Do it yourself

TRAVEL

Cyclist flew to Barcelona, which is served by a multitude of airlines, with prices starting at around £50. We travelled with British Airways, which had a higher base fare but no charge for bike bags. From Barcelona it’s a three-hour drive to Andorra, and renting a car is the best option when taking bikes because the route isn’t well serviced by train.

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the Magic Hotel in Massana (en.hotelmagicmassana.com), right next to the sportive’s start line. There are, strangely, three or four Magic Hotels in this tiny country, so be careful to make sure you get the right one when booking. Prices start from around €80 per night for a double or twin room. Places in Massana fill up quickly around the time of the sportive, though, so book well in advance. Alternatively, capital city Andorra la Vella is only a 15-minute drive away.

THANKS

Many thanks to Doug Pate who organised our entry and accommodation for the Volta als Ports d’andorra. Doug is a member of the Andorran ACA cycling club (bikeaca. com), which organises the sportive.