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Face the mountain, read more about the most difficult challenges according to the most popular cyclists

Let’s move to a cycling path where bikers train extremely hard, overcome their barriers and beat records. Famous sportsmen took us to magical places that are engraved in their memories. Read below and find out more about incredible locations that many cyclists wish to see.

PASSO DELLO STELVIO

I have been visiting Livigno since 2003. It’s a mecca for cyclists and a perfect location for training in the middle of the season. I visited this place at least a dozen times. I cycled through the nearest passes including Foscagno, Eira, and Forcola. However, the most spectacular are Stelvio, Mortirolo, and my favorite Gavia, where you can see incredible landscapes. Stelvio is the most recognizable mountain pass with seemingly endless switchbacks.

I had to turn back from Stelvio many time. I felt the smell of coffee but I couldn’t taste it. As if this wasn’t bad enough, I was frequently visited by my partner; Przemek Zawada, an amateur and blogger. He didn’t have to do interval training! Wherever we are, I train very hard and he visits the iconic passes and drives me crazy.

In recent years, I try to bend my training programme. Planning my trainings I try to remember that they’re much more effective when I give my organism some doses of endorphins. They are automatically released when I cycle through the legendary passes. I eased off a little and after a few years I could finally drink espresso on the peak of Stelvio! Win-win situation! I also had an opportunity of meeting my idol; Annemiek van Vleuten with whom I cycled for a while.

However, there is no happy ending. I will be frank, I climbed Stelvio from the easier side, closer to Livigno. Legendary switchbacks are still ahead of me. Something’s telling me that I will come back there when I’m no longer a professional cyclist.

MAJA WŁOSZCZOWSKA

Mountain Bike World Champion from 2010 and runner-up in 2008 and 2016

SANT GRAU

Sant Grau cycling route in Spain undoubtedly stirs a lot of emotions. It leads to a small village and an old beautiful church which became the symbol of the home straight. Till this point, the path is 5 kilometres long with a gradient over 6%, reaching the peak of the mountain, you will pass very steep sections with gradient over 10% or even 20%!

Few years ago I went on a camp with GVT group where I took part in a trip to Sant Grau. Strava application that tracks your riding was getting very popular then. After the training, I noticed that I achieved a very good time, only one women was faster than me! I asked who it was and they told me it was Marianne Vos, I’ve never heard about her, everyone burst into laughter and advised me to google her name. I found out that she is 13 times World Road Race Champion and two 2 times Olympic medalist.

Climbing itself isn’t very demanding, you can admire magical landscapes. It starts by the seaside and after riding 200 metres you can see a beautiful sea view and a fragment of Costa Brava seaside that leads to Tossa de Mar.

Numerous switchbacks will allow you to observe the route from different perspectives and control your advantage in a race. It’s much worse when someone overtakes you and looks at you from above. I highly recommend the first option.

PAULINA KOTFICA

Olympic Champion and Polish Championship in triathlon in all categories.
11th place in World Chapmionship ½ Ironman (2017), winner of Enea 5150 Warsaw (2016).

FROM SANT FELIU DE GUIXOLS TO TOSSA DEMAR

I trained in many places. Sport is my passion so routes that I choose are exceptional. I avoid monotony and I’d rather choose one long route than riding the same short routes every day. However, there are a few exceptions, for example the route from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Tossa de Mar. This trail is very steep, there no flat sections. Details: length: 20,8km,elevation gain: 495m, the number of descents: countless, the number of climbs: countless as well, the number of switchbacks: I lost count of it, attractiveness: 6/5!

Before I went to Catalonia I read about this place in a book about Lance Armstrong’ career, observed cycle races, and watched an interview with Jan Frodeno. I was wondering why it’s so popular among cyclists and triathlonists. When I went there for the first time I understood. The route is extremely spiral, bumpy and technically demanding.

The path winds along the seaside. Climbs appear unexpectedly so you have to reduce your speed and adjust it to the gradient. Each and every climb is different which requires even distribution of power. Descents are equally frequent. They will give a chance to speed up in a short period of time. Numerous switchbacks strenghten this impression. They require proper cut and speed adjustment. You can admire beautiful landscapes, seaside, rocks and blue sky. Remember to take a picture which will be great souvenir.

MACIEJ CHMURA

Polish Champion Ironman(2017, 2018)

PICO DE VELETA

Pico de Veleta (3398 m n.p.m.) is the third highest mountain in Spain. The climb requires a lot of patience. Starting from Granada 900 m ASL we pass picturesque landscapes along a route that snakes for more than 44 kilometres. Average gradient is 5,9%, and the elevation gain is 2663m. The highest average gradient is from 1km is 9,2% and from 100 m is 11%.

At a height 2650 m ASL you will see a barrier and an ansphalt route that changes into a pebbly trail. Obviously, it doesn’t scare off the most determined cyclists. During the climb, we pass one of the most famous sports centres CAR in Sierra Nevada, which is my favourite place for training. I visited this place for the first time in 2011 in order to train for Olympic Games in London. Training at such a height is very demanding than but effective. I have to admit that I’ve never climbed the mountain peak on a bicycle, it wasn’t part of my training. I did it on foot. I frequently climbed from Granada to the aforementioned barrier where finishes one of the stages of Vuelta Espania race.

Expedition to Pico de Veleta is even more memorable if you meet the greatest stars of cycling e.g. Alejandr Valverde, Nairo Quintanan and Marcel Kittel. In the Centre in Sierra Nevada, leading cyclists build their form.

AGNIESZKA JERZYK

The most titled Polish sportswoman. Two times participant in the Olympic Games in Triathlon.
(2012/2016) World and Europe Champion. Four time winner of prestige Ironman contest.,

KHARDUNG LA

I visited this place only once and it was an unforgettable adventure that engraved in my memory. I am talking about Khardung La in Himalayas, 5359 m. ASL. As a professional biker I cycled through most European passes, it was always painful and tiring. However, after finishing my career I went to a place that was incredibly charming and calm. At the foot of the mountain there’s a beautiful village Ladakh which is called a small Tibet. The route to the peak of the mountain is 39 kilometres long and extremely picturesque. Lower sections are covered by asphalt, higher by pebbles or mud caused by the melting snow.

BARTOSZ HUZARSKI

Polish road racer, former participant in UCI Professional Continental Teams Bora-Argon 18. Specializes in the mountain biking.


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