It’s been two years since Val d’Aran was one of the destinations for TransNomad. How has the MTB sector evolved in the area during this time?
Over the last two years, we’ve consolidated the product and the brand Òcbike Val d’Aran. The boost from the Tourism Sustainability Plan has been a major leap forward, allowing us to organize the entire cycling offer to accommodate various disciplines, including cycling tourism, gravel, trail, and especially enduro.
We’ve significantly strengthened the family tourism segment by re-marking accessible routes and adapting many restaurants and hospitality establishments to ensure the best experience.
The new offering for e-bikes at all levels has also played a major role, as they are now the dominant mode of transport for our visitors.
In our last conversation, you talked about the potential of Val d’Aran as an MTB destination. What progress has been made in connecting the region’s trails, and how has the area integrated better with others, like Puro Pirineo?
Val d’Aran is a land surrounded by mountains, and the connections to neighboring areas aren’t easy. The natural exit from Aran is through Pònt de Rei towards France, following the Garona River valley. In this sense, we are finalizing the TransGarona route, primarily aimed at cycling tourism, which connects the valley with the Haute Garonne department and opens up numerous activity and route possibilities.
On the other hand, the territory offers a lot, but within sustainable growth. We have new proposals on the table, but we must analyze and develop them, not only considering their feasibility but also their future maintenance. There’s no point in opening new routes, with the environmental impact that this entails, if we end up abandoning others due to lack of maintenance.
The coexistence of cyclists and hikers is always an important topic in destinations like this. How is it being managed in Val d’Aran? Are there any initiatives underway to promote mutual respect between both communities?
Two years ago, we launched the Shared Paths campaign to raise awareness among all users (hikers, bikers, runners, etc.) that the paths belong to everyone and we need to respect one another. This summer, we concluded the campaign by marking the Shared Paths on the ground, where we provide information about the rights and duties of each of us when moving through nature. Various surveys we’ve conducted show a positive evolution in users’ understanding of the value and purpose of the trail network, leading to greater respect between users and avoiding conflicts.
What new projects does the Conselh of Val d’Aran have in mind to continue developing MTB in the area while ensuring a balance with other mountain activities that are not sports-related?
Currently, the goal of the Conselh and all the actors in Aran is to consolidate the product and improve the quality of both infrastructure and trail offerings. In this sense, we are focused on maintaining the trails with specific funding allocated to specialized companies in the sector.
We still have a lot of work ahead, such as consolidating major Enduro and other types of events in the sports calendar. This aspect needs to be worked on both from within the territory itself and in collaboration with initiatives like TransNomad and other private ventures, or alongside neighboring territories.
Finally, what advice would you give to cyclists venturing into Val d’Aran for the first time, especially those participating in TransNomad 2025?
I’m not one for giving advice, but I’d tell them that the experience they’ll have in Aran is just a small preview of what they can discover. For example, the AlpinBike proposals are spectacular and allow you to explore the valley from above, giving a fantastic sense of adventure. Another approach is to explore the less commercial trails in the middle and lower parts of Aran, through lush Atlantic forests, combined with the region’s incredible gastronomy.
The whole experience makes a few days in Val d’Aran an authentic mountain biking adventure that we’re sure they’ll want to repeat.
