Cycling, Wine and Cultural Tours in the Dordogne, Pyrenees and Southwest of France.
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Chateau de Pitray
Think about the perfect cycling trip. If it includes beautiful scenery, smooth, little trafficked roads, great food, cool towns, and nothing to worry about (except getting up some serious vertical); well then this is it. All you have to do when you wake up is ride your bike and eat. It doesn’t get any better then that. Allan makes it all happen. Awesome support, knowledge of the country and language, and a love for life. This trip will provide memories forever. My only recommendation is to train before you go; this trip is not for the casual rider. This trip will definitely challenge you, but isn’t that what you would expect of the Pyrenees !
Charles Varela, Mountain View, Arkansas. Attended the trip twice, 2007 and 2009.
- Cols of the Pyrenees Ride:
- Puerto Otxondo - 602 m
- Puerto de Artesiaga - 996 m
- Collado de Urkiaga - 890 m
- Col d’Iraty - 1135 m
- Col Bagargui - 1327 m
- Col de Suscousse - 1216 m
- Col de Soudet - 1540 m
- Col de Marie Blanque - 1035 m
- Col d’Aubisque - 1709 m
- Col de Soulor - 1474 m
- Col du Tourmalet - 2115 m
- Col d’Aspin - 1489 m
- Col d’Azet - 1737 m
- Col de Peyresourde - 1569 m
- Col du Portillon - 1320 m
- Col de Mente - 1349 m
- Col Portet d’Aspet -1069 m
- Col de Catchaudegue - 893 m
- Col Latrape - 1520 m
- Col d’Agnes - 1570 m
- Port de Liers - 1517 m
- Pas de Souloumbrie - 911 m
- Col de Mamare - 1361 m
- Col de Chioula - 1431 m
- Port de Pailheres - 2001 m
- Col de Palomere - 1036 m
- Blog Archive:
- Review Stage 2 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 3 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 4 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 5 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 7 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 8 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 9 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 10 Pyrenees
- Review Stage 11 Pyrenees
- Pelvic Posture for Power
- Seat Modification
- Bike Posture
- 2014 Pyrenees Article
- Tours at Chateau Pitray
- Life at Chateau Pitray
The valley that separates the Col de Marie Blanc from the Col d'Aubisque - seen off in the distance.
Why ride across the Pyrenees ? 3 words: ADVENTURE. ACCOMPLISHMENT. AWE !
A thousand miles. A hundred thousand feet of climbing. Twelve days of riding, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean (and back). Few cyclists can lay claim to having met such a challenge. We can’t wait to do it again.
A Pyrenees traffic jam.
The numbers alone are impressive. But the real allure of the Pyrenees is less quantifiable: the enchanting countryside, the dizzying peaks, and – more than anything – the powerful history. When the Tour de France first included these mountains, the organizers were called “assassins.” Back then, the routes were unpaved. Now, for the sake of cyclists, road signs reveal average grades and distances to the tops of climbs. On your third or fourth major ascent of the day, 10 percent and 7 kilometers might give you pause, but it will also give you pride – as well as newfound admiration for the legendary racers who’ve left their legacies on these roads. (Warning: After you’ve ridden the Col du Tourmalet, you’ll experience outright disbelief at the speeds of the pros.)
Somewhere in the Basque Pyrenees
Did we mention the scenery? If you’ve seen the Pyrenees in the Tour, mere TV pictures don’t do them justice. From valley to valley, from pass to pass, the lush green Basque country in the west, the dry brown “Pyrenees Oriental” in the east – a rough but beautifully balanced blend of arid Spain and humid France – this range is a multifaceted gem. The slopes of the high mountains – most of them protected as national parks – are dotted with sheep, horses, and cows (you might have to dodge a few now and then), while the immaculately paved roads snake through the peaks, past ancient villages and picturesque farms, providing a ceaseless succession of grueling climbs and exhilarating descents. Suffice to say that few places on earth are as charming, challenging, or downright dreamlike for riding a bike.
A trip through the Pyrenees is a fairy tale for anybody. For fit, devoted cyclists, it’s the journey of a lifetime. ( link to all the Pyrenees trip information )
Alberto nears the summit of the Col du Tourmalet
