CYCLING IN GIRONA · ROUTE GUIDE

MARE DE DÉU DEL MONT

Twelve kilometres of mountain. The big day-out climb of the Girona region — long, steep at the top, and the kind of summit you tell people about for the rest of the year.

Surface

Road

Climb length

11.8 km

Avg gradient

7.1%

Max gradient

15%

Loop distance

105 km

Loop elevation

2,200 m

WHY THIS CLIMB

THE PRO ROAD MOST AMATEURS NEVER FIND.

If you only have one day in the saddle in Girona and you want to know what the place can do at the top end, this is the ride. Long warm-up through the foothills, a climb that earns its summit, and a descent that lets you exhale. It's the closest the region has to an alpine col, and it sits an easy spin from the city.

WHAT TO EXPECT

THE RIDE, START TO FINISH.

A 35 km approach through Banyoles, Esponellà and Beuda — gently rolling, the kind of warm-up that turns into a tempo block if you're not careful.

11.8 km of climbing at 7.1%. The first half is honest. The middle eases. The final 2 km is where the climb earns its name — touching 15% in the steepest sections.

A tiny chapel at the summit and the kind of view east to the coast and west into the Pyrenees that you'll only earn on a clear morning.

A long, fast, technical descent. Smooth surface but with sharper turns than Rocacorba — pace it.

A roll back through Beuda for second coffee and the long flat run home along the river.

PRACTICAL

HOW TO RIDE IT WELL.

Where to start

Start from Girona old town. The climb proper begins after Beuda — about 50 km in, with the descent and roll-back making the full day around 105 km. From Can Sagnari it's the same loop minus the first 12 km.

Best time of day

Early start. This is a 5-hour day even on good legs. Out the door by 8:30 in October, summit before noon, home for a long lunch.

Coffee stop

Beuda — the café in the village square on the way back. Tortilla, coffee, sit in the sun, watch the local pensioners argue about football.

Watch out for

Gear ratios. If you're running a 53/39 with an 11-25 cassette, you'll regret it. Bring a 32 or 34 on the back at minimum. Compact chainset, cassette-up, ride within yourself on the steep stuff.

Strava segments to look up: Mare de Déu del Mont · Beuda to Mare de Déu del Mont

RIDE IT WITH ROADMAN