If you ever find yourself in the Catalonia region of Spain, you’ll have plenty of cycling route options. One of the best and most frequented takes you to the iconic Costa Brava coastline, which is where our cyclists are headed on today’s exploration. The Costa Brava coastline gets its name from the wild and rugged Mediterranean coast. The mild winter conditions and gently undulating roads mean it has plenty to offer cyclists.

This adventure of sun, sea, and ice cream brings together four cyclists who meet by chance in Girona. An American, a Russian, an Irishwoman, and a South African walk into a cafe... Colin, Max, Jenny, and Lauren are an unlikely group. Each of them has a unique life experience, but they all share a common goal: to experience the joy of a simple bike ride together and enjoy the views that northern Spain offers. Leaving the cafe, the route heads towards the coastal town of Tossa del Mar, passing through Llagostera. Tossa del Mar is a bright town full of life, and in summer it also gets its share of tourists.

On the way to this place, cyclists ride along winding roads and breathtaking views. As they breathe in the colors of spring, they can begin to taste the salt in the air and the promise of something tasty to eat. To reach the highest point (and the best sea view), you have to climb a broken path up to the rocks that dot the coast. Once you find the fishermen, you can take a moment to rest and enjoy the scenery before preparing for lunch.

If you take the road between the sandy beach and the village, you will find many places to enjoy the local cuisine. Paella, patatas bravas, and a cold beer are the perfect accompaniment to the peaceful scenery.

The full route is just under the 100-kilometer mark, at 96.72 km, and features 1,402 m of elevation gain, most of it during the climb to Sant Grau. There are many similar climbs inland, but the 6.3 km climb to Sant Grau is especially popular. Turning off the main road, the climb winds up a very narrow road. The gradient constantly fluctuates between 4 and 8%, and just half a kilometer before the summit, the road steepens to a punishing 14%.

The top of the climb houses a tranquil church, a place where time stands still as hundreds of cyclists pass by daily. This leg-breaking route more than pays off, as this height in the interior of Tossa offers incredible views of the coast. However, there isn't much respite because cyclists want to get there in time for ice cream. After an epic day of cycling, two scoops of ice cream are needed. You can view the route on Strava here: https://www.strava.com/routes/16748955