15.06.2024 - Day One

#ElPiri2024: Event start

The anticipation is over, and the event has begun. Riders were in excited spirits having filled up on a final big breakfast and rolled out early this morning from @theservicecourse. Passing through the still quiet Plaça de la Independència and old town of Girona before heading out into the wild mountains. Best of luck to all El Piri riders!

Som-hi (let’s go!)

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

15.06.2024 - Day One

#ElPiri2024: Leaving the city behind

Riders headed out of Girona twisting and turning through bike paths and little tracks, quickly leaving the city behind and into nature. 

The route took riders up to and along Pantà Susqueda to visit the viewpoint of the upper reservoir, pantà Sau. It is the church of this reservoir with water now lapping at its foundations that has become an emblem and barometer for the drought that Catalunya suffers. With the gift of much rain this spring, it's level has risen from a historic low of 4% to 40% in just a few months. Riders might be praying it doesn't rise further this week! 

The first riders passed through this section in incredible time, pushing on the pedals and eating up the kilometers as the sweat dripped from their brows in the warm humid air, while others suffering with early mechanicals to their wheels from rock damage needed a moment to stop and repair them as best as they could. 

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

16.06.2024 - Day Two

#ElPiri2024 Refugi la Clusa 

As the afternoon of day one wore on into evening, riders began climbing up into the forest hills of the Serra Catllaràs. Half way up the sometimes steep but breathtaking climb riders found refugi la clusa, run by Ramon. Here some riders succumbed to the temptation of shelter and welcomed the opportunity to pause, eat, drink and sleep in this mountain haven. 

The atmosphere at the refugi was a buzz of excitement and tales of beautiful vistas, interspersed with complaints of needing to push up climbs and being overloaded. While some riders grumbled of aches and pains others were in good form, taking time to learn and sample the Catalan tradition of drinking wine from a porron. 

Ramon who runs the refugi was in his element, welcoming in tired riders from the road to shelter and eat under his roof.

Salut - cheers

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

16.06.2024 - Day Two

#ElPiri2024 Cadí Moixeró 

As dawn broke on the second day riders emerged from their bivvys into the cold fresh morning mountain air. Others had clearly been riding from well before dawn finding themselves navigating the switchbacks and tracks that wind through and up into the Cadí Moixeró natural park. While they went to work on eating up kilometres the Shepherds were off to visit their flocks in their 4x4s. 

The Cadí Moixeró is home to the eminent peaks of Pedraforca, whose granite towers stand above the surrounding forest hills, teaming with wildlife and tranquility. 

This climb is of both outstanding beauty and champagne gravel, having left the rough climbing to the refugi on Serra Catllaràs behind riders will appreciate the smooth surface below their tyres, allowing them to take in the views and breathe a moment. 

Bon dia tothom - Good morning everyone. 

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

16.06.2024 - Day Two

#ElPiri2024 Hotel Trainera Control Point Opens

After a non stop first night for some, this morning saw the arrival of the first riders though Esterri d'Aneu and the half way point. Ramon (@ramon_comulada), a local rider and bike mechanic from Griona, blitzed through the control in first place, however sadly going on to scratch later this afternoon due to heat exhaustion. 

Tristian, who proved a fan favourite with the local kids, followed not long after. Having struggled up the climb from Espui with its steep gradient and stacked switchbacks, perhaps feeling fatigued from a full night of riding and 10,000 meters in his legs at this point. He was however in good spirits and enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

Daan, Steven and Samuel followed later on in hour intervals, with the first two having had some sleep the night before and making good progress with well rested legs and strong mental spirits. While Samuel complained of a bad night's sleep and feeling its effects, he was off into the evening to find a good spot to sleep. All were in good spirits and enjoying themselves. 

Thanks to @ha_trainera and for welcoming riders with us, we look forward to welcoming lots more in the coming days! 

Fins ara - see you soon 

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

17.06.2024 - Day Three

#ElPiri2024 Descent of dreams

Any cyclist knows that what goes up must come down, but riders might have been feeling they were spending a lot more time going up than down yesterday. Afternoon on day two packed a punch with some of the most climbing per kilometer of the route, as the mid pack made their way west from Cadí Moixeró to Organyà, through the sparsely populated hills.

On their way to the welcome resupply at Organyà riders paused in the far flung hamlet of Ossera, refueling their bidons from the font. The tarmac road ends here, with only a small gravel road left to meander up into the mountain to pass into the next valley. 

For those souls that persisted with the somewhat relentless climbing, they found themselves rewarded with one of the real gifts of the event. An almost never ending tarmac descent from the serene summit of the Coll d'Ares, to the bright lights of the Organyà burger van. A road of dreams for a gravel shaken body. 

Una regal - a gift 

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

17.06.2024 - Day Three

#ElPiri2024: First finisher 

Congratulations to Girona local @tristantakephoto for a phenomenal and seemingly flawless ride. Having made an incredible pace from the first kilometers, too fast for the media team to catch him, he arrives back at @theservicecourse as provisional first finisher of the inaugural El Piri in a staggering time of 56h 14m. Just in time to enjoy the warm embrace of his family. 

Ets un crack - you're a legend!

Full final results will be issued after the event finishes.

17.06.2024 - Day Three

#ElPiri2024: Into the mountains 

From the shores of Pantà de Sant Antoni to the high Pyrenees, riders will have felt like they were climbing all day, and they truly were, with over 1,600 meters difference between them. Riders finally turned off the tarmac at the mountain village of Espui, located at the head of Vall Fosca and started the real climb to the high Pyrenees. The climbing is tough but the views are more than enough reward as the switchbacks stack on top of each other, as riders summit in the shadow of Montsent de Pallars at 2,883m.

