Please plan your travel to arrive at the Hotel Peninsular in Girona by 3:30 PM to meet your guides and check-in. Transatlantic flights from the U.S. will depart on Friday night and arrive Barcelona (BCN) Terminal 1 sometime in the morning. After collecting luggage, we recommend taking a taxi to the Barcelona Sants train station (takes 20-30 minutes and costs ~€35) and then taking the train to Girona (the trip on a high-speed train only takes 39 minutes). The Hotel Peninsular is a 15-minute walk from the Girona Train Station. Participants will receive additional guidance on getting from BCN to the hotel in Girona after registering for the tour. If four or more participants will arrive BCN on the same flight, we may arrange a van transfer from the airport directly to Girona at a reasonable price per person. Participants that arrive the hotel before 3:30 PM can check-in if their rooms are ready, or they can leave their luggage with the hotel bellman and explore the city.

At 4:00 PM we will meet for our bike fitting, and while the rental bikes should have been dialed into the measurements/specifications you will have provided in advance, some minor adjustments are typically needed. Please bring your computer mount, pedals and saddle (if you are particular about saddles and brought your own) to the fitting. At 5:00 PM we will gather in the hotel’s Novara meeting room for introductions and to review the schedule for the week and other tour details.

We will then introduce Gemma Sampson, a professional cycling nutritionist, who will provide a 90 minute seminar on how best to fuel your body, not only for the week ahead, but when you return home. Her presentation will cover nutrition both on and off the bike, so that you can both enjoy and accomplish your goals on the routes we have planned for the next six days. Participants will receive a digital copy of Gemma’s presentation sometime during the Ride Camp. After a short break, we will gather in the hotel lobby to walk to a welcome dinner.

The Ride:
Hincapie Loop | 42 miles (68 km) | 3,500 ft (1,050 m) elevation

What to Expect:
Since this is your first day in Girona, and many in our group – if not all – will be a bit jet-lagged, we will start our day an hour later than we will the rest of the week, and our optional inspirational morning devotions will begin at 8:30 AM. Today’s ride will be the shortest of the week, but with two popular, but modest, climbs that will serve as a good introduction to cycling in Girona. First, we will cycle up Els Àngels, a quiet and gentle climb with very little traffic that is right outside the city, a favorite with both pros and amateurs. The grade of this seven mile (11 km) climb averages only 3.4%, but with two mostly flat kilometers in the middle of the climb, the first four kilometers and the last five kilometers are more challenging, with grades around 5%. At the summit we will stop to visit the chapel and take in the views of the Mediterranean coast on one side and the Pyrenees on the other. From there we will enjoy a high-speed, sweeping descent on the opposite side of the mountain, which is steeper than the Girona side. Safety is a priority, so ride within your limits and be careful not to overcook the turns! We will regroup at the base of the mountain, near the medieval village of Madremanya, and continue a gentle, rolling descent to the village of Monells, where we will ride cobbled lanes into the village square, where you can refill your water bottles. Then it is on to the climb made famous by George Hincapie, one of the first American pros to live and cycle in Girona. The climb to the chapel of Santa Pellaia is ideal for training efforts, 6 kilometers of smooth tarmac and light traffic at a steady 4% grade. Then we descend to the town of Cassà de la Selva and work our way back to Girona, much of it on backroads.

We should be back in Girona around 1:00 PM, and we will end our ride at La Fabrica, one of the leading cycling cafés in the world, to enjoy Sunday brunch. La Fabrica is owned by former pro cyclist (now world class trail runner) Christian Meier and his wife Amber. From there it is back to our hotel to clean-up and rest. The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore the city, and for those that have interest, the option to attend a mid-afternoon Christian church service in English. Ciutat Nova (“New City”) offers morning services in Catalan for the local community, and then an afternoon service in English for the international community, which includes current and former pro cyclists who live locally. At 7:30 PM we will meet for dinner.

