The Raid Pyrenees. Cycling 710 km from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean

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Abigayle Hawkins
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1 The Raid Pyrenees Cycling 710 km from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean

2 The Raid Pyrenees The Raid Pyrenees is a long-distance road cycling challenge, starting on the Atlantic coast and finishing on the Mediterranean, running through the Pyrenees in a south-easterly direction roughly parallel to the French-Spanish border. One version of the challenge is to ride it in less than 100 hours (4 days 4 hours). Many people prefer to take 5 or 6 days and perhaps enjoy the experience a little more. However you want to do it, Alpine Cols can support you! ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.2

3 Port de Pailhères, Haute Route Pyrenees 2014

4 PROGRAMME (5 DAYS) DAY ACTIVITIES 0 Pick-up at Biarritz airport, transfer to St Jean de Luz KM M+ REMARKS St Jean de Luz is just 20 mins from Biarritz airport, leaving plenty of time to set up the bikes and do a check-out ride. 1 St Jean de Luz to Lurbe St Christau ,830 Col d Osquich 2 Lurbe St Christau to Bagnères de Bigorre ,640 3 Bagnères de Bigorre to St Girons ,840 4 St Girons to Ax les Thermes 115 2,490 5 Ax les Thermes to Saint Cyprien 150 2,800 6 Departure, transfer to Toulouse airport. Col d Aubisque Col du Soulor Col de Tourmalet Col d Aspin Col de Peyresourde Portet d Aspet Col de Port Col du Chioula. Option: climb to Ax 3 Domaines. Port de Pailhères Col du Jau Total distance: 710 km Total climbing: 13,600 m+ N.B. With the exception of the airport, there are NO transfers planned during your stay. See next pages for details of each stage. ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.4

There s only one significant climb, to the col d Osquich (500m).

6 Day 1 (148km, 1,830m) St Jean de Luz to Lurbe St Christau The first day is a nice warm-up before the epic challenge to come over the following days. You will ride 148 km and climb 1,828m on your way from the charming Basque fishing port of St Jean de Luz to Lurbe St Christau, deep into the Pyrenees. There s only one significant climb, to the col d Osquich (500m). Later in the week, this will seem like a small bump in the road Nevertheless, there is a total of nearly 2,000m to climb during the day, over a constant series of short climbs and descents. Col d Osquich (500m) It will be essential to ride today at a steady pace and save your legs for the tough climbs to come. Lurbe St Christau is a tiny little village in the rural Aspe valley. N.B. all the itineraries are subject to change based on weather and road conditions. The routes can be adapted at your request to be longer, shorter or to include specific climbs. ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.6

7 Col de Marie Blanque

8 Day 2 (130km, 3,640m) Lurbe St Christau to Ste Marie de Campan The second day is a tough one. 130km and 3,640m of climbing are on the menu for the day, including two monsters of the Pyrenees: the col d Aubisque (1,709m) and the col de Tourmalet (2,115m). Between the two you will ride round the incredible Cirque du Litor* and over the col du Soulor (1,474m), which is a short and easy climb from this direction, before a long descent to Argelès-Gazost and the false flat climb up the valley to Luz Saint-Sauveur and the foot of the monster Tourmalet. Col d Aubisque (1,709m) Col de Tourmalet (2,115m) Once over the Tourmalet we will descend to spend the night in Bagnères de Bigorre, a short ride on from Sainte Marie de Campan where the famous incident took place in which Eugène Christophe had to weld his broken forks himself in the blacksmith s (Tour de France 1913). *Litor is the Gascon word for avalanche. You will see why! N.B. all the itineraries are subject to change based on weather and road conditions. The routes can be adapted at your request to be longer, shorter or to include specific climbs. ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.8

9 Cirque du Litor, from the col d Aubisque

Day 3 (152km, 2,840m) Bagnères de Bigorre to Saint Girons Another tough day in the saddle will take us from Sainte Marie de Campan to Massat, after 166km and 2,800m of climbing.

A welcome 20km of easy descent after the Peyresourde brings us to the col d Ares (797m) and finally the Portet d Aspet (1,069m).

10 Day 3 (152km, 2,840m) Bagnères de Bigorre to Saint Girons Another tough day in the saddle will take us from Sainte Marie de Campan to Massat, after 166km and 2,800m of climbing. The hard work starts immediately with the col d Aspin (1,489m), followed quickly by the col de Peyresourde (1,569m). A welcome 20km of easy descent after the Peyresourde brings us to the col d Ares (797m) and finally the Portet d Aspet (1,069m). Col d Aspin (1,489m) Col de Peyresourde (1,569m) Portet d Aspet (1,069m) Col d Ares (797m) That s the end of the serious climbing for the day, but there are still 30km to ride from the top of the Portet d Aspet to the hotel in Saint Girons. Time for a chaingang! N.B. all the itineraries are subject to change based on weather and road conditions. The routes can be adapted at your request to be longer, shorter or to include specific climbs. ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.10

11 Col d Aubisque

Day 4 (115km, 2,490m) Saint Girons to Ax les Thermes The fourth day will bring a welcome respite between two tougher ones. Today we will ride only 82.5km, and climb 2,100m.

