Cycling the Costa Daurada

About 30 minutes into the ride our guide, Jaume, points out the 12th century castle-monastery of Sant Miquel d’Escornalbou sitting high atop the eastern cliff face of L’Argentera Mountains, and the small picturesque village of Riudecanyes clinging to the mountainside, seemingly hewn out of the local pink sandstone. The fact that the original streets are named after the days of the week will give you some indication of the size of this town.

One of Cycling Costa Daurada’s Trek Madones all ready and waiting

Skirting past Riudecanyes, there’s a view of the dam wall from below as we climb up to the water reservoir. The reservoir provides a brief section of respite on the flat twisting road. Before the start of the first proper climb, there’s a tight corner with the stunning arched railway viaduct of Masos ahead, sensing a photo opportunity I stop and adjust my saddle, it’s about 3 degrees out of horizontal so the UCI would not be happy.

Cycling Costa Daurada ensure you have fully supported rides

Jaume explains that the 6km Coll Teixeta is well known amongst the locals as a test track to gauge form, and is also a favourite special stage in the Rally Catalunya.

There’s plenty of tough climbs if you want them in Catalonia

Starting up again, and with few seemingly on form locals in the group, I decide that it’s probably prudent if I set a steady pace on the front, I’m still fresh and having just downed an energy gel, I manage a 19km/h tempo all the way up this 2nd category climb. The constant chatting from the riders behind me suggests that this is unlikely to be a new Strava record…

The climb ends with a series of roundabouts that feed the slip-roads of N420 motorway. On these tranquil and virtually car-free roads the complete absence of traffic means that, unlike with UK road junctions, we can accelerate straight into the fast and superbly smooth 6km’s of meandering descent.