The Ride:
Rocacorba, Banyoles and Els Angels Return | 64 miles (102 km) | 6,000 ft (1,850 m) elevation

What to Expect:
After our warm-up ride on Day 2, today is one that will test your climbing legs. The distance is not long, but the day is bookended by two climbs, the first crazy hard, the second simply challenging. We ride north from Girona in a clockwise loop that takes us first to Lake Banyoles, a charming lake next to the town of the same name. Banyoles has been developing a vibrant triathlete community, who combine swims in the largest natural lake in Catalonia with their rides and runs. Once out of the city, and after a mile or two of cycling along a busy highway, we will exit onto quiet roads that take us past ancient farms to our first objective: the famous Rocacorba, a crazy steep out-and-back climb used by both pros and amateurs on their training rides. Once we detour from the main road it is 7 miles (11 km) to the summit, but the Rocacorba Strava segment does not start until after the flat first kilometer, officially 6.17 miles (9.9 km) with 2,445 feet (745 m) of elevation gain. The segment King of the Mountain (“KOM”) time is 26:20; Pittsford, NY, pro cyclist Magnus Sheffield (INEOS) is 14th on the leaderboard with a time of 28:31. The climb averages a 7.5% grade, but there is a four-kilometer section that averages a 9.8% grade, and one of those kilometers is at an 11.2% grade. The road ends at the summit, where one of our support vehicles will be waiting for us with snacks, hydration and layers for the descent. The views from the top are spectacular on a clear day, when it is possible to see the coast. The ride back down the same road is challenging and requires focus, not only because of the steep grade and constant braking required, but because much of the descent is on rough tarmac. After reaching the bottom of the climb we have only two miles (3 kms) of flat riding before we reach Banyoles, where we will stop for a lakeside brunch at a coffee shop run by a former pro continental cyclist from South Africa.

After brunch we will make a small detour through the historic center of Banyoles, then another to the Haribo Factory Store, where you will have the chance to stock up on the low-cost/high-carb ride food loved by cyclists worldwide. And since we will be accompanied by our support vehicle, your purchase limit won’t be what can fit in the rear pockets of your jersey, but what can fit in your day bag.

Our clockwise loop continues south and east for 20 miles (32 kms) of relatively flat riding in the countryside, to the backside of Els Angels, which we will have descended the prior day. The ride up Els from this side is quite a bit steeper than from the Girona side, and much of the climb averages a grade over 6%, with ramps over 9%, and one kilometer averaging 8.3%. But after Rocacorba, which has five kilometers steeper than the hardest one kilometer on this side of Els, and which is also twice the cycling elevation, you might find yourself powering up this climb with a smile. From the summit, the descent to Girona and our hotel may feel surprisingly long, but this will be a metric century that you will remember for a long time.

The Ride:
Costa Brava Loop | 88 miles (140 km) | 6,800 ft (2,100 m) elevation

What to Expect:
If Monday’s ride was one for the climbers, today is one for the endurance riders in the group. The longest distance of the week, with three moderate climbs, it will be considered by many to be their favorite, with outstanding views of the Costa Brava. We are cycling a non-traditional loop, a route designed to maximize our time cycling along the coast. We will depart Girona heading south for a few miles, then turn east and up the side of the Santa Pellaia (Hincapie) climb that we will have descended on Sunday. The climb on this side is about 4 miles (6 km) long with 650 feet (200 m) of climbing elevation, much of it a 3-5% grade. After descending, we will turn south on farm roads and over the modest Coll de la Ganga climb, descending to the town of Calonge, where we will make a short detour to see a medieval castle. From there we cycle through coastal resort towns to the excellent La Maglia cycling café in the town of Platja d’Aro for a coffee and snack. After our coffee stop it will not long before we reach the Platja (beach) de Sant Pol, and begin 15 miles (25 km) of cycling south along the Costa Brava, with occasional stops at overlooks. While the views are stunning on this stretch of the coast, be prepared for much up-and-down cycling - we will aggregate 1,600 ft (500 m) of elevation on this segment. Our destination is the town of Tossa Del Mar, famous for its seaside castle, reached by a cobbled road that we will cycle. Lunch will be in Tossa: if the weather is good, we will picnic at an overlook with amazing views; if it is cold or raining, we will dine at a seaside restaurant. After lunch, we turn around and cycle 6 miles (10 km) back up the coast, to a road that takes us inland, via the beautiful 4 mile (6 km) Sant Grau/Alto de Montagut climb, with views of the Mediterranean at almost every turn. The climb averages a 5.7% grade, and don’t be fooled by thinking you have arrived when you reach the church of Sant Grau - you still have one kilometer to go, and it is the steepest section (7.8% grade) of the climb.

