Mussara Salou Costa Daurada: from the coast into the Priorat
- Distance
- 171 km
- Climbing
- 3,510 m
- Highest point
- 780 m
- Categorised climbs
- 13 · up to 14 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
3–780 m · 13 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 13 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
Mussara Salou Costa Daurada is a sportive from Salou, on the Costa Daurada of Catalonia, that rides inland into the hills of the Priorat wine country and back. For 16 May 2027 the organiser lists two routes: a long one of 171 km with 2,500 m of climbing and a short one of 106 km with 1,350 m. The organiser describes it as the cycling event with the most women in Europe.
Mussara Salou at a glance
- Where
- Salou, Costa Daurada, Catalonia, Spain
- Official website
- mussaracycling.com ↗
- Next edition
- 16 May 2027
- Routes
- Long: 171 km, 2,500 m climbing · Short: 106 km, 1,350 m climbing
- Terrain
- Rolling to flat
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Mussara Salou, 171 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
Both routes start and finish in Salou. In 2026, the twelfth edition, the long route climbed the Coll de la Teixeta twice and rode up to Torroja, Margalef and Porrera; the short route took the Coll de la Teixeta, Porrera and Torre de Fontaubella. The organiser has not yet said whether the 2027 routes keep the same climbs.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Long | 171 km | 2,500 m |
| Short | 106 km | 1,350 m |
What the course asks of you
On paper, 2,500 m over 171 km is moderate climbing for its distance. What makes it a real test is the combination: a long day, the climbing concentrated inland after a start at sea level, and the heat a mid-May day on the Mediterranean coast can bring. The short route, at 106 km with 1,350 m, is a realistic first sportive for a rider who already rides two to three hours comfortably.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- For the long route, build up to rides of five to six hours in the last two months; for the short route, to four hours.
- Train steady climbing. Efforts of 10 to 20 minutes just below your threshold teach you the pace you can hold on the inland climbs and still ride home well.
- Ride in the heat if you can, or with less cooling indoors, in the final weeks, and practise drinking on a schedule.
- Ride part of your training in a group, so the fast first kilometres of a big start do not surprise you.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
Most riders who struggle at a coastal sportive like this one make the same two mistakes:
- Following the fastest wheels out of Salou. A big field makes the first flat kilometres feel free; they are not, and the climbing starts after them.
- Drinking only when thirsty on a warm day. By the time you notice, the last climbs are already harder than they should be.
Prepare Mussara Salou with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing Mussara Salou, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation towards 16 May 2027: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is Mussara Salou Costa Daurada 2027?
On 16 May 2027, starting and finishing in Salou, according to the organiser.
How long are the Mussara Salou routes?
For 2027 the organiser lists a long route of 171 km with 2,500 m of climbing and a short route of 106 km with 1,350 m.
Is Mussara Salou a good first sportive?
The short route, 106 km with 1,350 m of climbing, is a realistic first goal if you already ride two to three hours comfortably. Give yourself two to three months of steady preparation.
How many riders take part?
Diari Catalunya reported about 3,000 cyclists at the 2026 edition, a record for the event. The organiser describes it as the cycling event with the most women in Europe.
Can I ride the Mussara Salou course in Cycloscape?
Not yet. We have rebuilt the long route from its 2026 climbs on OpenStreetMap, and it is being reviewed before anyone can ride it. When it is approved, it can be trained inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro.