The ‘Gravel of the Pyrenees’ will take place on 30 May as part of the international Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava – Girona festival.
The Pirinexus Challenge is, as its name suggests, a cycling challenge: participants must try to complete 340 km and 3,000 m+ in 18 hours, all while having to get back to Girona before midnight. The competition is special in that it allows those who take part to discover the very best places on the Costa Brava and in the Girona Pyrenees, on an extraordinary route that even dips into French territory.
Out of the great variety of events included in the Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava – Girona cycling festival this is one of the most comprehensive due to its difficulty and varied route. The 340-km course is spectacular and incredibly beautiful, with rolling sections and a combination of dirt tracks (55% of the route), paved sections (45%) and some urban stretches. The sixth edition of the event goes back to its origins with the route running in a clockwise direction: participants will first head towards the Pyrenees before returning to Girona via the Costa Brava.
Participants will have three checkpoints, which, in order to make the event run at a good pace, will have specific time limits acting as targets that must be met. Those who manage to complete the course before midnight will be given a Finisher trophy as a token of a glorious day. What’s more, cyclists who manage to get to the finish line before sunset (9.15 p.m.) will be acknowledged with a special gift.
In turn, those who want to get a feel for the essence of the event without having to complete the whole route can opt to take part in the Pirinexus Half Challenge discipline: another challenge to be overcome with a 100% gravel route through the Les Gavarres massif.
