There’s something to be said for
not having to repack your bag every
morning. That’s especially true if your
home base is the cycling paradise of
Girona, Spain. Owned by retired pro
Christian Meier and his wife, Amber,
The Service Course offers carefully
curated guided rides that will help you
understand why so many pros live in
this sunny Catalonian gem—empty
farm lanes, perfectly twisting climbs,
and coastal roads tracing the edge of
the turquoise expanse of the Costa
Brava. Start each day with an exqui-
site breakfast at La Fabrica—an eatery
owned by the Meiers, and linger over
afternoon coffee and pastry at their
Espresso Mafia café. You can bring
your own bike, but once you examine
their rental stable, you might opt to
spend your week on a dream bike
from OPEN, Argonaut, Speedvagen,
or Bastion. The tour includes dinners
at some of the city’s best restaurants
every night, four-star accommoda-
tions, and two massages.7 days / 258 miles / $3,600 /
AdvancedYOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Classic Climbs of Girona // Eat Sleep
Cycle You’re on your own for a few
dinners but are otherwise fully supported
in this by-cyclists-for-cyclists sampler of
the best-known climbs near Girona.
6 days / 283 to 373 miles / $1,532 /
Intermediate/advancedBEST EUROPEAN
BASECAMP
The Trip The Grand
Tour | The Outfitter
The Service CourseCLIMBING THE
ROCACORBA
NEAR GIRONA,
SPAIN.50 BICYCLING.COM • ISSUE 1 | 2020
Tristan^ Cardew/CourtesyThe^ ServiceCourse