Girona Cycling Routes and Climbs by the Numbers
The main climbs around Girona are short enough to ride in a morning and steep enough to hurt: Rocacorba gains 740 m in 9.8 km at 8.4%, Coll de Bracons averages 8% for 8.4 km, and Els Àngels is the gentle one at about 3.3% over 11 km. This page puts the numbers for the main climbs around the Llémena valley and the Garrotxa in one place, next to the routes that start at Hotel Vall Amagada del Molí and the weather you can expect in every month.
The figures come from four places, all linked under Sources: the hotel's own Komoot collection, climb data published by Epic Road Rides and Eat Sleep Cycle, and the 1981 to 2010 climate averages of AEMET, Spain's weather agency, for Girona airport. Climb figures shift a little depending on where you start the clock, so read them as close, not exact.
Which climbs can you ride from the hotel?
Rocacorba and Els Àngels are the two you can build a day around without touching a car. All 20 routes in the hotel's Komoot collection start at the mill, and four of them are built around climbing:
Iconic Roca Corba Route: 127 km with 2,290 m of climbing.
Iconic Els Angels: 96.8 km with 1,270 m.
Collecting Local Climbs: 109 km with 2,290 m, for riders who want several of the local climbs in one day.
Osor Climbs: 99.2 km with 1,670 m.
None of these is a recovery ride. The valley sits between Girona and the Garrotxa volcanic zone, so every route starts with hills. Even the gentlest in the collection, Beginner 101, climbs 240 m in 21.7 km.
The numbers for each climb
Rocacorba
The local test piece. The well known Strava segment starts at the stone bridge over the Matamors stream near Pujarnol and climbs 740 m in 9.8 km, an average of 8.4%, with ramps of 15% in the last kilometre and a half. The sanctuary at the top is at 930 m. Epic Road Rides measures it from Banyoles instead, which makes it 13 km at 7% with 800 m of climbing.
The segment records, according to Eat Sleep Cycle, stand at 26:20 for men and 29:16 for women. Under 50 minutes is a good time for an amateur. The section by section guide is in Spanish: Rocacorba en bici, guía de la subida.
The other climbs, from easiest to steepest
Figures from Epic Road Rides, measured from the starting point named:
Santa Pellaia from Cassà de la Selva: 6 km at 3%, 210 m of climbing.
Els Àngels, starting about 4 km from the centre of Girona: 11 km at about 3.3%, 430 m. A good first day.
Coll de Condreu from Sant Esteve d'en Bas: 12 km at 4%, 530 m.
Mare de Déu del Mont from the N260 at Cabanelles, next to the Can Vilà restaurant: 18 km at 5%, ramps of 14%, 1,000 m. The longest on this list by far.
Sant Martí Sacalm from Amer: 9 km at 7%, 606 m.
Coll de Bracons from Can Trona: 8.4 km at 8%, 660 m. As steep on average as Rocacorba, without the 15% sting at the end.
The same list also covers Sant Grau from Tossa de Mar, Sant Pere de Rodes from El Port de la Selva, Turó de l'Home from Arbúcies, Vallter 2000 from Setcases and Coll de la Creueta from Alp. Those sit much further from the valley and work better as separate days out.
EN: Climbing through the trees on a group ride. Pace yourself, the steep part always comes later. 🚴 / CA: Pujant entre els arbres en una sortida en grup. / ES: Subiendo entre los árboles en una salida en grupo.
What is the cycling weather like in Girona, month by month?
Mild from October to May, hot in July and August, and wetter in autumn than most visitors expect. These are AEMET's averages for Girona airport, 143 m above sea level, for 1981 to 2010: the average daily high, the average daily low, rainfall, and the number of days with at least 1 mm of rain.
January: 13.1°C high, 1.1°C low, 62 mm, 4.9 rain days.
February: 14.1°C, 1.7°C, 51 mm, 4.9 days.
March: 16.7°C, 4.1°C, 50 mm, 5.1 days.
April: 18.8°C, 6.2°C, 67 mm, 7.1 days.
May: 22.4°C, 10.1°C, 71 mm, 7.3 days.
