On April 30th was held the first edition of The Honor Race a non-competitive cycle-tourist race that took place into the amazing landscapes of the region of “Penedès”, also known as the “Catalan Tuscany”. Our friend Sandrine was one of the participants, so she will explain us how was her experience in this new race format.

There was much expectation for this new type of event, and there was much participation of the Barcelona and Spanish cyclist community in general.

Sandrine: “I was lucky to be one of the participants of this first and amazing Edition and my THR combines cycling with choosing the best route to follow, have a sense of direction and above all enjoy to go in group. I can’t classify it as a Brevet or as a conventional cycle-tourist, it could be defined as a direction cycle-tourist in group.”

It was a different race, where the goal number one is to enjoy cycling in all its essence, where the route becomes a personal challenge and a chance to connect with the magnificent landscapes that people were discovering in each pedalling.

Sandrine: “The days prior to the race, we started to know a little more about the format; an itinerary of 138km and 1,770 m of gradient with 5 emblematic check points from the “Penedès”: The Sant Pau d’Ordal church, Parish Church of Sant Jaume dels Domenys, La Pineda de Santa Cristina, Font-Rubí and Creu de Lavit. With this information, we began to define the strategy to follow and choose the best routes to get to the point more quickly. Good thing from “Penedès” is that there are many alternative routes to reach the same place, routes almost without cars, passing by bucolic sites and some that another urban legend.”

However a gray and cloudy day, very few of the participants gave up and, perhaps, adverse conditions gave a little more epic flair to the feat of the teams at the starting line.

Competition Yes! But also a chance to see familiar faces and gather “the cyclist friend group” in an event.

Sandrine: “The big day arrived, a gray, wet day with rain and little wind at the beginning. It’s the typical day that you don’t want to do anything, just stay in bed (he, he, he). We arrived at 8 pm at the Caves Blancher in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona), there was the point of departure and arrival. Upon arrival, we collected our passports, took some breakfast and I started to say hello to friends and acquaintances who came from all parts of Catalonia but, mainly, from Barcelona and its surroundings. As curious data of this race is that you could participate with any kind of bike, road, gravel, tandem… and we were lucky to meet and share it with two champions of the world of tandem Joan Bertolí Font and Ignacio Avila Rodriguez.”

After eating something and the corresponding greetings, it has been the turn of pedalling! A path full of surprises and alternative routes to reach the five mandatory check points that completed the race and each team should take at its own risk.

Sandrine:“At 9 o’clock all groups were waiting at the exit of les “Caves” that the race will begin. It had already stopped raining, was still fairly cloudy and the wind began to notice. The organizers began to call three by three different groups and once stamped the Passport the Adventure through the “Penedès” began. The route was very broken legs, a constant up and down. At first more or less we were following each other, but from the third check point, we already started to lose people. Each followed its own strategy, some did the recommended route with some other slope of 17-23% and others decided to go through other roads or rural roads paved (or not) to save time and some that another crazy slope (je, je, je). 

After having completed all the check points, having had some mishap along the way and having suffered from the wind in the face, we finished the race with a radiant sun, happy, having enjoyed this new concept of race, of these beautiful landscapes and wanting for more”.

After much suffering, enjoyment and km’s, the deserved reward!

Sandrine:“After the team photo, the photo of how to drink cava with “porrón” (glass wine jar with a long tapered drinking spout) as good native who we are (he, he, he), we got a good meal with live music, little sun and a very good atmosphere. There, I said hello, commented and even laughed to some friends about the route, the constant ups and downs, almost no cars on the way, above all,  how beautiful was this new way of living cycling. 

Finally, I would like to congratulate the organization for having created The Honor Race, for choosing the area of “Penedès” for its first edition, for the breakfast and lunch at the end of the race, which did not miss the cava (he, he, he), volunteers who have helped to carry out the race without problems and my team Nicole Lewis, Eloi Salvia, Eric Esbert, Luis Lorenzo and Sergi Rebe for sharing this experience with me.

 I hope it’s the first of many editions and that all participants have enjoyed as much as we have done, even though we are local, always new roads or paths that take you to the same destination are discovered.”