In Andorra, summer is lived on two wheels
The valleys and mountains of Andorra are ideal to discover by bicycle but with an additional challenge: being nestled in the Pyrenees, any stretch of road or trail will always have some unevenness, whether it be a lot or a little.
Without the hassles of snow and winter cold, the cycling season runs from spring through summer, with a short extension in the fall.
Routes through all the parishes
In the proposals to discover the valleys, mountains and forests by road bike, each of the seven parishes has its options. It can be the route of moderate difficulty of 4.1 km from the highway of Engolasters (1,109 meters), in the parish of Escaldes-Engordanyuntil The Comella (1,347 meters), in the Andorra the old.
Sant Julià de Loria, the greenest parishthere is the 5.2 km route that leads to certesand in which you pass through the Romanesque churches of Sant Marti Y San Cerny.
Often Camp there is the hard route of almost 9 km with a drop of 754 meters that leads, upon reaching the highest part, to the ski resort of grandvalira.
The challenge of the mountain passes
In Andorra there are 21 ports mountain bikes that test the endurance of the cyclist’s legs, lungs and mind.
In Andorra there are 200 km of cycling routes with different degrees of difficulty, some of which reach 21 mountain passes
Among them is the Port of Envalirareached after pedaling 4.9 km from the House Stepand that due to its location it has been a stage of the Tour de Francethe Back to Spain and the Tour of Catalonia.
Another is the Coll de la Gallinaat 1,910 meters of altitude, a route classified as difficult with a difference in altitude of 8.4%, and that those who remember sports cycling remember that it was there where Alessandro Ballan he triumphed in the Vuelta a España in 2008 and shortly after he was proclaimed world champion.
It has also been used as a stage in the Vuelta a España. Collada de Beixalisanother demanding route with a vertical drop of 556 meters and an average incline of 8.4%.
easy routes
Without the intention of breaking your legs, smoother are the routes like the one in the fornwhich starts in Canillo and I end up at the station grandvaliraon a 5.2 km route that passes through the Romanesque church of San Miguel de Prats.
The route that goes along the CS-260 to the Ransol’s comaof 4.5 km and a moderate level of demand.
on mountain bike
For those who want to experience another type of adrenaline, there are options for the different modalities of MTBand sea dizzying descents of downhill as places to perform jumps and avoid obstacles in the variant four crosses or go off-roading on integrated nature tours.
For lovers of the most demanding BTT, there is a 6.8 km circuit through the rooster roadthat unites Canillo Y Soldeuwith tough ascents and descents.
family tours
If you want to pedal Family plan even if they are circuits MTBor by electric bicycle, there are several simple routes to do in Andorra.
Despite its valleys and mountains, in Andorra there are several easy circuits ideal for families or that can be done by electric bike
One is 15 km from the town of ordino until the Serrat through the Sorteny and Arcalís Natural Park; the one that goes from Camp a Les Pardines around the beautiful lake Engolasters in a route of 8.5 km; or the one that goes from scalds a fatteningof 6 km.
There is also the option to spend the day demonstrating skills in the Vallnord bike park, a huge enclosure at the station Vallnord Pal Arinsal which presents circuits to continue enjoying this sport with more than 40 km of routes distributed at different levels such as enduro, downhill, pump track or cross country.
sports quotes
Summer is usually a must for cycling lovers. In addition to being regular stages of the Tour or the Vuelta, a few weeks ago the UCI MTB World Cupand on July 24 took place the Return as Portsthe oldest cycling race Andorra.
next weekend comes The Puritoa bike ride organized by Joaquin Purito Rodriguez, which follows the tough route of the 11th stage of the 2015 Vuelta, with three circuits: 115, 80 and 30 km. Those who are nostalgic for those high mountain feats cannot miss it.