Is Girona's cycling boom starting to peak?

GironaThe Girona City Council wants to limit the granting of licenses for new businesses related to cycling. Cycle tourism is thriving. an extraordinary boom in the city, especially in the Barri Vell, where in recent years, every time an iconic business closes, a new one opens a new store linked to high-end cyclingDesigned to attract primarily foreign customers.

The proposal to regulate these establishments was made public 15 days ago by Guanyem Girona, which leads the municipal tripartite coalition, but it immediately aroused suspicion among the Junts partners, who positioned themselves against it and staged a new episode of disagreement regarding the management of bicycle tourism within the executive branch. As the days passed, however, the controversy subsided and both parties sought to avoid mutual recriminations, confident that they will soon be able to announce an agreement that will allow them to regulate (without completely prohibiting) the proliferation of shops selling state-of-the-art bicycles and brand-name jerseys in the city center.

But does the city council's consideration of putting a stop to these shops mean Girona is reaching the limit of mass cycle tourism? Is it a sign that the soufflé...Is the global cycling tourism to Girona beginning to peak, or is the city capable of absorbing even more tourists who love pedals and two wheels?

From within the sector, which isn't united under any joint association since all the companies are direct competitors, opinions are diverse and based on all sorts of arguments: from those who believe the peak is near to brands that still see opportunities for greater economic gain. All this aside from the residents, who, although they haven't organized any demonstrations or vandalized shop windows for months, They have been raising their voices about the problem of the lack of affordable housing and about the touristification of the Barri Vell (Old Quarter)..

The goose that lays the golden eggs and the problem of the roads

Castelli Cycling, one of the leading companies, has seen years of record revenue and closed 2025 with 7% growth, so it is confident it can still expand its business, looking to Mallorca, which attracts more tourists than Girona. "The City Council still hasn't realized it has a golden goose. People come to spend a whole month and leave thousands and thousands of euros behind. What's needed is to bring order to the city and not limit licenses, because otherwise this will end up like Can Pixa and it will backfire," says CEO Óscar Ceballos, referring to the viral phrase of these weeksAnd he continues: "Girona is the world capital of cycling; there are brands that want to be there even if they lose money on sales in their physical stores, because it's the best way to raise brand awareness."

However, he admits that the arrival of so many cyclists to the area, many of whom practice road cycling, could end up causing mobility difficulties: "Perhaps the problem lies with the roads. We've seen it in Calpe, where all the professional teams train between November and January, and the coexistence with cars is a challenge." In fact, in Girona, the Regional Traffic Department has already identified several points where the massive presence of bicycles causes traffic risks or congestion, such as the climb to... Sanctuary of the Angels, the roads around the Rocacurva in the Llémena valley or the curves of Tossa de Mar.

Limits on toursfrom foreign companies

Other business leaders believe the focus should not be on limiting the opening of new stores, but on regulating existing businesses. tours Cyclists operate in the city without a physical headquarters. Many of these companies, they claim, represent unfair competition because they earn a lot of money, are not based in the country, and pay taxes abroad. "It's a jungle. Local companies have to comply with the regulations for guides and the requirements for sports tourism companies, but many from outside don't comply at all," explains Jaume Cabruja, from Bikecat, a company that organizes tours for groups of foreigners. He concludes: "I can't organize a trip to the United States and go there as a guide because I don't have a work permit there. Meanwhile, here, groups of Americans can go with a guide from their country and nothing happens."

Frenetic days and uneven seasons

Among those who came from elsewhere but have settled and are listed on the stock exchange in Girona is Louise Laker, founder of Eat Sleep Cycle, the café-shop that occupies the entire square by the Jacint Verdaguer fountain. The company acknowledges that, during months of major sporting events, like the career of gravel TrakaThey can't keep up with demand, and Girona is packed: "It's true that everything is saturated these days, but, on the other hand, in autumn and winter, there's still room to grow. As a business, we don't like having thousands of cyclists in May and none in January; our goal is to grow by extending the season, that's how it is." Aware that the Girona market doesn't offer much more, Eat Sleep Cycle has also begun exploring new market avenues in Malaga, Italy, Nice, and the Basque Country.

Diversifying businesses and geography

From a more analytical perspective, Jaume Marín, a Girona-based tourism consultant who works with individuals and public administrations seeking success in the cycle tourism business, believes the city's potential "must be nearing its limit." However, he clarifies that "there is room for specialization, with health, restaurant, and café businesses linked to the sector but not exclusively for cyclists." Marín also points to the option of further expanding markets beyond Girona's geographical boundaries, towards the Empordà and Pla de l'Estany regions, and emphasizes that it's far better to have the city center filled with bicycle shops than nail salons, 24-hour supermarkets, and souvenir shops. He concludes: "Gastronomic, cultural, and business tourism have grown at the same rate as cycling tourism, but they aren't as visible. In contrast, ten people on bicycles attract much more attention, and people are more likely to notice, but we must keep in mind that domestic tourism is declining, so the only way to maintain this economic activity is to attract international tourism like this."

There is a lack of accessible repair shops

Finally, Muévete en Bici, an organization that promotes sustainable mobility in the city, while not taking a stance on the controversial licensing policy, does point out that the proliferation of businesses geared towards high-end and competitive cycling has left smaller businesses behind. They warn that there are no accessible repair shops for everyday cyclists who don't own €5,000 bikes or train for competition. Of the traditional bike repair shops, only Can Fortià, near Gran Via, remains, as Bicioci in Salt closed its doors a few months ago. "We would like to see more affordable repair shops open. We've already had some meetings with the City Council, even about offering a mechanics course, but nothing has materialized yet," explains the organization's president, Xavier Corominas.