G90 2021-3: Los Angeles

November round trip

Los Angeles, Spain

Leaving Girona after a few kilometers you can head towards the famous Els Àngels climb. It is a gentle climb with a 3.8% gradient over 11 km. The curves wind along the mountain, but the gradient does not exceed 7.5%, which makes it a good initial stage to start the day. If you take this ride, remember that after the effort of reaching the top, you will feel truly grateful as you contemplate the landscape, the skies, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee that will be waiting for you.

Many think the name is Hells Angels, but locals pronounce it as Els “Angles”. Despite the occasional confusion that arises from the pronunciation of the name, there is absolutely no debate about the beauty and prestige of this mountain. It is incredibly popular with professional cyclists as well as amateurs due to its close proximity to the city of Girona.

Elevation: 499m
Max Elevation: 474m
Distance: 42.28km

Girona, as many know, is a cycling mecca, and one of the best ways to get out of this town can be found by climbing Els. This is why this climb was the perfect starting point for our ride—if you ever get the chance to visit the area, I would highly recommend climbing it at least once.

If you don't dare to venture, a beautiful undulating road awaits you that will take you to the top through trees. Take your time as you progress on the gradual ascent, to enjoy the entire surroundings. Exactly at the top, you will find the Chapel-Sanctuary of the Angels, which is actually the chapel where the great artist, Salvador Dalí, got married. The chapel, which has been destroyed on several occasions, partly due to the Spanish Civil War, still retains its presence and importance on the mountain.

If you take the time to climb to the very top, you will be rewarded with incredible panoramic views, as well as a small café. The beauty of Els Àngels takes its roots in the 360° panoramic view from this privileged location. On the clearest days, you can see many regions from this spot: the Costa Brava, the Empordà plain, La Garrotxa, the Guilleries massif, Montseny, and further in the distance a small glimpse of the Pyrenees.

We were there for a short time, enjoying the twilight's glow. It is a place of strong devotion for those who climb on foot, as well as for those who cycle up. So if you stay a moment, you will see many mountain pilgrims on their way to the summit.

Don't limit yourself to the views from below, I encourage you to take the adventure, it will always be worth it.

You can see the route these cyclists took here:

https://www.strava.com/activities/6175001773

Read more