Join Artu for the cycling tour of a lifetime, featuring our special guest, former pro cyclist Taylor Phinney! This incredible four-night adventure will take you through medieval villages, over the stunning elevations of the Pyrenees, through the enchanting caverns of the Valter Valley, into the lush landscapes of La Garrotxa Natural Park, and alongside the breathtaking turquoise waters of Lake Banyoles.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to ride with a cycling legend!
Artu, Can Terrades
Artu, Can Terrades
Day 2 - 135 km
Day 4 - Els Àngels - 11.1km long - 3.9% avr
We will meet you at our Lodge in the afternoon.
Once you’re checked in, our mechanics will build your bike, ensuring it’s ready for riding over the next few days. If you’re renting a bike, it'll be fitted to you and perfectly prepared for riding.
A warm-up ride consisting of a few short loops will give you time to stretch your legs out and get used to your bike.
At the end of the ride, we’ll go through the beautiful town of Besalu over the impressive medieval bridge and through the gatehouse into the town, where you can enjoy some fresh drinks.
Over dinner, we’ll outline what to expect over the next few days of riding.
Today’s loop - the Queen Stage - will take you into the Pyrenees and the Oix and Valter Valley. It is a beautiful hilly landscape where you will find a variety of exuberant vegetation that will lead you to the Natural Park of La Garrotxa. Deep valleys enclosed by long cliffs and walls of rock are what give the area its name: les garrotxes are “rough lands of bad tracks”.
You’ll be pleased to know that our route has no bad tracks today.
We will make a loop through the region, passing through Castellfollit de la Roca, a village built at the top of a cliff, making it a perfect location to survey the valley.
Winding roads with no cars will take you to Beget, a medieval, hidden town in the middle of the Camprodon Valley. You will have a coffee stop here, looking at the beautiful surroundings. You will be close to the border with France here. The loop will continue through Camprodon, where we will stop for lunch to taste local tapas overlooking its stunning medieval bridge. After lunch, we will continue the ride to the next valley and Olot town. We will have a small climb and a long descent to the valley and back to Can Terrades.
Today it is time for us to embark on our long gravel ride, heading towards the coast. You will observe a noticeable alteration in the surroundings.
Today's ride will take you up in the hills above Lake Banyoles (site of the 1992 Olympic rowing events) before arriving in Girona. We can stop for a coffee in one of the cycling cafes.
Then you will ride over Els Angels, the 10 km climb which starts directly outside the city of Girona. Don't worry, though. It is a steady gradient and even has some downhill sections to ease the legs. Once at the top, the views from all sides are spectacular. The famous impressionist, Salvador Dali, was married in the sanctuary at the top and bought his wife a castle in one of the charming villages below.
Some flat and fast riding through the beautiful villages of the Empordá area takes us on the equally beautiful climb of Santa Pellaia, a steady 6km climb drops you back down to the Selva valley. All that remains are small lanes and quiet roads which take you back towards Girona, where you can enjoy a well-earned fresh drink and lunch at one of the cycling cafes - Hors Categorie.
After you explore the town we will have a short transfer back by car back to Can Terrades.
Start your day with a nourishing breakfast, appreciate the beautiful view, and make full use of the provided facilities at Can Terrades. Prior to your departure, our bike mechanic will carefully pack your bicycles before the transfer to the airport for your journey back home.
"My parents, Connie and Davis, started their first bike camp in the summer of 1985 and continued into the 2010s. I was born in 1990, meaning that every summer of my life was spent in and around a bike tour, from since I was a baby until I was in my teens. At an early age I remember riding with clients, keeping groups together and have watched first hand how my parents took great care in personalizing experiences for hundreds, if not thousands of cycling enthusiasts. The picture on the right is of me as a young boy next to my father, Davis at a bike camp in Copper, Colorado.
Guiding and shepherding groups of humans on bikes is second nature to me, ingrained in me from before I can even remember.
Flash forward to 2026, I am now 35. I raced professionally as a cyclist for 12 years, and over the last five years have pivoted my life towards the creation of art and the exploration of mind, body and spirit. I have lived in Girona for nearly ten years now and have an intimate knowledge of the culture and geographical landscape. I speak Spanish and Catalan, as well as Italian from living in Italy as a boy. When I ride bikes now it is purely for enjoyment and to explore new roads, paths and trails. Fast or slow, I frequently curate rides for groups of friends and close ones, attempting to avoid encountering car traffic at all costs and maximising scenery and cultural immersion.
Taylor Phinney"
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Below, please take a look at the various room types available, as well as the payment options. If you decide to pay a deposit, the entire payment needs to be made 90 days prior to your arrival.
