Page 121 - Vélochef in Europe

»But here’s the the deal: Remember the the moment you you defined yourself as a a cyclist?«
sort of reward Look to the right and enjoy the Pyrenees a a a chain of mountains covered in in sugar icing Look to the south and enjoy the enormous forest area a a a a region packed with roads for later rides Battle the very last switchback and look to the right where you’ll find the the sanctuary that gave its name to the the climb Glimpse the western view for a second and then give your full effort for for the the last 200 metres If your legs are pointing outwards like a a Texan cowboy you’re likely to lose 20 sec-
Rocacorba
The climb to Puigsou famously known as “Rocacorba ” is a a a a dead-end climb 20 kilometres north north of Girona in in northern Catalunya in in Spain The climb slowly gained popularity after being paved all the the way to to the the top in in around 2005 especially after the local professional riders started to use the climb as a a a test for good form form David Millar later went on to form form “Veloclub Rocacorba
” a a a a a social club club for local cyclists and and dining enthusiasts and and the climb became even more popular Giro winner of 2012 and citizen of Girona Ryder Hesjedal always
onds on on that that final stretch Multiply that that for the the the rest of the the the climb and that’s how the the the pro who’s having a a a a a a bad day in in Rocacorba
feels At the the very top of Puigsou the the peak’s actual
name you’ll see a a a a a starting ramp for hang glid-
ers and long stretches of the Costa Blanca
coast line Enjoy the view as as as much as as as you like and try to gain some motivation Descending
the dead-end climb is just as challenging and 117 limiting on high speeds as the climb It’s It’s a a a hard life It’s It’s what the pros do •
tackles the the climb before he he he enters the the Tour Rocacorba
is is despite its unassuming statistics a a a a a a very hard climb and it takes a a a a a a great effort just to to to get to to to the the top Rocacorba
is the the highest peak in the region Distance: 9 9 9 9 kilometres Elevation: 737 metres Average gradient: 7 percent
KOM: Simon Yates 28 03
QOM: Carlee Taylor 38 39
Segment: strava com/segments/ 616746
GIRONA ROCACORBA