From here riders flow on undulating mountain tracks at 2,000m for many kilometres, winding their way between livestock grazing their summer pastures, before descending though the ski station of Espot and to the welcome respite of the control point in Esterri d'Àneu. 

Pujada - climbing

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

18.06.2024 - Day Four

#ElPiri2024: Esterri d'Àneu 

The media team made a flying visit to the control point last night. With the hotel full, they shared the floor with a few late arriving riders.

Situated in Esterri d'Àneu, the town sits near the top of the Àneu valley in an old glacial basin, with fertile soils from the old lake, its 1,000 metre mountain walls around all sides making for an imposing location. Accessible by road from the south or recently by mountain pass from the north, it's a haven for outdoor pursuits. The valley and cols on the french border served as a main arterial route for refugees during the second world war and a point of resistance during the Spanish civil war. 

Riders were welcomed well into the night, with great food and warm shelter. While some riders got an early night others enjoyed a glass, or three, of wine! Fun comes in all styles. 

Esterri d'Àneu - land you go to

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

19.06.2024 - Day Five

#ElPiri2024: First woman and ninth finisher overall

Congratulations to @watt_wagon for a seriously strong performance, after a final mega push out of the mountains this morning she finished first woman and took 9th position overall, which in itself is evidence of her calibre. 

We are not sure what's more impressive during the event, Cynthia's riding or eating power. She slept well, ate well and rode like a lion. Embracing the spirit, having fun and enjoying herself. 

We can confirm the photos were taken when she finished - doesn’t she look fresh!

Respect.

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

19.06.2024 - Day Five

#ElPiri2024: Paying tax 

Climbing out from the wild Vall Farrera, named the iron valley in nod to it being a principle point for forgery of tools back in the 18th century. The riders found themselves cresting the coll de conflent in its splendid spring flaura, and descending down through the catalan mountain enclave village of Os de Civís.

Pulled out of pure nature and into the metropolis of Andorra, riders took the opportunity for a cheap and plentiful resupply in this moment of civilisation. Here, from the heat inferno in the valley floor, they set off up the steep slopes out of the Andorra valley and back into the mountains. The riders certainly paid tax to get up and out of that civilisation. 

Supported by:

@tailfincycling @ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

19.06.24

Startline Bursary Finisher - Paula Soler

We run the startline bursary in partnership with @tailfincycling to help us to get amazing people like Paula to the startline of our events. A bike messenger from Barcelona, Paula is a rider through and through. She wears her heart on her sleeve and rides with ferocious joy and strength.

For us, there is no greater pleasure than being witness to the the fulfilment she found finishing.

Felicitats - congratulations

Supported by:
@tailfincycling
@ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

20.06.24

Keep it rolling

Standing up or sitting down, on the go or stop and go. Riders all seem to have different strategys and needs. Some favour a nice coffee and pastries, others just want to get juiced up on tangfantastics. The kilometers are rolling by and the legs are getting tired, we all have our cravings to keep those legs turning and spirits high. 

Mengar - to eat

Supported by:
@tailfincycling
@ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

21.06.24

Final Push

Leaving the tasty patisserie of Ribes de Freser behind, riders ascended high up onto mountain roads skirting the border of the Parc Natural de Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser. Here the lush grass serves as summer pastures to feed the cattle and the higher mountains play home to wild ibex and deer in this national hunting reserve.  

While others have basked in the sun through section, yesterday the riders climbed up in light drizzle and passed along the plateau in dense fog, missing the views of the Garrotxa basin but perhaps enjoying the cool air and misty ambiance. This section is the final big climb before it's seemingly downhill all the way to the finish...

Riders are currently out on course passing through this section now, in their pursuit of meeting the party later. 

Supported by:
@tailfincycling
@ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

22.06.24

Lantern Rouge

Yesterday saw us welcoming in the last riders of El Piri. While some rushed around the course at breakneck speed, others took their time to take it all in. It's easy to think that those that took longer were slower, but the reality is far from it. Suffering issues with bikes, bodies and overcoming minds, they had it all and never gave in. 

Bibi and Toms were our final riders back to Girona, arriving just before the party came to an end and we are glad they were able to share in the celebrations. Not long before them, we also saw the arrival of the Belgian duo Margot and Yoni, completing their first ever bikepacking event and recounted us with stories of human kindness and amazing adventures they had.

A note and nod to one rider @simondesmarais, who wasn't able to make the group start last week, but this morning, after joining us at the party last night, set off on the route!

Festa - Party

Supported by:
@tailfincycling
@ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright

23.06.24

Closing Party

On Friday evening we hosted a closing party at @theservicecourse . We call it a closing party rather than finishers as it is open to all. We prioritise welcoming and warmth for our community. In fact we even had a rider who would be starting the route the next day join us.

The atmosphere was of joy and fulfilment with much back slapping and comraderie of shared experiences. Riders were even able to welcome in the final finishers, Margot and Yoni and Bibi and Toms and toast to them during the party.

We hosted a story telling hour with a raffle of @tailfincycling goodies for all stories told, with riders recounting fun anecdotes and moments of truly finding themselves out on the road.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone that came and shared in the inaugural edition and experience with us. It was our pleasure.

See you in 2025!

Supported by:
@tailfincycling
@ridewithgps

📸: @lloydjwright