Travelling with Tactic: The Costa Brava - TACTIC SPORT

Travelling with Tactic: The Costa Brava

Your guide to the coastal region of Catalonia

What is the best feeling in summer? Is it that feeling when the sea has been getting nearer and nearer and you hit the final descent, the deep blue fills the horizon and the balmy breeze flickers at your skin?

The Costa Brava is one of the treasures of Catalonia with stunning roads and peaceful seaside towns typified by forested hills that drop straight into the sea. The result is a riviera of hundreds of beaches and thousands of calas along the 220km coast from Blanes to the French Border. We have picked out some of our favourite roads, climbs and towns to find that sea breeze feeling.

Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain
Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain

In a straight line, The Costa Brava is just 30 km from our home in Girona. Part of the appeal of the coast is that the Mediterranean sea brings warm air in the winter and a cool breeze in summer. To reach the coast from Girona a route that is often taken is out along the flats to La Bisbal d’Empordá and up to La Ganga. The Alt de la Ganga isn’t a tough climb, it rises gently on a twisty road towards the summit, it’s a short climb from La Bisbal and at the top rewards you with a flowy descent towards the sea. Coming from Girona is the first time you see the sea, and this quiet mountain road gives you the sea breeze feeling.

Speaking of flowy descents, there are two roads on the Cap de Creus which are akin to La Ganga but on another level. The Cap de Creus is the headland just south of the French border and riding there from Girona is a big day in the saddle. The descent to Port de la Selva is non-committal, you can descend into the town and ride out the other side. The other option leads to Cadaqués and must be climbed in reverse to get home. But if you hit either of these roads, they make it all worth it. Cadaqués also has its draws too. These two descents are faster than La Ganga and the views are even better and they drop you straight into the water.

Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain
Daan is wearing the Hard Day Jersey HQ Man.
Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain
Daan is wearing the Hard Day Jersey HQ Man and Ania is wearing the Hard Day Jersey HQ Woman.
Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain

The seaside town of Platja d’Aro is a popular stop and La Maglia Cafe is fully geared up for hosting cyclists. It is also the start of a hidden climb up to Masnou, a place to test the legs. Brutal ramps that have you wishing you had a bigger cassette lead to empty roads that take you to the top of the Romanyá climb and then another sea-breeze-feeling descent awaits from there.

When talking about favourite roads, this next one is almost unrivalled. The road from Sant Feliu de Guixols – is also known as The Coast Road. Some people say this is their all-time favourite road. Why? The road cuts into the cliff face rise and falls with the sea always at your side. Pure riviera riding. It is also a great opportunity to explore the climb to Sant Grau.

Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain
Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain

The Costa Brava has many seaside towns which are bursting with character and are dying to be explored by bike. Calella de Palafrugell has whitewash houses, narrow streets and a gorgeous beach. Begur offers something slightly different, it’s an old hilltop town with a few cafes and restaurants and is surrounded by curvy roads that lead to the sea. It’s close to the quiet “Cala” (cove) of Sa Tuna, an ideal place to get into the water to cool off.

Rounding off our places to visit on the Costa Brava is the town of Cadaqués. It is arguably one of the most beautiful towns in the whole of Catalonia. It is a great destination for a ride from Girona or an even better one for an all-day epic from Barcelona.

Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain
Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain
Riding your bicycle on the Costa Brava in Spain
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