A new cycling temple opens in the most romantic corner of Girona.

GironaIn the middle of Girona's egg yolk, facing the Café Le Bistrot esplanade and the Sant Martí steps, in one of the most romantic and idyllic corners of the city, a spectacular new bicycle shop has just opened. It occupies the two floors of the former Odeon Hall and Theatre, a legendary establishment of leisure and culture in Girona since the 19th century, closed more than ten years ago, which was in a state of disrepair and has now been completely restored after 4 years of work. The new premises, conceived as a kind of boutique of select articles with a multidisciplinary space of sofas and a cafeteria, aims to become a new international attraction for cycling enthusiasts, in a city that has long It has established itself as the world epicenter of cyclingThe owner and developer of the renovation—which cost around €2 million in private capital—is Girona businessman Miquel Casals, and the new tenant is the Velodrom Group, one of the city's leading cycling brands.

The inauguration of this new cycling temple, unique in the world, coincided with the celebration of The Traka, the great world gravel event, which has brought together more than 4,000 athletes from all over the world, many of whom stopped by the Odeon. Movistar, led by Alejandro Valverde, one of the most distinguished Spanish champions of all time. Everyone was surprised by the charm of the building, renovated by architect Bruna Vila, who has maintained the original style: part of the ceiling frescoes and the entire oval structure of the wrought iron and horns have been preserved, along with sofas and movable furniture that allow the space to be easily rearranged.

"It looks like an exhibition hall"

"I think it's an elite store, not overly overpowered; it's like a jewelry store, right in the middle of Girona's egg yolk. I'm sure it will attract a lot of people to this world cycling Mecca that is Girona," says Marc Figueres, a Catalan cyclist from Sitges who has a YouTube channel and works for a North American company. tours. Ruedi Laager, an American cycle tourer who runs a bike shop on the outskirts of New York, is also amazed when he walks through the door: "It's impressive, it looks like a showroom. I've never seen a shop like that before. It's a great opportunity to hold events, not just to sell products," he says. And Anuchi, a young woman from Mallorca who has come specifically to participate in The Traka race, highlights the potential of Girona, which since the arrival of Lance Armstrong more than twenty years ago, has sparked the interest of enthusiasts from all over: "It's an ideal city, there are many routes. In Mallorca, there's also a lot of cycle tourism, but it's different; it's more road-based. Here, it's all kinds. For grabbing a bike, for example, it's a true paradise."

Miquel Trafach, representative and collaborator of Velodrom in Girona, details the main lines of the project: "The common thread is cycling, but we are open to anyone who wants to visit us, have a good coffee or enjoy this space that is so emblematic for many Girona residents." The intention is, beyond selling (as they already do in the Argenteria store), to organize podcasts, book presentations, concerts or video clip recordings, always with the bicycle as the common denominator. And, regarding the exhibition of the material, which looks like something out of a luxury store, he adds: "As we have everything very well set up, with an aesthetic of boutiqueIt may seem like everything costs a fortune, but that's not the case. Everyone can find affordable products, like high-quality jerseys for 50 or 60 euros.

Criticism from some neighbors: "It could have been a library."

However, the project has generated suspicion among the neighbors and popular organizations of the neighborhood, who have long denounced that the rise of cycle tourism in the old town It harms local businesses, creates problems with coexistence, and puts pressure on the housing market. For critics, the case of the conversion of the Odeon into a bicycle shop is especially symptomatic, as it is a building with a lot of history, which was first a theater, then a dance hall, and in recent years a carpentry and chrome workshop: "It is very significant, because it is a legendary place, because it is a legendary place, because it is a legendary place, because it is a legendary place we have–, and it has become a new bicycle shop, as if that were not enough," denounces Jordi Mateu, member of the Platform for the Decrease in Tourism, formed a year ago by to rightly denounce the harm caused by the massive arrival of cycle tourists to Girona. And he adds: "It's the confirmation of a tourist monoculture that is eating away at neighborhoods and community life. These types of stores don't add any value to the neighborhood. The administration should implement a moratorium on these types of establishments, as Barcelona has already done with 24-hour supermarkets."

Trafach, however, responds by defending the value of his project: "I don't want to convince anyone. Free thought is part of personal freedom, so I understand that there are those who don't share the bicycle tourism model, but it's also legitimate for me to agree. and generating new jobs are within everyone's reach. All you need is to be enterprising, brave, and carry out a project you believe in," the businessman concludes.