Cyclists Flock to Girona, Spain

There’s a good reason Lance Armstrong has made the ancient Spanish city of Girona his training base since 2001. It’s the same reason 15 other professional cyclists from North America are now training here, and it’s the same reason that Girona is an increasingly popular destination for cycling tours. As the New York Times explains, the city is nearly equidistant from Barcelona (52 miles) and the French border (48 miles), easily accessible by air or rail, and has a gentrified, culturally rich historic district, upscale shopping and dining, a thriving university campus and peaceful, expansive parks. Just a few minutes’ ride from the city center are tranquil roads and trails leading into the foothills of the Pyrenees to the west or the beaches of the Costa Brava to the east, with enough rolling terrain to keep the professional riders in shape between races. Read more in the Times.