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Girona for Cyclists: Why the Roads Around a Medieval Catalan City Became Europe's Benchmark Training Base
Girona, 100 kilometres northeast of Barcelona and 40 kilometres from the Costa Brava coast, has become the unofficial capital of professional European road cycling. The roads explain why — varied enough to build fitness across every energy system, accessible enough to ride without a car, and concentrated enough to keep coming back to the same climbs with the same benchmarks.
By ZealZag TeamCycling Catalonia: The Coast, the Pyrenees, and the Riding Around the 2026 Tour de France Grand Départ
Catalonia hosts the 2026 Tour de France Grand Départ on July 4 — the first time the race has opened on Catalan soil. A guide to the cycling terrain the opening three stages will cross, the Girona pro-cyclist hub that anchors the broader Catalan cycling scene, and where to ride if you're visiting the region across the Tour window.
By ZealZag TeamGirona, Catalonia: Why Professional Cycling's Favourite Training Hub Works for Every Visiting Athlete
Girona is a medieval Catalan city 100 kilometres from Barcelona where dozens of professional WorldTour cyclists have based themselves for over two decades. The infrastructure built around that community — roads, climbs, service, cafés — is now available to any visiting athlete. Here is how it actually works.
By ZealZag Team
Rocacorba: The 12.8 km Climb Every Pro in Girona Knows by Heart
Rocacorba is the climb that turned Girona into a measuring stick. 12.8 kilometres, an average of 7.4%, ramps over 15%, and a paved goat track that ends at a radio mast above Lake Banyoles. Here's what makes the most-ticked climb in southern Europe worth the suffering.
By ZealZag Team
Why World Tour Pros Live in Girona: The Infrastructure Behind the Cycling Capital
Girona has somewhere between 100 and 200 professional cyclists living in or around it during the season. EF Education–EasyPost, Lidl–Trek, Israel–Premier Tech and others all have substantial staff and rider presence. The reason is not the climate — it is the infrastructure built around a decade of pro residency.
By ZealZag Team
Built for the Ride and the People Who Matter
Whether riding alone, with family, or alongside fellow cyclists, Drew has discovered that beyond the precision of a well-tuned bike, the best part of cycling has always been the people who share the journey.
By ZealZag Team