This is not a warm up. This is how the season begins.
Santa Vall might be called Traka’s little brother but it is anything but easy. Put simply, it is two back-to-back hard days on the bike.
Run as two back to back stages, Santa Vall delivers one of the first true tests of the season. The routes are demanding, the surfaces are uncompromising, and the cumulative effort across both days quickly exposes where your fitness truly stands. There is no single hero ride here. Success comes from pacing well, recovering fast, and showing up again on day two.
Riders come to Santa Vall to set a baseline. Pro teams use it to test legs and equipment. Experienced amateurs arrive looking for an early season benchmark on Girona’s gravel without distractions or theatre. This is not about hype or spectacle. It is about riding well over two consecutive days and earning your result.
Throughout the weekend you are fully supported by the Eat Sleep Cycle team. From the build up through to recovery, every detail is taken care of so you can focus entirely on the riding. This includes race entry for both stages, experienced on the ground support before, during and after each day, and guidance from a team that knows Girona’s gravel inside out.
Taking place over Valentine’s Day weekend, Santa Vall is a reminder that sometimes the best gift you can give is to yourself. Two days of focus, effort, and gravel.
Rated 3 out of 4 our Advanced tours are designed for people who ride regularly and want back to back challenging days on the bike. Riders should be confident riding in a small group, comfortable on extended climbs (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents. E-bikes are available on all of our tours.
Meet at Eat Sleep Cycle to enjoy a welcome lunch together with the group. Then it’s time to get set up on your bike and head out for an easy afternoon spin and recon of the start and finish of Stage 2 of Santa Vall.
This morning we’ll ride the Gavarres section of the Santa Vall route to check bikes & body are ready for climbing! Guides will be on hand to give tips on how to handle the terrain. Our mechnics will be on hand in the afternoon to fine tune bikes and ensure everyone is ready for race day. In the evening we’ll head out to a nearby local restaurant and get an early night.
It’s race day! 122 kms of the best Girona gravel lie in store. Ride north out of Sant Gregori through Canet Adri and across to the River Ter and the base of the Gavarres. Climb up into the mountians and ride across all the way to Cassa de la Selva. from Cassa head west towards the airport before head back to the finish line at Sant Gregori. Our support crew will be waiting at the finish line with warm clothes, hot drinks and a ride back to Girona. The afternoon is all about recovery – hot showers, recovery massage and plenty of food to refuel ahead of the next day. An early night beckons ahead of Stage 2.
80 kms of gravel lie in store today. Enjoy a beautiful route to the south of Sant Gregory that winds through the Catalan coutnryside. Pass through Brunyola and once in Santa Colomer de Farners it’s time to turn and head back north to the finish line. We’ll be on hand to celebrate at the finish! Soak up the festival atmosphere and enjoy a fun evening together in Girona!
It’s time to say farewell! Plan your onward travel from Girona centre. We can arrange transfers for you on request. Ask us about extending your stay too!
GUIDED RIDES & PRO MECHANICS
Enjoy small group sizes and professional, personal support all week from your guide team.
Eat Sleep Cycle guides are experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of cycling who’ll help to keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime.
All guests will receive access to our digital Road Book and routes, giving everyone the flexibility to ride at their own pace.
Hotels shown are examples and are subject to change
Stay at our go-to cyclist-friendly hotel in Girona centre. Hotel Carlemany is a stylish 4* hotel with a bike store, bar and in house restaurant. Enjoy a warm welcome from the staff and comfortable rooms. Eat Sleep Cycle is just a 5 min walk away.
Bike hire is not included in the tour. Add bike rental to the trip from €60 per day.Bikes shown here are examples and are subject to availabilty at the time of booking. We'll let you know the available options in your size when you book with us.
This lightweight carbon gravel e-bike is almost identical to the non e-bike version, with the adition of a 300 W power unit weighing only 3.9 Kg. The Adlar has an autonomy of 1,000m of elevation, or constant use 1.5-2hrs. A range extender is available to hire for double the range. The bike has a Shimano GRX 1 x groupset.
Originally from Cardiff, Gethyn is a well-balanced guide who loves the social side of cycling. Whether he’s talking endlessly about the world or enjoying a “marriage made in heaven” (cold beer and pork scratchings), he finds his peace on the road between Tossa and Sant Feliu or swimming in a forest river.
Laura is a guide, professional cycling coach and endurance cyclist who has completed some of the coolest ultradistance gravel events (which she absolutely loved!). Laura loves guiding as she really enjoys empowering people to ride their bikes and discover new places, help their cycling adventures come true, and share unforgettable moments together.
Hailing from Reus, Josep is a guide who finds beauty in the quiet details, from silent bike components to unknown mountain climbs. A lover of history and Led Zeppelin, he enjoys sharing the culture of his hometown. For Josep, a perfect day involves the Pyrenees, a glass of wine, and the Tour de France.
If you love cycling put a cycling tour of Girona high on your bucket list. A paradise for roadies, gravellers & mountain bikers alike, Girona has an amazing network of rides ready to blow your mind. It's a destination that can be enjoyed all year around, with the most popular months to ride being March to June & September to November.
Discover NowIf you have any questions about our tours, dates, or anything else, contact us here
