Think of an overseas training destination and the usual places most likely spring to mind – Lanzarote, Mallorca, or maybe Girona for a spot triathlon-star-spotting (husband and wife legends of the sport Jan Frodeno and Emma Snowsill are based here, as is Olympic champ Cassandre Beaugrand and T100 champion Martin Van Riel, to name just four).
But travel a couple of hours south of Girona, along the northeast coastline of Spain, and you’ll discover the sublimely-situated Salou.
Many might already be familiar with the popular resort town on the Costa Daurada, some may even have raced its annual middle-distance triathlon – Challenge Salou (which this year takes place on 11 May). But if you’ve not yet had the pleasure, here are just a few reasons why you might want to add it to your triathlon-training-destination list.
Wild swimming
For swim training, look no further than nature’s best swimming pool – The Mediterranean. Take your pick from nine serviced beaches, boasting golden sand and crystal clear and shallow water.
Llevant and Ponent are the two busiest stretches, but there are also smaller and quieter coves, such as Vinya and Crancs, from which to get your laps in. Crancs is also ideal for a spot of snorkelling.
A cyclist’s paradise
Salou and its surroundings is already relatively well known within cycling circles, although it still flies relatively under the radar compared to the more popular areas such as the aforementioned Girona or Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
But the region is a cyclist’s haven, with several varied routes available to explore starting from the coastline town.
For example, the 88km Salou-Pratdip-Llaberia, which includes the spectacular mountain range of Llaberia and its breathtaking panoramic views.
route recommendation: Salou-Pratdip-Llaberia
Total distance: 88km
Total ascent: 1,113m
Mountain passes: Llaberia: 22km, max gradient 8%
Estimated ride time: 3.5hrs
Difficulty rating: 3/5
Suitable for: Intermediate to advanced riders with good fitness levels
For a slightly flatter ride, try the Salou-Ebro Delta route. This coastal ride features a very quiet route with a mostly flat profile until the 20km mark, where there’s a climb of up to 170m. The Ebro Delta contains several coastal fishing villages, and is an important aquatic habitat in the western Mediterranean.
There are also several hotels in Salou that specialise in cycling tourism, such as Hotel Calypso and Num Hotel.
Run with a view
The Coastal Path is the perfect location for an early-morning run or evening canter and provides uninterrupted views of the epic sunrises and sunsets over Salou. The path is a 9.49km trail that runs along the coast from Punta de Sant Pere to Racó de Salou, located in Cap Salou, next to the town of La Pineda.
It’s almost entirely flat, only reaching a maximum height of 77m above sea level, and includes a few sets of stairs and the odd diversion over rocks in parts.
Café culture
Of course you can’t be a haven for cyclists and not provide a decent coffee stop, and there are several top cafes in Salou itself, including Chapeau and Farggi. And if you fancy a bit of road trip, you could head out towards Denia on the Costa Blanca. Park up the hire car and ride a loop with a stop at Café Ciclista – a coffee shop that’s also a cyclists’ hub and meet-up spot, and provides massage and bike hire. You might even run into Chris Froome, who was spotted there in February of this year!
Family-friendly vacation
Salou is less than 90mins by car from Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, making it ideal for a city-break tie-in after, or even before, a week of training.
If you want to bring the family along then Salou has plenty on offer to keep all ages entertained.
In 2023, Salou was certified as the first ‘Family Tourism’ destination in Catalonia thanks to its many facilities and services that cater to the needs of families with children.
From aquatics parks to go karting, watersports to mermaid academy (no, really), there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained while you tick off your training.
Salou has also been named Capital of Catalan Culture for 2025.
Stay to race Challenge Salou
You could always time your training week in the lead-up to Challenge Salou. Taking place on 11 May this year, the event is a fantastic season starter and the ideal fitness test at the end of a training camp.
Plus, the training week is a great way to recce the course and get to know the area before race day! The race was voted Best Bike Course by athletes in the Challenge Family Race Awards 2024, so it’s certainly well worth adding to your ‘to race’ list.
