organised event 

    • GPX route file with points of interest 

    • Tracker hire and service  

    • Online registration & briefings 

    • Event t-shirt 

    • Event coverage  

    • Event photos 

    • Online discussion group 

  • Tracking is done via Follow My Challenge. The trackers provided in the entry cost are GSM (sim card) based trackers and do not have an SOS emergency button.

    Phone signal is generally very good across the route. However if you want complete coverage and total security we recommend you source and use a Satellite based tracker: Garmin Inreach or Spot.

    There is no discount for bringing and using your own tracker. However, we are happy to assist in processing the information for your own tracker with Follow My Challenge.

  • Until 1st April 2026 - 50% refund (less payment processing fees).

    After 1st April 2026 - Non-refundable.