Grand Tour of Catalonia Gravel - Stage 39

The Climb to Coll de Bracons

We leave Sant Esteve d’en Bas and begin the climb to Coll de Bracons to cross the Serra dels Llancers. It’s 8.2 kilometers with 655 meters of elevation gain and an average gradient of 8%—a challenging but spectacular pass. The road winds through a lush forest of beech and oak trees, which keeps the air fresh and humid. In some places, the vegetation opens up, offering views back toward the Vall d’en Bas and the mountains of the Garrotxa. The final section is the steepest, but reaching the pass rewards every effort with a vast, tranquil panorama of the mountain landscape.

Crossing the Collsacabra Nature Reserve

After the pass, we ride a few kilometers downhill until a left turn leads us onto a dirt road that takes us to Sant Julià de Cabrera. We enter the Collsacabra Nature Reserve—a region with impressive geology, steep cliffs, and great biodiversity. The landscape is green and humid, characterized by holm oak, oak, and beech forests. We then return to the road, ride downhill for a short distance, and tackle the next climb to Coll de Bac, through forests typical of the Alta Garrotxa. From the pass, a winding descent leads down to Rupit—one of the country’s most picturesque villages, with stone houses, cobblestone alleys, and a suspension bridge over the river, surrounded by cliffs and waterfalls that account for its unique beauty.

From Les Guilleries to the Sau Reservoir and on to Vic

We leave Rupit via a side road that leads into the Guilleries-Savassona Nature Reserve. The road descends steadily until we reach the Sau Reservoir—an iconic reservoir on the River Ter, known for the church tower of the old village that emerges when the water level is low. We cross the dam and continue on a road that winds around the lake—though it’s mostly surrounded by dense forests that block the view of the water. Beyond the reservoir, we continue toward Tavèrnoles and from there take a dirt road that leads us through fields and past masías to Roda de Ter—and finally to Vic, the capital of Osona, whose historic, arcaded town center marks the end of this stage.