If Mallorca and Calpe are where professional teams go for winter training camps, Girona is where a remarkable number of professional cyclists actually live year-round. This medieval Catalan town has become one of the most concentrated hubs of professional cycling talent anywhere in the world, and riding its surrounding roads means genuinely following in the daily training routes of some of the sport’s biggest names.
Why Girona Became Cycling’s Adopted Home
The reasons are practical rather than mysterious — a nearby international airport, a mild climate, genuinely excellent and varied riding terrain within a short radius, good food, and a lower cost of living than some other cycling hubs, combined with an early wave of professional riders settling here that snowballed into today’s concentrated community. It’s now common to share a café stop with riders you’d otherwise only see on television.
The Riding Terrain
Girona’s surrounding countryside offers a genuinely rare combination — flat, fast valley roads for easy days, rolling countryside through the Catalan hinterland for moderate efforts, and access to real climbing in the nearby Pyrenean foothills and coastal Costa Brava hills for harder days, all without needing to relocate your base during a trip.
Rocacorba
The region’s best-known local training climb, Rocacorba has become something of a proving ground among the resident professional community, with informal Strava-segment rivalries among some of the sport’s biggest names adding a layer of cycling culture to what is, on paper, a moderate, well-surfaced climbing road through forested hills.
The Costa Brava Connection
Girona’s proximity to the dramatic Costa Brava coastline means a day trip east brings you to genuinely different terrain — rugged coastal roads and small fishing villages, a contrasting change of scenery from the inland valleys and hills that dominate most Girona-based riding.
Café Culture and Cycling Community
Girona’s cycling scene extends well beyond the roads themselves — a genuine café culture has developed around cyclist-friendly spots throughout town, and the general atmosphere of a place where cycling is simply part of daily life, rather than a niche tourist activity, is part of what makes basing a trip here feel different from a purely scenery-driven destination.
Gravel Cycling in Girona
While Girona is famous for its road cycling, it’s equally renowned as one of Europe’s best gravel riding destinations. Within minutes of leaving the city, smooth gravel tracks weave through forests, vineyards and quiet countryside, allowing riders to escape traffic almost immediately.
The region offers an incredible variety of terrain, from fast hard-packed gravel roads ideal for adventure bikes to more technical trails for experienced riders. Many of the world’s top professional cyclists regularly include gravel rides in their training, and it’s common to see riders swapping their road bikes for gravel bikes on recovery days or long endurance rides.
Popular routes head towards Els Àngels, the Gavarres Natural Park and the quiet gravel roads surrounding the medieval villages of Madremanya, Monells and Púbol. The network is so extensive that no two rides ever need to be the same.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxed coffee ride or a full-day gravel adventure with over 2,500 metres of climbing, Girona offers some of the finest gravel cycling in Europe.
Best Time to Ride
Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures, though Girona’s inland Catalan climate is milder than the deep Mediterranean heat found further south, making it a genuinely rideable destination across a longer season than some of our more southern options.
How This Fits Into a Cigala Cycling Tour
Girona works well as a distinctive addition to our roster, offering genuine variety in terrain within a single base and a cycling culture unlike anywhere else we operate, rooted in the town’s status as an adopted home for professional riders.
If you’d like an itinerary built around specific local climbs, the Costa Brava coastal option, or a longer stay soaking in the town’s cycling culture, we’re also happy to design a fully custom tour around Girona for your group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I actually see professional cyclists riding around Girona?
It’s genuinely common, particularly during the European racing season when many residents are training locally between events, though obviously not guaranteed on any given day.
Is Girona better suited to climbing or flatter riding?
Both are genuinely available within a short radius — this variety within a single base is one of Girona’s specific strengths compared to destinations built around one type of terrain.
How far is the Costa Brava coast from Girona?
Close enough for a full day-trip ride there and back, or a one-way route with vehicle support for the return, making it an easy addition to a Girona-based week.
Is Girona good for gravel cycling?
Absolutely. Girona has become one of Europe’s leading gravel destinations, with hundreds of kilometres of well-maintained gravel roads and forest tracks starting just outside the city. Whether you ride road, gravel or both, Girona offers exceptional terrain for every type of cyclist.
Is Girona a good base for a custom trip combining cycling with general travel?
Yes — the town’s own historic old quarter and the wider Catalan region offer plenty for non-riding time, making it a well-rounded base beyond just the cycling itself.
— Matteo Cigala
Former European Gran Fondo Champion, Vice World Gran Fondo & Gravel Champion, Italian Gravel Champion, Coach & Tours Director of Cigala Cycling Tours
