September 27th, 2021

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End of September and end of my european customer tour. Just one last thing to do. A ride out of Vuelta a Espana, the last for the Hattrick of Grand Tours after Giro´d Italia and Tour de France this year. I started early by car from Girona driving to La Seu dÚrgell a little town just at the junction to Andorra. Next to the fact of riding were pro´s raced also a new country came to my list on this day to have rides in already 30 countries then.

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I hoped for another good day not too cold. At the beginning still chilly with around 12° it was getting warmer soon as from riding but also as some little clouds disappeared. The first excercise was to get to Andorra. As there is just one road leading through a valley i had the fear of a lot of traffic disturbing my ride. Eventhough there were some cars on the road there was much space and a bike lane as well which made it quite comfortable.

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After around 10k i reached the boarder line to Andorra and from there a few more the climb started. The main road is in a deep valley and from the beginning some percentage were already on the scale. La Peguera a category 1 climb out of Vuelta is 13,9k long and with an average gradient of 6,6% with initial slopes with 10% you do 911m ending on 1.821m. Switchback by switchback i made my way up always having a nice lookout to Sant Julia de Loria. After the first steep parts i reached a kind of high valley in a nice environment only a few more k´s to go until the top.

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But top in this case a middle station as from a different route you go up to La Rabassa the host of stage 19 at 2018 Vuelta. So i crossed this one and made a further climb to it ending at the top on 2.037m. Downwards i did the Rabassa route meeting a squirl just crossing the road in front of me. A great climb and loop within the Pyrenees. Reaching the bottom again it was time to ride furtheron to Andorra la Vella, the capital.

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But before exploring the city i did one more little climb up to La Comella 1.347m - not long but with 8,1% and 4,3k not easy as well. On top i recognised that on this one next to Vuelta also a stages of Tour de France were held. On my way down i enjoyed the nice view to Andorra la Vella. A city not very spectacular but famous for low taxes. It was time to get back to the car and enter spanish territory again. In La Seu dÚrgell as usual a coffee and a traditional donat were the prize of having done a Vuelta Classics.

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bike: Pretty Betty Specialized Tarmac S-Works

starring: Gerry Samer

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