2 OCT - Arrival
Select the airport transfer and be met at Barcelona arrivals gate at 13:00 by the Hotchillee team. You will be whisked to the welcome hotel in central Girona where you can collect your race pack and build your bike before exploring the old town and grabbing a coffee or two.
3 OCT - Stage 1
Distance: 104.5km
Elevation: 1229m
You’ll start your RollerCoaster ride with the imposing cathedral above you – if it looks familiar, it was used as a location in Game of Thrones. You’re quickly onto gravel and on the first climb of the day, Els Angels – It’s a bit of rude start to the RollerCoaster, especially as the surface is a bit loose but at least your legs will be fresh!
You’ll then descend into the Empordà, an area renown for wine production – no stopping this early Sven! You’ve then got a long stretch of flat gravel double track so you can get your average speed up.
With about 47km covered, you’ll have definitely earned a break and where better to cool off than a cider house and restaurant. You’ll have a relaxed lunch and a chance to sample some of Mooma’s produce.
After lunch you’ve got more fast rolling gravel before entering a forested section and then following the Ter river. Once you reach the town of Medinyà though, the trail tips uphill and, although it’s only 2-3%, it’s a constant drag. The scenery should distract you from your stinging legs though as you’ll be riding along a stunning ridge.
Constantly gaining height, with 102km ridden, you’ll go through the town of Camos before the sting in the tail of the stage, a 500m gravel ramp at about 10%, up to the finish at Can Campolier.
Here you’ll find RollerCoaster HQ nestled amongst the olive groves with your tents ready and waiting for you and everything you associate with a Hotchillee event – mechanics, massage, bike wash, great food and maybe even a beer or two.
4 OCT . Stage 2
Distance: 72.7km
Elevation: 1110m
Leaving Can Campolier, you’ll roll down towards Lake Banyoles, pick up a newly created gravel road and, making the most of 5km of pristine gravel, take in the views of the snow dusted Pyrenees.
Following the El Fluvia river, you’ll enter the Catalan stronghold of Crespià for some fast and flat riding before the main technical climb of the day. It’s only a kilometre in length but drainage culverts and a rocky surface mean that you’ll need to pick your line well.
With that climb conquered, you can get back up to speed on some fast and rolling gravel. As you’ll see, this area is pretty remote but we’ll be setting up a lunch stop at one of the beautiful private villas that are scattered around.
Once again you’ll pass though numerous tiny medieval towns and, if you’re wanting to, should be able to really clip along until you reach the town of Bàscara where you’ll be able to cool off with a river crossing – it should only be knee deep!
Back on terra firma and, as the undulations increase and the surface gets rougher, you’ve got five or six kilometres of harder riding. You’re now heading home but, as you get into the back-end of the stage, the rollers get bigger and more frequent. Riders who have kept their powder dry will make up a lot of time. The area around the lake is called Pla de l’Estany, which means the plain around the lake, but it’s far from flat!
Fortunately you’re spared the finishing climb of Stage 1 and instead ride into Can Campolier, through the olive groves on a far gentler trail.
5 OCT - STAGE 3
Distance: 127.2km
Elevation: 1710m
A big stage that takes you to the Costa Brava and back. The day starts picking your way through a network of farm tracks. It’s rough under tyre and never really flat for the opening 25km. You’ll really appreciate the medieval villages today as, no matter how brief, some tarmac will give you moments of easy rolling.
You then get a helping hand from gravity as we wind our way down to the coast. With about 52km covered you get the first of your stops at Rustik Café in Bellcaire d’Empordà. It’s a real jewel and you’ll struggle to find a better coffee and Nutella filled croissant.
Having re-fulled, you’ll grind your way up onto a ridge above the Costa Brava. It’s an energy sapping 5km climb at about 4%. Having broken the back of the stage, you then descend to the sea, the town of L’Estartit and out to a viewpoint that looks out onto the stunning Illes Medes.
After a brief foray onto the beach, it’s time to head inland and onto some open and rolling gravel tracks. Above you and dominating the skyline is the Castell del Montgri monastery.
With 84km ridden, you’ll have earned your second stop of the day. DosKiwis brewery was set up by two New Zealanders and you’ll get a chance to sample their craft beers along with lunch or, if you’re wanting to keep a clear head, their kombucha.
Once you’ve dragged yourself away from the beer, it’s back to the gravely grindstone as you hit relentlessly rolling trails and begin your upwardly undulating path home. You’re spared the steep final climb again and today might be the day to cool your legs off in the pool to help them recover before your biggest climbing day tomorrow.
6 OCT . Stage 4
Distance: 90.8Km
Elevation: 1963m
Today’s all about the climbs. Having rolled out from Can Campolier you’re climbing on tarmac and riding the opening ramps of the Rocacorba climb, one of the classic tests for Girona’s pros. You turn off the road before the top and, on gravel, make your way to the town of Mieres – you’ll already have accumulated 450m of ascent so should be warmed up for the day’s biggest climb.
It’s 6km at 7% but the surface is good and you should be able to settle into a rhythm. The Coll de Palomera is spectacular as you’ll ride through a two metre wide corridor flanked by rock walls.
You’re then rewarded for your climbing efforts with a fantastic descent that takes you into the Valle de Llémena. The trail then heads upwards for another 5km with lunch at the top.
Although you’ll only have ridden 40km when you arrive at Can Buch – an off-grid eco-villa, you’ll already have 1200m of climbing in your legs.
Having soaked up the tranquility of Can Buch, it’s time for the toughest technical challenge of the RollerCoaster. For 3km, you’re riding up a dried up riverbed. It’s challenging but definitely rideable.
You’re then rewarded with a hairpin descent down to the valley floor. The next 20km section is mainly on Via Verdes, traditional farm tracks that are funded and maintained by the local government, and you’ll be pleased to know that they’re flat and fast rolling.
Turning towards Banyoles, you start steadily gaining height again with the Rocacorba Sanctuary far above you. There are some steep 15% ramps to tackle but the end of the RollerCoaster is in sight. Eventually you’ll turn back onto the tarmac of the Rocacorba climb and then, retracing your tyre tracks, it’s a downhill run-in to the finish line.
7 OCT . Return
For the early risers there will be a short recovery ride to blow away any cobwebs from the night before. Riders booked on the transfers will jump on the bus at 11:00 and be at Barcelona airport for approx. 13.00. If you opt to have your bike transported when booking, it will be loaded at 10.30 and start its journey home back to the UK.
