The Pirinexus Challenge 2019

When Jordi Cantal began to travel the PIRINEXUS route of 340 km in summer 2014, he did not know that at the end, deep in the night, he would have created a new challenge thas has already became a legend. The new feature of this year’s fifth edition is that it will start and finish in the town of Sant Antoni de Calonge. It will run in the same direction as last year, leaving the Costa Brava in the direction of the French border, crossing the Coll d'Ares mountain pass to return to Catalonia and the Costa Brava along the Carrilet Route.

The PIRINEXUS NON STOP CHALLENGE is currently a personal non-stop challenge of 340km. Participants will have until midnight to complete a route that takes in all types of terrain. All bikes are allowed, although probably the most appropriate are the gravel or the cyclo-cross bikes. Road bikes with 28 (or 25) tyres and mountain bikes 29’ wheels with slicks.

The PIRINEXUS HALF CHALLENGE discipline consists of the challenge of completing a 100% gravel route in the Les Gavarres area, starting on the seaside promenade of Sant Antoni de Calonge and finishing at the Camping Internacional de Calonge campsite. 

Participants will leave the sea and head inland into the regions of Girona following the course of the Ter river up to the Colomers dam. Once there, the course will turn left towards Les Gavarres mountains. It will then mainly run along the crest of the mountain in an easterly direction, enjoying views of the El Gironès and L’Empordà regions whilst surrounded by cork oaks. All the tracks are in very good condition and have low technical difficulty. 

There will be two basic refreshment zones for participants.