From the summit we descend 7 miles (11 km) - with one flat/slightly uphill section that requires a hard effort to maintain speed - to the town of Llagostera, and then it is 24 miles of flat countryside back to Girona. A big day on the bike, but typically one that brings out big smiles.

The Ride:
Medieval Villages of the Empordà | 62 miles (100 km) | 4,600 ft (1,400 m) elevation

What to Expect:
After two consecutive challenging days, we take a break with a rest day. As those who follow professional stage races know, a rest day doesn’t mean a day off the bike, it means a day without hard efforts. Today’s ride is a metric century, but most will not consider it a difficult ride, but rather a leisurely, joyful day exploring the countryside on a bike.

The Baix Empordà is a comarques or county to the east of Girona, between Girona and the Mediterranean coast. Relatively flat countryside, it has a rich history that dates to the 6th century B.C., when it was first settled by the Greeks. The Empordà is dotted with ancient villages, and we will pass many and explore a few. Our ride starts with the iconic Els Angels climb, which we will have cycled on Sunday. This will be our only meaningful climb of the day, although we will end with a small stinger that riders will not want to miss.

After descending Els, we will veer off into the village of Madremanya, and begin a meandering route on backroads through the countryside, including a bit of gravel, and a bit of highway, when we will need to ride single file. Riders will also experience riding on cobblestone as we explore the narrow lanes of the charming villages of Madremanya, Peratallada and Pals, the last one built on a hill.

Shortly after we navigate the cobbles of Pals, we will arrive at yet one more medieval village, this one Palau-Sator, where we will stop at a traditional Catalan restaurant for lunch. From there it is 25 miles (40 km) of mostly backroads to Girona. As we near the city, we need to ride a short stretch along a highway, but we will soon turn off the main road onto a little-known, narrow, steep, two-way-but-one-lane road to the hillside community of Montjuic (“Mountain of the Jews” in medieval Catalan), now one of the higher end neighborhoods of Girona and home to a number of pro cyclists. From there we have a fairly steep, serpentine descent to the Barri Vell and our hotel.

Your Host for the Day:
Pro Cyclist Chad Haga

The Ride:
Mare de Déu del Mont Loop | 80-94 miles (130-150 km) | 6,600-9,200 ft (2,000-2,800 m) elevation

What to Expect:
Today we ride the week’s Queen Stage, a route most will consider the hardest of the week, with or without the Rocacorba option. The destination of our counterclockwise loop is one of the biggest climbs within a day’s ride of Girona: Mare de Déu del Mont (literally “Mother of God of the Mountain”, officially “Our Lady of the Mount”). It is a truly challenging climb that rewards those that persist in getting to the summit with awe-inspiring views. Our ride to and from the climb from Girona is not difficult, incorporating the quiet, rolling countryside that we have enjoyed throughout the week. But 25 miles (40 km) into our ride we begin the climb: 11.5 miles (19 km) at an average 4.9% grade. The key is not to be fooled by the gentle grade in the first six miles (9 km) of the climb, which only averages 2.8%. From there, the grade kicks up to a 6.9% average to the summit. The Strava segment KOM is 43:25; our Host for the Day is 9th on the leaderboard, with a time of 47:02. While the climb is not quite as steep as Rocacorba (the hardest 5 km section averages a 7.4% grade, versus 8.9% for Rocacorba), most will find it more difficult, primarily because it is 3.5 miles (5.5 km) longer, with 500 feet (150 m) greater elevation. When we arrive at the summit where the road literally ends, perspiring and out of breath after the effort required on the last 2.5 km (average 9.7% grade), we will be welcomed by our support van, where we will dig out layers to warm up, and dig into some pastries to replenish the carbs we burned.

