Girona, Spain - Girona/Sant Hilari Loop

Location:
Girona, Spain

Overview:
A popular ride that includes some moderate climbing through some great scenery. Starting out in Girona and winding through county roads, the first hour is mostly flat as you make you way by the Girona airport and to Santa Coloma, where the climbing begins. This direction is known as the backside of Sant Hilari. Once outside Santa Coloma, the road narrows and the pavement is rougher, but the constant grade and lack of traffic, make it a great climb to get some intervals in. The kilometer marker signs count down to 0 at Sant Hilari, where its worth stopping at one of the many fountains to fill up on water. A short climb just above town adds a little to the loop and then its a long descent back down to Angles, through Bonmati and back to Girona.

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Distance: 73.60 miles.

Total Elevation Gain: 5,980 ft.

Description:
This ride starts out at the “stone bridge” in old town Girona near Pont de Pedra. Head south along the river to an intersection, where you can go right on a bridge over the river. Go straight through the roundabout, and about a k later turn left at a roundabout and then straight past the University. As the road starts the bend right, take the turn to the left. Continue to the stoplight at a T and turn left. The first small town outside of Girona is Fornells de la Selva. Take a little detour around town following the one way signs and stay on the same road until you reach the c-65 where you turn right and head toward the airport. Right before you reach the airport, turn left on a small road that heads to Santa Coloma. Follow this road through a couple towns, staying mostly straight through the roundabouts. Where the road comes to a T at a big road with a gas station on the right, turn left. This road goes straight into Santa Coloma. Ride all the way through town and when the road forks, follow the bend to the left. This is the small road that goes all the way to Sant Hilari.

Once you’ve reached the town center of Sant Hilari, turn left towards Font Vella. My favorite spot to stop for water is a fountain just to the left after the town center. Continue climbing on this road and take a right at the roundabout. At the top of the climb, turn around where it forks. Backtrack down to Sant Hilari, and on the main road through town, take a left towards Osor. This begins a 25k descent to Angles. At Angles the road will come to a T. Take a left and continue through the roundabout. Just after the roundabout take a right on a small road toward Bonmati. After a few k of rolling hills into the town of Bonmati the road T’s again. Take a left. Continue this way up a 4k climb, followed by a short descent and turn right at the bottom. This road will take you all the way back in to Girona with the kilometer signs counting down to 0. Once in town, follow the road straight until the last roundabout, where you turn right and go over a bridge. Turn right at the next roundabout, then a left at the next roundabout. A right at the next, and this will take you to where the stone bridge road ends. Take a left on Carrer Nou, down the cobbled street with shops lining the sides. It will say no left turn at the stoplight here because cars aren’t allowed. That’s it!

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