June: 26.6°C, 14.3°C, 60 mm, 5.1 days.
July: 30.1°C, 17.1°C, 32 mm, 3.2 days.
August: 29.8°C, 17.0°C, 46 mm, 5.1 days.
September: 26.1°C, 14.1°C, 70 mm, 6.5 days.
October: 21.8°C, 10.5°C, 88 mm, 6.4 days.
November: 16.6°C, 5.2°C, 70 mm, 5.2 days.
December: 13.6°C, 2.0°C, 56 mm, 4.7 days.
One thing the table cannot tell you. The climbs go far higher than the airport, and Rocacorba's summit is at 930 m, so it is colder at the top than these numbers suggest. Pack a layer for every descent, whatever the month.
When should you plan a cycling trip to Girona?
For warm afternoons and cool starts, May, June and September. Average highs are 22.4°C, 26.6°C and 26.1°C, and you ride in shorts most days.
July is the hottest month, at 30.1°C on average, and also the driest. Ride early and be home by lunch. Breakfast at the hotel starts at 07:30, so for a very early start, talk to the front office the day before.
October is the wettest month, with 88 mm of rain, but that still falls on only about six days. Most weeks have plenty of dry riding.
From December to February, average highs sit between 13.1°C and 14.1°C, but the average lows are close to freezing. Start late in the morning and finish before the sun drops. If you need warm afternoons in midwinter, Girona is not the place.
EN: A Cervélo from the hotel's rental fleet out on the road. / CA: Una Cervélo de la flota de lloguer de l'hotel a la carretera. / ES: Una Cervélo de la flota de alquiler del hotel en la carretera.
Do you need to bring your own bike?
No. The hotel rents 22 Cervélo road and gravel bikes in sizes 48 to 61. A Caledonia costs €65, an Áspero €70 and a Soloist €75 per 24 hours, and the daily price drops from the second day and again from the fourth. Riders staying elsewhere can rent too. Details and booking are on the Cervélo road and gravel bike rental page, and the guide to bike rental prices in Girona compares the options.
Back at the mill there is an in house workshop, secure bike storage and a cycling laundry with a drying cabinet. Kees, the strongest cyclist on the team, guides guest rides.
EN: Setting up a bike before the ride. / CA: Preparant la bici abans de la sortida. / ES: Preparando la bici antes de la salida.
The honest limits
Rocacorba's descent is narrow and technical, and cars use the road in both directions. Take it slowly, and skip it in the wet.
The hotel is about 30 minutes by car from Girona. The café scene and the bike shops in town are a ride or a drive away, not a stroll. If that matters more to you than the roads, read who the hotel suits, and who should book elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
How long and steep is the Rocacorba climb?
The Strava segment is 9.8 km with 740 m of climbing at an average of 8.4%, and the last kilometre and a half has ramps of 15%. The sanctuary at the top is at 930 m.
What is the easiest classic climb near Girona?
Els Àngels: about 11 km at 3.3%, with 430 m of climbing, starting about 4 km from the centre of Girona.
What is the best month for cycling in Girona?
May, June and September, with average highs of 22.4°C, 26.6°C and 26.1°C at Girona airport. July is the hottest month at 30.1°C, and October the wettest, with 88 mm of rain.
Can you cycle in Girona in winter?
Yes. From December to February average highs are 13.1°C to 14.1°C, but average lows are 1.1°C to 2.0°C, so start late in the morning and bring layers for the descents.
Do I need to bring my own bike?
No. Hotel Vall Amagada del Molí rents 22 Cervélo road and gravel bikes in sizes 48 to 61, from €65 per 24 hours, also to riders staying elsewhere.
Book a cycling stay at the mill
Book directly on www.vallamagada.com, where you can choose one of the rooms and reserve a Cervélo at the same time. Questions about a route, a climb or a frame size? Message the front office on WhatsApp at +34 872 290 725 or email frontoffice@vallamagada.com.
Sources
Hotel Vall Amagada del Molí is run by Robin and Karel, a Dutch couple who met at Hotelschool The Hague. After a trip to Girona they booked on impulse, they left Amsterdam and restored the watermill estate in Sant Esteve de Llémena. Read their story.
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