Etapa 5 de la Ruta dels Bons Homes

Extremely demanding day both from the physical and technical point of view, reserved exclusively for experienced cyclists that do not care in some sections to have to drag the bicycle into long increases. When I left, we started the ascent through its skiing station. The initial section is the most challenging, decreasing in intensity as we approach the main parking. After overcoming this section, we will face a second climb that will lead us directly to the Collado de Porté-Puymorens (1915m) in just over 500 meters of travel. From El Collado, the coma d’en Garcia unfolds before us, and the last ascent to the highest point of the route (1970m) becomes more accessible and rewarding. At this point, the panorama of the mountains of Andorra and Ariege is impressive. The descent, in the form of long zetas, begins by track but quickly narrows to continue by a technical and fun path. However, caution! The grass in some exposed sections can present difficulties. After more than 500 meters of continuous descent, we arrive at L’Hospitalet-Près-L’andorre (source), where we will cross on the other side of the Ariege River. From this point, we start 5 km of path following a “new” GR-107 (deviant to avoid works) that is quite demanding, with cyclable sections but also others in which it will be necessary to walk next to the bicycle. Later, the path becomes an asphalted track to Merens-Le-Vals (source). After the town, we find the Romanesque church of Sant Pere, a place that deserves a stop before facing the second great climb of the day: 700 meters of uneven 200 meters of unevenness) until reaching the highest dimensions. Overcome the 1500 meters of altitude, we resume a track that will take us to the Collado de Joux (1702m) and that we will continue along the entire descent to Orgeix, very close to the end of the stage in Orlú.