Ascó - Gandesa - Bot - Prat de Comte - Fontcalda - Ascó. Road cycling Catalonia

CDTE (Costa Daurada / Terres de L'Ebre): Route 10

This is a medium to difficult level route, which starts in wine-country, ascends into mountainous landscape of the Serra de Pandols-Cavalls, and even includes an interesting “Via Verda” (greenway) - a former railway track converted to a cycle path. This route climbs immediately upon leaving Ascó, to La Fatarella, then rewards riders with 30km of rolling, but largely descending riding on country roads through vineyards and agricultural fields. At Bot, we climb up many hairpin bends over the mountains, and descend to Prat de Comte. Turning back in towards the Pandols-Cavalls range, we continue to descend, taking the Via Verda de la Terra Alta, past the old station and through the tunnel, to the former nunnery, the Sanctuary of Mare de Deu de la Fontcalda and its hot spring, in the river. A stunning place for a stop, where there is a restaurant also open in high season. It’s a climb to the Coll d’en Torner to leave the valley of the Sanctuary, and at Gandesa, we return the way we came, to Ascó.
 

You will find this route and many more in Catalonia, on the Catalan Tourism Board’s map, here: http://act.gencat.cat/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Mapa-guia-Rutes-ENG-baixa.pdf

You can find more cycling routes and tips in the following links:

Catalonia: https://isyourhome.catalunya.com/experiencia/cycling-in-catalonia/

Costa Daurada: https://costadaurada.info/en/activities/sports/cycletourism-and-mtb

Cambrils: https://cambrils-turisme.com/rutes-de-ciclisme/?lang=en

Priorat: https://www.turismepriorat.org/en/rutes-tipus/cicloturisme

Terres de l’Ebre: https://terresdelebre.travel/cycling/es/index.php