From Tarascon we avoid the busy road by climbing up the flank of the valley and enjoying fabulous views across the Ariège valley on our way to the col du Chioula, high above a vertiginous descent to

12 Day 4 (115km, 2,490m) Saint Girons to Ax les Thermes The fourth day will bring a welcome respite between two tougher ones. Today we will ride only 82.5km, and climb 2,100m. After leaving Saint Girons we have 30km of false flat before the col de Port, followed by a long descent to Tarascon. From Tarascon we avoid the busy road by climbing up the flank of the valley and enjoying fabulous views across the Ariège valley on our way to the col du Chioula, high above a vertiginous descent to Ax-les- Thermes. Col de Port (1,249m) Col du Chioula (1,431m) If anyone still has the legs, we will be delighted to accompany you up the climb to the summit finish at Ax 3 Domaines. Christopher Froome won the 8 th stage here in 2013, while wearing the yellow jersey. It s a short climb, only 7.8km, but the average slope is almost 9%! N.B. all the itineraries are subject to change based on weather and road conditions. The routes can be adapted at your request to be longer, shorter or to include specific climbs. ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.12

13 Port de Pailhères

There are still two more climbs to make: the col du Garavel (1,267m) and the col du Jau (1,513m) before beginning the long descent and run-out to the sea.

14 Day 5 (150km, 2,800m) Ax les Thermes to Saint Cyprien A few more hills to cross and then we head for the seaside. Luckily it is a beautiful ride up the gorges de l Ariège to the Port de Pailhères (2,001m), because this is a long, tough climb. There are still two more climbs to make: the col du Garavel (1,267m) and the col du Jau (1,513m) before beginning the long descent and run-out to the sea. For the final run-out there are lots of options to enjoy the quiet roads in the foothills to the south, or if you prefer to hurry to the seaside for a well-earned beer we can ride down the main road! Port de Pailhères (2,001m) Col du Garavel (1,267m) Col du Jau (1,513m) Your final night will be in the seaside town of Saint Cyprien: the perfect place to relax and celebrate your achievement. N.B. all the itineraries are subject to change based on weather and road conditions. The routes can be adapted at your request to be longer, shorter or to include specific climbs. ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.14

Col de la Colombière The Alpine Cols experience Airport transfers The best available hotels All meals Help with bike set-up On-the-road support & resupply Coaching Photographs Few people have the

16 Col de la Colombière The Alpine Cols experience Airport transfers The best available hotels All meals Help with bike set-up On-the-road support & resupply Coaching Photographs Few people have the chance to ride regularly in the mountains, so we always offer coaching to help you make the most of the experience. SKILLS TO DEVELOP Climbing and descending Bike handling Pacing Drafting Recovery and nutrition Selecting equipment ALPINE COLS PYRENEES P.16

WHY ALPINE COLS? Improve your cycling Our coaches are experts at cycling in the mountains and will help you reach a new level. Local knowledge We live and work all year round in the mountains.

18 WHY ALPINE COLS? Improve your cycling Our coaches are experts at cycling in the mountains and will help you reach a new level. Local knowledge We live and work all year round in the mountains. You will be riding in our back garden, as it were! Peace of mind As a French registered company, we are fully compliant to all local legislation. This is your guarantee. A great holiday Last but not least, the idea is to have fun. We hope you will come as clients but leave as friends! Olivier with Fernando Col de la Colombière, June 2015

Alpine Cols SAS 631 chemin du Recredoz 01220 Divonne-les-Bains, France Tel (FR):

19 Alpine Cols SAS 631 chemin du Recredoz Divonne-les-Bains, France Tel (FR): +33 (0) Tel: (UK): +44 (0) Col de Tourmalet

SIERRA SPORTS & TOURS. PYRENEES - Coast 2 Coast. Col du Tourmalet. Barcelona to San Sebastian (Aug/Sept 2019)

SIERRA SPORTS & TOURS. PYRENEES - Coast 2 Coast. Col du Tourmalet. Barcelona to San Sebastian (Aug/Sept 2019) PYRENEES - Coast 2 Coast Barcelona to San Sebastian (Aug/Sept 2019) Col du Tourmalet SIERRA www.sierrasportsandtours.com AUS: +61 3 9016 9830 ESP: +34 679 236 928 PYRENEES. Pyrenees Barcelona to San Sebastian!