Because I accidentally registered for two gravel events on the same day in Catalonia, the organiser of Gravel Montgri gave me the opportunity to ride the route one day after the official event and so I got to spend a perfect late summer day on the gravel bike. 

Carles, the nice guy from event organisers CC MONTGRI, kindly left a starter pack for me at the reception of Estartit campsite. Among other things, there was a nice jersey from Montgri - Gravelride, which fitted me perfectly. The sun squinted over the sea as I loaded my gravel bike on the back of my car. I could park directly at the harbour and it was only a few meters from here to the beginning of the track. 

Because Carles told me that the track was very trail-heavy, I decided to use my OPEN UP gravel bike, fitted with 650b wheels. I had fitted the Rene Herse Juniper Ridge tyres with a lot of profile and inflated them to 2 bar and so hoped to be able to ride the trails as well.

After a last look at the island "Illes Medes" and off you go towards the interior. The first ascent led north on a paved forest path. Even with my big volume tyres, the descent that followed really shook me. The trail was a running track peppered with plenty of large stones.

Further inland I arrived at the Prinexus trail. I rode here during the challenge of the same name at the end of September. Further on, the route led me through picturesque villages that we either deserted or were sometimes overrun by Sunday day trippers. Fast gravel roads constantly alternated with technically demanding trails and I wondered if it wouldn't be better sometimes to ride my MTB. The route of the Montgri Gravelride is definitely not for narrow slick tyres!

The longest ascent up to the Puig Blanc was not too long either and at the top it was not even 300 meters above sea level. Although the descent leads over a wide trail, it was so bumpy that I lost a drinking bottle without noticing. The view down to the sea was impressive and on the horizon the sun was glistening in the water.

At the “Platja de Castell” beach I reached the sea and enjoyed the salty air and the atmosphere for a few moments. From here, a narrow trail led steeply through the forest. 

Suddenly I was standing in front of a house whose dimensions don't fit at all. A hiker explains to me that this was a house designed by Salvedor Dali - the "Barraca d'en Dalí". I rode the last sandy trail behind Begur, which took me down to the sea. The sand was so deep here that I had to carry my gravel bike for a few meters.

The last 20 kilometers passed very quickly. The route followed easy to ride trails along the river "Riu Ter" and then parallel to the sea back to where I had parked in Estartit.

The Club CC MONGRI has created a fantastic route with the Gravel Montgri, the event already enjoys cult status among local gravel bikers and will for sure be back in 2023.