Andorra is a cycling destination with the world’s highest concentration of mountain passes per square kilometre

Carlos Verona, a professional cyclist who competes at the highest level, knows the Pyrenees first-hand, particularly Andorra as a training destination. A resident of the Principality and familiar with its roads and mountain passes, Carlos explains what makes the region so special for cyclists, recommends some of his favourite routes and discusses the benefits of altitude training. He reflects on Andorra’s position as an international cycling destination and shares advice for amateur cyclists looking to improve their training while keeping sight of the most important thing: enjoying the bike. From your experience as a professional cyclist, what makes the Pyrenees such a special place for training? The Pyrenees are one of the most important mountain ranges in Europe and, probably, one of those with the most favourable climate, particularly on the southern side. This makes them an ideal place for sports such as cycling. Winters are cold but generally dry, so with the right clothing, it is possible to cycle throughout the year. Is there a mountain pass or road that, despite being less well known, you consider particularly interesting for training? In Andorra, I particularly like Port de Cabús. The climb starts relatively gently, then gets tougher in the middle, with a beautiful section that really allows you to test yourself. The final kilometres ease off again, giving you the chance to enjoy the scenery and finish the climb at your own pace. What is, in your opinion, one of the most beautiful cycling routes in the Pyrenees? I’ve never ridden the full Transpyr, but I’ve completed most of its stages at different times. Crossing the Pyrenees from Cap de Creus to San Sebastián, or the other way around, is definitely something I’d like to do. If I had to choose a one-day route, I would go for the Contrabandistes route, which combines paved roads with forest tracks. It leaves Andorra towards Os de Civís, descends to Alins via Tírvia and returns to Andorra through Tor. It’s a circular route of around 100 kilometres with 3,000 metres of elevation gain. It’s incredibly scenic and I would definitely recommend it. Do you think Andorra has already become a kind of “home of cycling” in the Pyrenees? Andorra has become a home of cycling, and I believe it always will be. It has always had the potential to become one, and once that potential was recognised, it was developed very successfully. Now it’s a matter of keeping that momentum going. Without even realising it, the process will continue to reinforce itself, because Andorra has all the ingredients to be home to many professional cyclists, to offer an attractive recreational environment for local residents and to be a world-class cycling destination for visitors. It has the highest concentration of mountain passes per square kilometre that I know of, as well as excellent hotel infrastructure, a diverse and high-quality food scene and plenty of other leisure activities that make it a truly unique destination. What really changes when you go from sea level to training at 1,000, 1,500 or 2,000 metres above sea level? It’s a physiological change. The higher you go, the lower the concentration of oxygen in the air. As a result, your body naturally adapts in an effort to become more efficient, including by producing more red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen through the bloodstream. When you return to sea level, your body has a greater capacity to take in and transport oxygen, which can translate into improved performance. In short, this is the main reason altitude training is so important and one of the reasons why so many cyclists choose to live in Andorra. Is there a technique or training tip used by professionals that amateur cyclists could also apply? The difference between a professional and an amateur, apart from genetics, is largely determined by lifestyle. When we prepare for a major goal, we live entirely around cycling and have every possible resource at our disposal. That’s obviously impossible for an amateur to replicate. What you can do is train in a structured way, maintain healthy lifestyle habits and, if you want to take it a step further, work with a coach and a nutritionist. Training, eating and resting well are what make the difference – but always with balance and without losing sight of why we ride in the first place. The most important thing is to stay focused and enjoy the ride!The post Andorra is a cycling destination with the world’s highest concentration of mountain passes per square kilometre first appeared on All PYRENEES.