Girona - Sant Martí Sacalm
About this Route
A 90.8 km loop out of Girona into the Guilleries massif, climbing the Pujada a Sant Martí Sacalm for 1,268 m of gain. The classic local rite of passage when the legs are finally ready to go uphill again.
This was my first real climb of the year, and I picked the one every Girona rider knows: Sant Martí Sacalm. Rolling out across the Pont de les Peixateries Velles with the pastel façades mirrored in the Onyar, I already knew the legs would have a story to tell before the day was over. The cathedral disappears over the shoulder and you're onto the quiet back roads south-west of the city, spinning easy through the farmland of the Gironès with nothing to do yet but wake up.
Anglès comes and goes, then Amer — plane trees in the arcaded plaça, bakeries venting warm coca and coffee into the street. It's the traditional pre-climb stop, and I wasn't going to argue with tradition. From there the road narrows and the Guilleries start to show themselves: flat-topped limestone cliffs rising abruptly out of holm-oak forest, spring meadows absurdly green beneath them. Somewhere near Susqueda I passed three donkeys grazing roadside behind wire, completely unbothered by a cyclist rationing his gels.
Then the climb. The Pujada a Sant Martí Sacalm doesn't ease you in — it just starts switchbacking up through the forest and keeps going. Dappled light through the oaks and pines, tight hairpins, the occasional damp patch where the sun hasn't reached. It's a proper mountain road: narrow, quiet, blind corners, the kind of surface where you keep an eye out for gravel washed down over winter. My heart rate settled into that first-climb-of-the-season honesty where you can't hide from how the winter actually went.
The summit sign at 815 m is plastered with club stickers from half of Catalonia, and the trees finally open onto meadow and sky. On a clear day you get the Pyrenees in the distance; I got enough of them to feel pleased with myself. A short breather, a photo of the brown village sign for St. Martí Sacalm, and then the descent — fast, technical, the kind where you trust the tyres and the line more than the brakes.
The run back across the Selva is rolling farm roads and forested lanes, a steady tempo that lets you digest what the climb just did to you. Osor slips past, the Ter valley opens up again, and before long the Onyar bridges reappear. I finished at La Fábrica, because of course I did — first real climb of the year ticked off, and the espresso tasted like it had been earned.
Kilometre by Kilometre
Across the Onyar bridges and south-west through quiet farmland on familiar back roads. Flat, easy spinning to warm the legs and settle the heart rate before the terrain tilts up.
Through Anglès and into Amer, where the plane trees and bakeries of the plaça make the natural pre-climb stop. Farmyards line the road, donkeys in the fields, the Guilleries cliffs growing on the horizon.
Rolling terrain toward Susqueda with the flat-topped limestone escarpment dominating the skyline. Spring meadows, scattered masies, and the gradient starts nudging up as you enter the forest.
The main event. Switchbacking through shaded oak and pine forest, tight hairpins, a proper mountain feel. The summit sign at 815 m, plastered with club stickers, opens onto meadow and big sky.
Fast, technical drop off the back of the climb toward the Ter valley. Through Osor and into the rolling farm roads and forested lanes of the Selva comarca at steady tempo.
A tempo run-in on quiet roads brings the old town back into view. Across the river to coffee at La Fábrica with tired legs and the first real climb of the season in the bank.
Gallery
Route map & elevation profile
Key Climbs
Highlights
- •The Pujada a Sant Martí Sacalm is the climb every Girona-based rider uses to test their legs after winter. Cat 2, 9 km at an average 7%, summiting at 815 m with a sanctuary at the top. Consistent gradient, no brutal ramps, and a staple benchmark in Catalonia.
- •The Guilleries massif rises from flat farmland above Amer into limestone cliffs and oak forests. As the road snakes toward the sanctuary, the views open up across the Susqueda reservoir — one of the most rewarding finishes in the region.
- •Girona's old town is a world-class starting point. The route leaves from the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, winds through medieval streets to the open road, and returns through the orchards above the Onyar valley — a loop that feels like a city-to-country narrative.
- •The approach through the Ter valley to Amer is classic, unhurried riding — flat to rolling, light traffic, and smooth tarmac. The 40 km out provides the perfect warm-up before the real work begins.
- •90.8 km with 1,268 m of climbing — moderate enough for a crisp spring morning, but hard enough to hurt if you race the climb. It's the kind of route you return to at the start of every season to gauge your fitness.
Must know
- ⚠Treat the Pujada a Sant Martí Sacalm as a benchmark test if you're chasing power data, or pace it steadily if it's your first time. The 9 km at ~7% rewards consistent effort over an aggressive start.
- ⚠Snack Bar Torrent on the main square in Amer (approx. km 40) is your only reliable food and water stop before the summit. It is closed on Mondays. Leave Girona with enough supplies for 40+ km and refuel here.
- ⚠The descent from the sanctuary via Osor is technical — narrow road, sharp corners, and a shaded forest section that keeps the surface damp well into the morning. Stay conservative until the road opens up below the treeline.
- ⚠La Fábrica is the natural post-ride finish — check current opening hours in the café map before you head out.
- ⚠April to June and September to October are the prime months. The Guilleries gets hot in summer, and the climb is noticeably harder above 500 m in July and August.
- ⚠Sant Martí Sacalm and Rocacorba are both Girona staples, but they serve different purposes. Sacalm is the accessible, 9 km Cat 2 climb most riders do first. Rocacorba is the steeper, harder test favored by the pro peloton. They are not interchangeable.
Café & Water
- km 40Snack Bar Torrent
The only reliable stop between Girona and the summit. A café-bar on the main square, usually open from early morning — closed Mondays. Stock up on water and snacks here before the climb. There is no resupply on the Pujada or the Osor descent.
- km 88La Fábrica
Girona's most iconic cycling café and the perfect end to the route. Full food menu. You'll often find pro riders at the next table, especially on weekday mornings.
Frequently asked questions
- How difficult is the Girona Sant Martí Sacalm loop?
- Moderate. The loop covers 90.8 km with 1,268 m of climbing. The Pujada a Sant Martí Sacalm (9 km at 7%) is the primary challenge. Fit cyclists should plan for 3.5–4.5 hours in the saddle.
- What is the Pujada a Sant Martí Sacalm?
- A Cat 2 climb in the Guilleries massif, northwest of Girona. It rises from Amer (200 m) to the sanctuary (815 m) over 9 km at 7%. It's a standard Girona benchmark — effectively a 20–30 minute threshold power test.
- How does Sant Martí Sacalm compare to Rocacorba?
- Sant Martí Sacalm is the gentler of the two, making it the preferred early-season climb. Rocacorba is steeper and harder, traditionally used by pros like Froome and Wiggins as a serious performance test. Most riders build their fitness on Sacalm before tackling Rocacorba.
- When is the best time to ride?
- Spring (April–June) and Autumn (September–October). Summer heat in the Guilleries can make the climb punishing above 500 m. Mornings in spring offer the best air and the quietest roads.
- Where can I get food and water?
- Snack Bar Torrent in Amer (km 40) is the essential mid-ride stop (closed Mondays). La Fábrica in Girona is the post-ride destination. If La Fábrica is full, Espresso Mafia is on the same street — it opens at 7:30AM and has a bike pump outside.
- How do I get to Girona?
- Girona is connected to Barcelona by high-speed AVE train (35–40 mins). By car, it's 100 km northeast of Barcelona via the AP-7. Girona airport (GRO) has several low-cost connections. The route starts at the Pont de les Peixateries Velles in the old town, a short walk from the station.
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Route Details
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Girona & Costa Brava
For cyclists with some experience. Noticeable climbs requiring fitness.