Cycling in L'Estartit

Cycling guide to L'Estartit

L'Estartit sits at the northern end of a long point-to-point run down the Costa Brava. The main outing measured here covers 87 km to Lloret de Mar with 787 m of climbing, leaving town past el Traient and Torroella de Montgrí before threading the flat farmland villages of Gualta, Llabià, Fontanilles, Fontclara, Palau-sator, Sant Julià de Boada and Sant Feliu de Boada. From Pals the route turns through Torrent, Regencós and Esclanyà to Palafrugell, then continues by Mont-ras, Vall-llobrega and Sant Joan de Palamós to the coast at Palamós. The second half strings together Sant Antoni de Calonge, Platja d'Aro, s'Agaró and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, then climbs inland by Sant Grau before dropping to Tossa de Mar and finishing at Lloret de Mar. Nothing here is high mountain riding, but the constant short rises between coastal towns add up.

Best time to ride

The recorded ride was in September, with temperatures around 31°C - hot enough that an early start and plenty of water are worth planning for on the 87 km run.

Terrain

The opening section inland from L'Estartit is flat to gently rolling, with the gradients concentrated in the second half between Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Lloret de Mar. The longest climb starts at 70.4 km and runs 3.9 km at 4.1% average, 6.7% at its steepest, topping out at 171 m; the route's high point is 175 m.