Mixed · Spain
L'Escala to Argelès-sur-Mer over the Col de Banyuls
A rolling 92 km mixed-surface cycling route from L'Escala, Catalonia to Argelès-sur-Mer over the Col de Banyuls through Camp dels Pilans, l'Armentera and Empuriabrava, with 637 m of climbing. There is a 25 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 42–66). Mixed surface: 79% is mapped as paved and 18% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 91.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 637 m
- Riding time
- 5–7 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 25 km
- Best months
- Apr to Oct
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- L'Escala → Argelès-sur-Mer over the Col de Banyuls
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 637 m
- 92 km
Route description
- L'Escala
- Camp dels Pilans
- l'Armentera
- Empuriabrava
- Garriguella
- els Vilars
- Mas Perotet
- Puig de la Grange
- Le Racou
- Argelès-sur-Mer over the Col de Banyuls
This point-to-point route starts at L'Escala in Catalonia and runs 91.5 km to Argelès-sur-Mer in France, crossing from Spain to France after about 47 km near Rabós. The road surface is mostly paved (79%), with 18% gravel or unpaved. The route includes 29.2 km of minor roads, 21.8 km of main roads (22 km without cycle lanes), 12.5 km of tracks, and smaller sections of quiet streets, paths, and cycle lanes.
The first half of the ride gains about 35% of the total 774 m elevation, with climbing scattered in several segments. Notable climbs include a 3.2 km section starting near 46.7 km gaining 118 m at an average 3.7% gradient, followed by climbs of 1.8 km and 2.7 km reaching up to 341 m altitude. The route's highest point is at 59.2 km. Descents include a longest stretch of 5.3 km starting at 61.7 km.
Starting in L'Escala, riders will pass through places such as Sant Pere Pescador (12.2 km), Castelló d'Empúries (19.5 km), and Banyuls-sur-Mer (70 km). Cafés, bakeries, and shops are available early on and near Banyuls-sur-Mer towards the end, but there is a 24.5 km stretch without café, shop, or water between 41.7 and 66.2 km. Bailout points include Vilajuïga at 38.4 km and railway stations at Banyuls-sur-Mer and Collioure. The route follows named roads like Carretera del Coll de Banyuls for 8 km and Route du Col de Banyuls for 6.1 km near the climb.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 341 m, 59.2 km in.
- A 5.3 km descent dropping 288 m.
- Crosses a border: Spain and France.
Highlights
- Col de Banyuls climb at 46.7-59.2 km
- Banyuls-sur-Mer at 70 km
- Longest descent 5.3 km from 61.7 km
- Passing Sant Pere Pescador at 12.2 km
Along the route
Places passed· crosses into France
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 46.7 km | 3.2 km · 118 m · 3.7 % · max 6.4 % | 194 m |
| Unnamed climb | 52.3 km | 1.8 km · 52 m · 2.9 % · max 4.5 % | 203 m |
| Unnamed climb | 56.5 km | 2.7 km · 121 m · 4.4 % · max 8 % | 341 m |
| Unnamed climb | 73.8 km | 1.4 km · 58 m · 4.3 % · max 6.9 % | 65 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (22 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 34% minor road · 25% main road · 14% track · 10% quiet street · 16% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
- Main roads
- 22 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 14.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Carretera del Coll de Banyuls (8 km), Route du Col de Banyuls (6 km), D 114 (6 km), GIV-6216 (4 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 79% is mapped as paved and 18% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 16% climbing · 14% descending · 70% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.3 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.2% at 60.4 km
- Longest descent
- 5.3 km from 61.7 km, dropping 288 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 25 km, from km 42 to 66. Along the route: 311 cafés and restaurants, 56 shops, 32 water points, 6 petrol stations, 22 public toilets and 6 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmFarmàcia Eduard Massaguer Taberner · pharmacy · 200 m off route
- 0.2 kmSant Pau · bakery · 120 m off route
- 1.1 kmLidl · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 8.1 kmSancho · bakery · 40 m off route
- 11.7 kmMercat · market · 80 m off route
- 12.1 kmCa la Teresa · restaurant · 60 m off route
- 16.1 kmFast food · 350 m off route
- 24.8 kmAMS Restaurant · restaurant · on the route
- 25.9 kmMontserrat · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 28.8 kmLa Llar · restaurant · 60 m off route
- 35.5 kmEstació de Servei Pau · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 38.3 kmBar Tal i qual · café · 50 m off route
- 66.6 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 70.5 kmToilets · on the route
- 71.4 kmLe Fournil d'Emile · bakery · 40 m off route
- 76.9 kmPharmacie de la Côte Vermeille · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 79 kmDrinking water · 140 m off route
- 79.3 kmXtrem Bike Location Azano · bike rental · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 38.4 km — Vilajuïga (halt), 260 m off route
- 68 km — Banyuls-sur-Mer (station), 290 m off route
- 80.2 km — Collioure (station), 110 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.1 km — Ruïnes de Santa Magdalena (ruins)
- 26.2 km — Los Barkitos d'Empuriabrava (attraction)
- 41.2 km — Can Trobat (attraction)
- 50.6 km — Mirador del Ras (picnic site)
- 58.5 km — Coll de Banyuls. (viewpoint)
- 66.1 km — Square Jean Ferrer (picnic site)
Stay after this ride
- Auberge du Bon Vivant · hotel · 10 m from the finish
- Le Lagon · campsite · 160 m from the finish
- Hôtel Bleu Azur · hotel · 760 m from the finish
- Camping de Pujol · campsite · 710 m from the finish
- Camping de l'Europe · campsite · 770 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Sant Pau (160 m), Döner kebab l'Escala (40 m), Medusa (210 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Argelès Vélos & Trottinettes (430 m)
- Shops
- Lidl (460 m), Ma Coop (800 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Pharmacie centrale (780 m)
Know before you go
- Longest 24.5 km stretch with no café, shop or water from 41.7 km to 66.2 km
- 22 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 14.5 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 18% gravel or unpaved surface
