How we did it

TRAVEL

We flew direct to Girona, which is serviced by several low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, but there are more options for flights to Barcelona, which has a 38-minute high-speed train connection to Girona. Eatsleepcycle (eatsleepcycle. com) offers a very reasonably priced transfer service from either airport.

BIKE RENTAL

Eatsleepcycle also offers a wide range of bike rental options – road, gravel, mountain, e-bikes and leisure bikes – from Ridley, Factor and

Basso. We used a Factor O2, which was an excellent choice. Prices range from £120 to £420 for a seven-day rental.

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the Hotel Carlemany (hotelcarlemany girona.com) in central Girona, which was a perfect location for riding out of the city.

Located just outside the Old Town and with quick access to the mountain roads, the hotel is supremely friendly to cyclists, with a dedicated secure bike garage complete with a bike stand, pump and an array of tools for maintenance.

THANKS

Many thanks to the entire team at Eatsleepcycle and specifically Louise Laker who made our whole trip possible. Eatsleepcycle offers fantastic holiday and training camp packages. The Classic Climbs of Girona tour starts at around £1,170 for six days, with fully supported rides, a stay in a four-star city centre hotel and meals at some of Girona’s best restaurants. Visit eatsleepcycle.com for info.

Thanks also to Jordi and Mònica at Hotel Carlemany for helping with accommodation during our stay.