Route
The route for 2024 will be nearly identical to 2023, with the changes we made from 2022 being a good success. In 2024 we are keen to offer riders the ability to ride the same route as the first ever event finishers and test themselves against their bar. The route will traverse roughly 800 kilometers and feature 28,000 meters climbing through the most beautiful areas in the Girona province of Catalunya.
The route files will be made accessible to participants 30 days before the start of the event, to keep it a surprise and in case of any small changes needed.
LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS
ESPAI D'INTERÈS NATURAL LES GAVARRES
The Gavarres is a mountainous forest range that sits on the city border of Girona. Perhaps once a well-kept secret, its terrain is now well trodden and rightly so. The rolling hills of cork trees make for beautiful cycling and running. For years, the locals have been busy at work cutting in amazing trails. The route for L’esperit de Girona explores both the smooth and rough on offer as the route weaves its way towards the Costa Brava coast.
PARC NATURAL DEL MONTSENY
The Natural Park of Montseny hosts the mountain of Turó de l’home at 1,712m. Its peak can be seen for hundreds of kilometres on a cloudless day, and from it you can equally see to the peaks of the Pyrenees and the metropolis of Barcelona. Montseny features some amazing gravel riding interspersed with a few tails and tarmac as riders flow around and up to the peak of Turó de l’home.
ESPAI NATURAL DE LES GUILLERIES-SAVASSONA
This area is the real wild mountains of the Girona region. Situated only 45 minutes ride from Girona down the pleasant bike path, Les Guilleries are a wild pine forested mountain range centred around Panta Susqueda. The Susqueda reservoir will serve to remind riders of the climate crisis we are suffering, with Catalunya in permanent drought and the reservoir anxiously near empty. In centuries past these forested mountains served as the hideout for Joan de Serrallonga and his gang of bandits, their fence forests and steep hills made them a perfect hideout.
PARC NATURAL DE LES CAPÇALERES DEL TER I EL FRESER
This natural park encompasses the high mountains of the Girona region and the real Pyrenees, whose ridge line and peaks separate Catalunya from France. As riders traverse from the ski resort of Nuria to the neighbouring one of Vallter they will pass the highest point on the route, the 2,809 Pic de la Fossa del Gegant. This section is undoubtedly the reward and highlight of the route, but to arrive here, you must earn it.
ALTA GARROTXA
Here the route pushes (literally at times) and meanders deep into the forested hills of Alta Garrotxa. This is a real wild and quiet place of nature. The rough tracks that the route uses are mostly untouched by others and riders will enjoy their peace. The hill forests are green and lush, but take note, this area can seem pleasant but sitting at 1,000m altitude when it rains, it pours. The route through this area will be some of the more remote riding as riders find themselves deep in a valley on the French border.