pol tarrés

The ascent to Coll de Pal (2,106 m) We leave Bagà and, almost without transition, begin the ascent to Coll de Pal, a legendary road in Catalan cycling with 20 km and 1,338 m of elevation gain. The first few kilometres pass through dense forests, with shady stretches and straight sections that wind through the mountains. Then the landscape opens up and the views widen: you can see the successive lines of the Cadí-Moixeró mountains. We pass by the Mirador de la Devesa viewpoint, from where you can see Pedraforca, Serra d’Ensija, Verd and, on clear days, even Montserrat. The vegetation changes as we gain altitude: the black pine forest gives way to alpine meadows that herald the proximity of the pass. At Coll de Pal (2,106 m), the view extends across the eastern Pyrenees and the great Cerdanya plain. Crossing La Molina and Masella From the pass, we leave the asphalt road and take a scenic track that crosses the ski resorts of La Molina and Masella. The path alternates between open stretches of high mountain meadows and sections of sparse forest, with constant views over the Cerdanya valley. The descent is technical in places, with steep slopes and rocky areas, but the landscape makes up for any effort: the Cadí behind us and the whole Cerdanya plain unfolding at our feet. From the Cerdanya valley to Puigcerdà Once we reach Alp, the route changes completely. The terrain becomes gentler and we cycle along rural paths and pastureland, crossing the Segre river to follow the Camí Ral de Sant Jaume, an ancient route connecting the villages of the Cerdanya valley. It is a gentle stretch, with the sound of the river as a common thread, passing through Bolvir before reaching Puigcerdà, the historic capital of Cerdanya, with its lake and bell tower welcoming us and marking the end of the stage.

Along the Camin Reiau to Arròs We leave Vielha and, after crossing Gausac, we join the Camin Reiau, an ancient path that connects the villages of the Val d’Aran. The route runs parallel to the Garona river along wide paths and shady stretches, where the trees form a tunnel of vegetation. The forest is dense, full of birch, hazel and beech trees, with the constant sound of the river nearby. The terrain is gentle and very pleasant until Arròs, where we cross the river to begin the climb towards the Varradòs valley. Ascent via the Port de Varradòs to the pass (2,049 m) From Arròs, the road begins to climb steadily. The first 7.5 km are demanding, with sustained gradients. Vegetation and water are abundant: forests of fir, beech and oak trees. The last 2.5 km to Saut deth Pish, an iconic waterfall in the Val d’Aran, are gentler and allow you to enjoy the landscape and begin to see the immensity of the valley. From here, we leave the asphalt and continue along a dirt track that continues to climb for about 6.5 km, with constant but never technical sections. The path enters the valley, flanked by green meadows bathed by the waters of the waterfalls that feed the Varradòs River. If we turn around, the views over the Val d’Aran are spectacular. Finally, we reach Coll de Varradòs (2,049 m), the highest point of the day. Descent to Bagergue and Salardú through the Vall d’Unhòla From the pass, the view is majestic: in front of us lies the Vall d’Unhòla, enclosed by peaks such as Cap des Closos and Tuc Blanc de Parros. The descent begins on a wide track where the vegetation is sparser, contrasting with the greenery of the previous valley. The Unhòla river, with its characteristic brownish-reddish waters due to the presence of iron oxides and hydroxides, accompanies us for the last few kilometres until we reach Bagergue, the highest village in the Val d’Aran. We continue down the road until we reach Salardú, the end point of the stage.

Crossing the Barravés Valley We leave El Pont de Suert following the course of the Noguera Ribagorçana river, which accompanies us for the first few kilometres of the stage. Tracks and paths alternate with paved sections, always parallel to the river, between fields, forests and small villages such as Les Bordes, Vilaller and Ginast. The valley is surrounded by mountain ridges that rise progressively as we head north. After Forcat, we turn right onto a track that climbs steeply to Senet. Ascent to the upper basin of the Noguera Ribagorçana From Senet, a short paved climb takes us to the Baserca reservoir dam, also known as the Senet reservoir, located at an altitude of 1,361 metres. Built on the Noguera Ribagorçana river, this hydroelectric reservoir is surrounded by peaks over 3,000 metres high, such as the Maladeta massif, the Besiberri massif and the Pic de Mulleres. The landscape is granitic, rugged and spectacular: a deep valley carved out between mountains that accumulate snow for much of the year. Once you have passed the dam along a very rough and steep section of track, the track widens and the slope eases as you follow the GR11, with open sections that allow you to contemplate the blue water of the reservoir on the left and the alpine forests of black pine and fir that mark the way north. The Vielha tunnel and the gateway to the Val d’Aran We leave the reservoir behind and continue parallel to the N-230 road, passing by the Besiberri ravine and the Conangles refuge, surrounded by a high mountain landscape of forests and quarries. We arrive at the entrance to the Vielha tunnel, a historic infrastructure that connects Alta Ribagorça with the Val d’Aran. The tunnel is passable by bicycle, provided that the SOS Vielha service is notified in advance via the cable car located at the entrance; the staff temporarily close one lane to traffic to ensure the safe passage of cyclists. It is compulsory to carry a light and a reflective vest. Inside the tunnel there is a 400-metre climb and the rest is all downhill. On leaving, we take the Camin deth Port, a downhill track that follows the Nere river to the centre of Vielha, the end of the stage and gateway to the Val d’Aran.