The descent is challenging and technical. At the top, it is steep with distracting views, and after four miles (7 km) of descending, we will veer off to the right from the road we ascended, continuing the descent on a steep, narrow, twisty, rough road through a forest. Thirteen miles (21 km) from the summit we will stop for a picnic at the amazing medieval village of Besalu, dating to 977 AD, reached via a fortified stone bridge with seven arches. Over our picnic lunch we will ask if there are any intrepid riders in the group willing to attempt a second big climb on the way back to Girona: Rocacorba. Our Host for the Day has been known cycle both Mare and Rocacorba on his training rides, and in fact owns the KOM for the double (yes, there is a Strava segment for that.) If there are any takers, they will take the detour up to Rocacorba with Chad Haga (and one of our support vehicles) shortly after we cycle past the lake in Banyoles, which you will remember from our brunch stop on Monday. Those that choose the Rocacorba option will be adding 14 miles (22 km) and 2,600 feet (780 mts) of elevation to the planned route.

Those that don’t want to attempt the “double” will still not be able to coast back to Girona: we will return via an indirect route with one more climb, this one called La Mota. Most of our ride back will be on farming roads that will suddenly drop us into the city, right by the Cellar de Can Roca, the amazing 3-star Michelin restaurant featured in the Netflix Chef’s Table series. [Unfortunately, our Ride Camp price point does not permit us to dine there this week, but if you wish to try it while you are in Girona, we recommend booking well in advance.] Those that decide to take the Mare + Rocacorba challenge will have the option to return to Girona via the La Mota route, or via a more direct, flatter route.

No matter what you decide - whether you “only” cycle our planned Mare route, or whether you take the Mare + Rocacorba challenge - we are confident that you will be calling it a Truly Epic Day when you arrive at the post-ride feed table.

The Ride Options:
1. Sant Hilari Loop | 67 miles (108 km) | 5,600 ft (1,700 m) elevation

2. Sant MartÍ Sacalm | 68 miles (109 km) | 5,250 ft (1,600 m) elevation

What to Expect:
As we approach our last day of the Ride Camp, we will assess the weather and the group’s fitness and interests, and decide on one of two options to cycle on our last day together. Recognizing that (i) it is our sixth day in a row of cycling, (ii) the previous day was our Queen Stage and legs will be tired, and (iii) it is our last full day in Girona and some will want to get back to town early, we have selected two moderate rides with one climb each that should get us back to the hotel by 3:00 PM

Our first option includes an 18 mile (30 km) climb at a gentle grade averaging 2-3% to the town of Sant Hilari, followed by a sweet 12 mile (20 km) descent on the other side, steeper and far more open than the ride up. The long, sweeping curves along the side of the mountain, together with the stunning views, may be deemed the best descent of the week, and it will bring a smile to every rider’s face.

Our second option is to cycle a loop that includes an out-and-back climb at the midway point that is a favorite of the pros. The 5.5 mile (9 km) Sant MartÍ climb is at a steady 7-8% grade, perfect for intensive efforts, with the reward of beautiful views at the top. It is not uncommon to be passed by pro cyclists when riding up, and one of your guides once saw Mendon, NY pro cyclist AJ August (INEOS) at the top of the climb as he was finishing a hard effort.

This evening we will gather for a special dinner at the hotel, celebrating our week of cycling together.

Sadly, our Retreat will have come to an end, and we will need to wish one another Godspeed. Since many of the group will be leaving the hotel early to take a fast train to Barcelona to catch morning flights back to the U.S., we will not gather for morning devotions. Nevertheless, for those whose schedule permits, the hotel breakfast buffet will be available starting at 7:30 AM. If we have four or more participants who are departing on the same flight or who are willing to arrive BCN at the same time, we will arrange a van transfer directly from the hotel to the airport at a reasonable price per person. Of course, if you wish to extend your stay in Girona longer, you are welcome to do so.

If there is interest, we are willing to coordinate a gravel ride on Saturday, a sample of what you will experience in October if you join our Girona Gravel Ride Camp. Of course, the incremental hotel, meals and gravel bike rental cost will be at your expense.