In this article we speak to Joaquin Vizcaíno, a keen cyclist who is passionate about making it easier for visitors to discover the cycling in and around Barcelona region. Joaquin has proposed this route in Osona as part of his guide to cycling in the Barcelona region. He says:
This lovely cycling route allows cyclists to enjoy one of Barcelona’s region’s most spectacular landscapes.
The route starts and finishes in the wonderful medieval capital of the county, Vic. It includes quiet riding over the plains of Osona as well as rolling terrain in the foothills of Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve and the Espai Natural de les Guilleries-Savassona.
Always check current travel information and advice. For visitors from the UK, the UK government travel information pages are here.
Route notes
The route departs from Vic, a historic city whose Plaça Major hosts long-established markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
On leaving Vic, the route runs along a secondary road roughly parallel to the C-17 dual carriageway for 15 km, until reaching Hostalets de Balenyà. The terrain here is almost flat, and occasionally it can be exposed to winds.
Leaving Hostalets, the route runs on quiet paved paths to the tiny Romanesque church of Sant Jaume de Viladrover. The church is documented from 1029 and has Romanesque origins, although it has been altered and restored several times over the centuries. From there, it continues rolling up to Seva before descending 3.5 km to Mas Vidal.
The village of Viladrau is next, with a wonderful location tucked below the Matagalls summit, which is one of the most emblematic peaks of the Montseny massif. From here there is the first of the route’s four climb, the Coll de Gomara of 886 metres. From Mas Vidal, the climb is around 7 kilometres with an average gradient of roughly 3.5%.
On the way, in the outskirts of Viladrau there’s one of the famous fountains of the village, the fountain of Les Delícies, right at the left of road, perfect for refilling our bottles and to taste the renowned waters from this region.
After the summit, the route descends for nearly 6 kilometres, to the charming village of Espinelves where the second climb starts: Coll del Buc. It’s only 1 kilometre but has slopes reaching up to 9%. In this section and on the way down watch out for some gravel on the tarmac.
The climb and descend lead to Sant Sadurní d’Osormort from where it continues to the bridge of Malafogassa (or Pont de Malafogassa). There awaits the toughest climb on the route, the Pass of Malafogassa. The climb is short, just 1.8 kilometres, but the average slope is 8.8% and in some sections they get close to 14%.
From that point, the road leads to Vilanova de Sau, at the heart of the Nature Park of Les Guilleries-Savassona, before continuing towards the Sau Reservoir. From there, the route returns through Folgueroles, Tavèrnoles, Roda de Ter, Manlleu and Les Masies de Voltregà,before heading back to Vic, via Gurb.
Tips
Before setting off, check the latest alerts for the Espai Natural de les Guilleries-Savassona and the Pla Alfa fire-risk status, as temporary access restrictions can apply. The park is actively directing visitors to check Pla Alfa in 2026 and currently regulates access to the Sau Reservoir recreation area during part of the year.
Further info: https://www.osoning.com/osona-cycling/
What’s next?
Big thanks to Joaquin Vizcaíno for sharing these insights to cycling the Les Gulleries in the Barcelona region.
Have you cycled here before? Let us know in the comments below!
Looking for more inspiration on cycling in Barcelona? Don’t miss:
- Cycling Barcelona
- Penedès 360, Barcelona region
- Santa Susanna to El Turó de l’Home, Maresme, Barcelona region
- La Ruta Minera (the mining route), Berguedà, Barcelona region
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First Published: 08 August 2024
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