Girona — Sant Martí Sacalm

Onyar bridges to Amer

Across the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, pastel façades mirrored in the Onyar, the cathedral falls over the shoulder and quiet Gironès farmland takes over. Easy spinning on familiar back roads south-west of the city — nothing to do yet but wake the legs and settle the heart rate. Through Anglès toward Amer, plane trees shade the arcaded plaça and bakeries vent warm coca and coffee into the street. It is the traditional pre-climb stop, and tradition here is useful: Snack Bar Torrent on the square is the last reliable food and water before the summit.

Beyond Amer the Guilleries rise: flat-topped limestone cliffs above holm-oak forest, spring meadows absurdly green, scattered masies, the odd donkey unbothered behind roadside wire near Susqueda. The gradient starts nudging up as the road enters the forest. Somewhere in that approach the reservoir views begin to hint at what the climb will open fully.

Every Girona rider uses Sant Martí Sacalm to learn what winter actually did to the legs. The climb does not ease anyone in — it simply begins.

The Pujada and the Selva return

The Pujada a Sant Martí Sacalm switchbacks through oak and pine: dappled light, tight hairpins, damp patches where sun has not reached, gravel washed down over winter. About 9 km near 7%, Category 2 character, a proper mountain road — narrow, quiet, blind corners. The summit sign at 815 m is plastered with club stickers from half of Catalonia; the trees open onto meadow and sky, sanctuary above, Pyrenees on clear days in the distance. A short breather, a photo of the brown village sign for St. Martí Sacalm, then the descent.

Toward Osor the drop is fast and technical — narrow, shaded, surface that stays wet into morning. Trust the tyres and the line more than the brakes until the road opens. Through the rolling farm roads of the Selva the Ter valley opens again, and the Onyar bridges return. La Fábrica is the natural espresso full stop.

April–June and September–October are prime. Summer heat above 500 m turns the same percentages sharper. Ninety kilometres and 1,268 metres — moderate enough for a crisp spring morning, honest enough to hurt if raced. The loop Girona keeps for measuring readiness.