In early July 2026 the Tour de France started in Barcelona, and for three days the city and the roads around it belonged to the peloton. We built a four-night tour around the Grand Départ so our riders could ride the same climbs in the morning and watch the race in the afternoon. The race has moved on, but the roads are still here, and you can ride every one of them with us.
The Grand Départ roads at a glance
| Where | Barcelona, Garraf coast, Vallès and Montseny |
| Daily distance | 60–110 km |
| Daily climbing | 1,000–1,500 m |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Bike | Road bike (rental available at our Barcelona shop) |
| Best season | March to November |
The three stages, ridden our way
Stage 1 · Barcelona team time trial and Collserola
Collserola loop · 60 km · 1,200 m
The race opened with a team time trial through the streets of Barcelona. We started the day in Collserola Natural Park, the green hills right behind the city, with panoramic views over the Mediterranean, before heading down to the circuit to watch the teams fly past.
Stage 2 · Tarragona to Barcelona along the coast
Garraf loop · 70–110 km · 1,000–1,500 m
The second stage linked Tarragona and Barcelona. Our ride took the Garraf coast road, one of the most spectacular in Catalonia, with cliffs dropping into the sea, to an intermediate point where the peloton passed at full speed.
Stage 3 · Granollers towards the Pyrenees via Montseny
Barcelona to Sant Julià de Vilatorta · 85 km · 1,200 m
The race headed inland from Granollers. We rode out of the city to the Sant Feliu de Codines climb to see the race, then on through the forested roads of Montseny Natural Park. The tour finished the next day in Girona, the European capital of road cycling.
How to ride these roads now
- Barcelona Classic Climbs: five guided rides from our shop, including Collserola, the Garraf coast and Sant Llorenç del Munt.
- Girona Loop from Barcelona: Montseny, Girona and the Costa Brava on a multi-day road tour.
- Catalan Pyrenees and Girona: take the stage 3 direction all the way into the mountains.
- Custom tour: we can rebuild the full Grand Départ itinerary for your group on your dates.
Ready to ride?
Need a bike? Rent a road, gravel or e-bike from our Barcelona shop. Want the Grand Départ route as a private trip? Get in touch and we will plan it for you.
