Pyrenees-Classic Climbs
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Dates: 4 - 18 July 2010 Gateway Airports: arrival-Toulouse, France
depart-Pau, France Rating: Moderate - strenuous
(depends upon daily options) Price: 2650 Euro (double occupancy per person) Single supplement 500 Euro (limited) Tour de France Stage 14 add-on 150 Euro - depart 19 July from Toulouse |
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Itinerary Summary
Day 1- Toulouse arrivals(Castelnaudary) Day 2 – Bugarach
96km Day 3 – Bugarach loops 50-120km Day 4 – Foix Day 5 – Foix loops Day 6 – St Girons Day 9 – Sauveterre loops Day 10 – St Lary Day 12 – Argeles-Gazost Day 13 – Argeles-Gazost Day 15 -Pau departures |
The Pyrenees Mountains form the natural boundary between France and Spain. Our tour begins in the region of the Aude river and the numerous castles of the Cathars; once the scene of the Holy Wars it is now a land of tourism and great riding. The temperate climate and abundant sunshine certainly contributed to the inhabitation of this region by some of the earliest civilizations. In fact some of the oldest evidences of these civilizations are found in the numerous cave dwellings and drawings located here. Today the Pyrenees in the world of cycling are synonymous with the Tour de France and the myriad mountain passes that often define the champions of the Grand Boucle.
Unrefined, unchanged and unpopulated; the high passes and deep valleys of the Pyrenees are the domain of Basque herders in the West and descendents of the ancient cultures in the East. This is a melding of cultures and styles that leaves us with complex cheese flavors and deliciously simple meals of lamb, duck, fish and fresh vegetables. The wines are always uniquely suited for enhancing our taste treats. And of course, pastries are plentiful as our mid-ride “energy-bar” replacements. Traversing the low passes from the East near Carcassonne toward the giants of the Pyrenees allows our jet-lagged legs time to adjust to the pace and tempo of life here before tackling the mighty giants to the West. The roads are quiet and the villages are scarce as we discover this land of stones, cliffs and canyons where castles from the middle-ages still stand guard and watch over all who travel these ancient routes. The Davinci Code was inspired by many events and historical interpretations of this area, but it is the remoteness of the land that marks the routes we choose for you to explore. The region is rich with great roads and routes, so we designed this tour with multi-night stays for nearly every stop along the way. You will begin to appreciate the vast array of riding options as we make our way from deep gorges to high mountains that separate France and Spain. Our itinerary includes most of the legendary climbs that are challenged each July by Professional Cyclists from around the world. You will appreciate the Tourmalet, Aspin, Aspet, Peyresourde, Aubisque, Soulor, Mente, Hautacam, Luz Ardiden from a wholly new perspective after climbing each of these passes during our tour. We will dine in family run B&Bs and historic hotels that beckon us to linger another day longer, but there are more roads and passes to explore than we have days in our itinerary. We know that you will find the warm hospitality to make you feel like part of the family and welcome to return another day. And, you may wish that you had explored these roads earlier in your cycling life. |
Cathar castles and towns Basque cheeses High passes and deep valleys Quiet roads Davinici Code inspiration The Climbs Col du Aubisque Col du Soulor Col du Tourmalet Col d'Aspin Col du Peyresourde Col du Port Port du Baile Hourquette Col de Mente Hautacam Luz Ardiden |
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| Accommodations: 2 or 3 star French Inns, B&Bs and family operated hotels; always clean, always well situated for post-ride relaxation |
Includes: 15 nights, 15 breakfasts, 12 dinners, ride snacks & drinks, luggage transfers, route descriptions & maps, riding guides, van support |
Excluded: 2 dinners, lunches, airfare, insurances, tips & gratuities |