Last weekend, Llívia promised to introduce us to gravel d’alçada (high altitude gravel in Catalan), and it certainly delivered.

Grava Lybica turned the Pyrenean enclave into the heart of Catalan gravel, bringing together nearly 150 riders for two days of long climbs, varied off-road surfaces, and total immersion in the landscapes of La Cerdanya.

But the event was about far more than the riding. Throughout the weekend, Llívia breathed cycling. Friday’s rider check-in set the tone with a thoughtfully curated welcome pack, followed by the race briefing and a celebration of Catalan culture featuring traditional music and castellers.

The social hub of the event was La Foguera, based in Parc de Sant Guillem, which became the beating heart of Grava Lybica over the course of the weekend. Talks, local food tastings, live music and activities for children created an atmosphere that extended well beyond the race itself, reinforcing the event’s community spirit and making it just as enjoyable for friends and family as it was for the riders.

Strong institutional backing, together with the support of partners such as Tactic, Amacx, Berria, Vittoria and Smith, played a key role in delivering such a successful first edition. Even after organizers were forced to revise part of the route at the last minute due to wildfire prevention measures across the French border, the event adapted seamlessly. Rather than detracting from the experience, the changes highlighted the team’s ability to preserve the essence of an event designed to showcase the outstanding gravel riding that La Cerdanya has to offer.

Two contrasting stages, varied terrain and feed stations stocked with local produce completed an experience that left little doubt: for high-altitude gravel riding, Llívia is a truly exceptional destination.

Part of the Raw Cycling Magazine team experienced the event firsthand, coinciding with the presentation of our latest print issue.

Stage 1: Rediscovering familiar territory

The day began with a scene that is as common as it is fleeting in La Cerdanya: a blanket of morning mist covering the valley floor while the surrounding peaks slowly emerged into the sunshine. Over our first coffee of the day, we chatted with Bet, one of the participants, who summed up what many riders were thinking: “La Cerdanya is famous for road cycling and mountain biking, but gravel?” Well, yes, gravel, and what gravel it is!

The opening stage quickly proved that some places only reveal themselves once you explore them differently. Covering 116 kilometres and around 2,400 metres of climbing, the route invited riders into a side of La Cerdanya that rarely features in the collective imagination of cyclists.

Leaving Llívia, we headed towards Queixans before tackling the day’s first climb: a wide forest road rising steadily towards Puig de les Forques while the broad valley stretched further and further below. Many of us had done this climb before from one of its paved sides, but approaching it on gravel completely transformed the experience.

The descent brought us into La Molina before climbing once again via the old access road to the ski resort, where broken patches of asphalt gradually gave way to gravel once more. Reaching the Collada, we turned towards the Toses side of the mountain, and once again the scenery transformed. The forests opened into vast alpine meadows where cows and horses grazed peacefully, exactly the postcard scence promised in the event’s promotional material.

From there came a long, flowing descent alongside the La Molina and Masella ski resorts before dropping towards Das and Riu, where riders topped up their bottles ahead of the day’s defining effort: a ten-kilometre climb featuring the timed segment. It was an excellent addition, injecting just enough competitive spirit into an otherwise relaxed day on the bike.

Another lengthy descent followed. Although never especially technical, it demanded concentration for kilometre after kilometre. Font de l’Ingla provided an almost irresistible excuse to stop before continuing alongside the narrow gorge carved out by the river and eventually returning to the valley floor just before Bellver.

It is during the closing kilometres that the route truly reveals its purpose. Quiet farm tracks weave through fields and working farms where tractors continue their daily routines, seemingly indifferent to the passing cyclists. It is a scene that contrasts sharply with La Cerdanya’s more familiar image as a destination of ski resorts and second homes. Here, the mountains remain a place of work as much as leisure, and Grava Lybica succeeds in showcasing every side of the region with remarkable authenticity.

Like any great day in the Pyrenees, the stage ended around a table. A generous serving of trinxat, live music, conversations between riders and a packed programme of activities turned the finish into a celebration rather than simply the end of a race.

Stage 2: Beneath Puigpedròs

Day two began, once again, with the alarm ringing at six in the morning. Our legs naturally carried the fatigue of the previous day’s effort, although the profile looked considerably friendlier on paper: 78 kilometres and around 1,600 metres of climbing, concentrated almost entirely into a single ascent. But what an ascent it was.

After the initial 20 kilometers, mainly flat,, the route brought us to a small wooden suspension bridge before tackling the first concrete ramps towards Gréixer. It was merely an acidic appetiser before joining a long forest track that climbed steadily for around sixteen kilometres towards the upper reaches of La Cerdanya.

By half past nine the sun was already beating down relentlessly. There was barely a patch of shade to be found, and the climb became an exercise in patience, carefully managing the effort while the surrounding landscape continued to expand in every direction. Midway up came the day’s timed section: only 3.8 kilometres long, but enough for anyone wanting to test their legs. We chose instead to settle into our pace, enjoy the climb and exchange smiles with the Pyrenees Media crew, perfectly positioned at one of the route’s finest viewpoints.

The feed station appeared like an oasis just shy of 2,000 metres above sea level, on a small plateau close to the Guils-Fontanera Nordic ski area. Refuelled, we continued climbing for another 250 vertical metres through pine forests and across Prat de la Feixa, sharing the trail with hikers making their way towards the lower slopes of Puigpedrós, one of the region’s most iconic peaks.

Then came the reward: more than 25 kilometres of almost uninterrupted descending. It began on fast gravel roads, with the unmistakable silhouette of the Cadí range stretching across the horizon, before linking onto the road through Meranges and rolling gently back into the valley. It was one of those descents that makes you lift your eyes from the trail and simply appreciate the landscape unfolding around you.

Halfway down, a large eagle drifted silently above the mountainside. It was impossible not to stop for a moment, pull out the camera and remember that sometimes the best decision is to stop looking at the clock. Our teammate Javi embraced that philosophy wholeheartedly, extending his ride with a detour to the Malniu Refuge before rejoining the official route. It perfectly captured the spirit of Grava Lybica, where the experience matters far more than the result.

To round off the day, a narrow singletrack in the closing kilometres added a final touch of technical riding, much to the delight of those with a soft spot for mountain biking.

A new date worth marking on the calendar

It’s hard to imagine a stronger debut. The organization was flawless, carrying the confidence of an event that felt as though it had been running for years despite this being its first edition. Carefully designed routes, seamless logistics and impressive attention to detail elevated the experience well beyond that of a typical cycling event.

If the goal was to prove that La Cerdanya can also be discovered from the saddle of a gravel bike, this first edition passed with flying colours. Two days were enough to reveal an extensive network of gravel roads waiting beyond the tarmac. Grava Lybica feels like it’s here to stay, and to earn a permanent place on the calendar of many gravel riders. So perhaps, next time we head for La Cerdanya, we’ll have to think twice before deciding which bike to load into the car.