New date 12th September to 18th September 2010 -Places available
Other dates available on request, minimum of 6 riders.
5 September 2010 – 11 September 2010 FULLY BOOKED
Raid Pyrenees: Atlantic to Mediterranean.
710km across 18 cols through the French Pyrenees with 11000 meters of accent and a time limit of 100 hours( Start at 9:00 Monday and must finish by 13:00 Friday). The ultimate cycle challenge.
6 nights bed breakfast and evening meal.
Full route guiding and broom wagon support.
Luggage transfer.
Flights not included.
€800
11 July 2010 – 16 July 2010 FULLY BOOKED
Raid Pyrenees: Mediterranean – Atlantic.
710km across 18 cols through the French Pyrenees with 11000 meters of accent and a time limit of 100 hours( Start at 9:00 Monday and must finish by 13:00 Friday). The ultimate cycle challenge.
5 nights bed breakfast and evening meal.
Full route guiding and broom wagon support.
Luggage transfer.
Flights not included.
Price €800.
The complete route in bike route toaster.
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87916
710km across 18 cols through the French Pyrenees with 11000 meters of accent and a time limit of 100 hours( Start at 9:00 Monday and must finish by 13:00 Friday). The ultimate cycle challenge.
Started in 1952 by Cyclo Club Béarnais from Pau, the Raid Pyrenees can be ridden any time from June to the end of September.
It is a difficult task over 4.5 days across the famous high passes of the Tour de France.
The map below shows the Cols on the route, you can click on each blue marker to see the details of the cols. Some of then are insignificant so I have given mane and altitude only. The climbs are all on the west-east route. I will add the East-west figures in January 2010.
Or if you prefer, here is the map in 3D in Google Earth.
Download the KML file of the entire Raid Pyrenees Route for Google Earth.
The Raid Profile.
Directions on the route card.
The route must be stamped in the towns listed above. Any business with a rubber stamp will stamp your card.
The medal awarded by Cyclo Club Béarnais for a successful completion.
The Cols:
Our page about
Col du Tourmalet.
Dates 2010:
5 September 2010 – 11 September
Atlantic to Mediterranean.
710km across 18 cols through the French Pyrenees
with 11000 meters of accent and a time limit of 100 hours
( Start at 9:00 Monday and must finish by 13:00 Friday).
The ultimate cycle challenge.
6 nights bed breakfast and evening meal.
Full route guiding and broom wagon support.
Luggage transfer.
Flights not included.
Price €800. Single room supplement €210.
Full itinerary.
Sunday 5th September:
Arrives Biarritz airport and transfer to our hotel. Put your bike together and get in a spin to check all is well after the flight.
Monday 6th September:
Hendaye to Laruns – 190km with 2500m of ascent.
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87910
Starting from the Atlantic the route passes along the Basque coast for a few kilometres before turning inland into the mountains over the Col De St Ignace (169m) and the Col De Pinodieta (176m) and the Col D’ Osquich (500m). Nothing too difficult today, don’t forget your camera.
Day 1 photos:
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| Raid Pyrenees Day 1. 7th September 2009. |
Tuesday 7th September:
Laruns to Campan – 100km with 3000m of ascent.
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87911
The Circle of Death.
Col d’Aubisque
This is a big day, starting with the Col du Marie Blanque, 9.5km at 7.5% to 1035m altitude, the last 4 km are a killer, followed by the stunningly beautiful Col d’Aubisque (1709m), before dropping down and back up the Col du Soulor (1464m), the most beautiful and spectacular road in the Pyrenees if not all France.
Cirque du Litor between Aubisque and Soulor.
Following a 22km descent to Argeles-Gazost, is the unbelievable climb of Col de Tourmalet (2115m), 18km average 7.6% (actually climbing for 10km before the official start).The Tourmalet is the most used climb in the Tour de France, 2009 will be its 85th year. The day ends with a super fast 20km descent into Campan.
Col du Tourmalet.
Day 2 Photos:
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| Raid Pyrenees Day 2 2009 |
Wednesday 8th September:
Campan to Saint Girons – 150km with 2000m of ascent.
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87912
The first climb is the picturesque Col d’Aspin (1489m) and the end of the Circle of Death with the Col de Pereyresourde (1569m), before another long decent followed by The Col Des Ares (797m) and the Col De Buret (602m), 2 beautiful climbs. These are followed by the challenging 17% inclines of the Col de Portet D’Aspet (1069m), past the memorial to Olympic champion Fabio Casartelli, who died on stage 15 of the 1995 Tour de France.
Day 3 Photos:
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| Raid Pyrenées Day 3 2009 |
Thursday 9th September:
Saint Girons to Prades – 180km with 2600m of ascent.
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87913
The Col de Port (1249m) is a beautiful climb and has a great descent to Tarascon. The route follows a fairly busy road from here through Ax les Thermes, and on up the seemingly endless Col de Puymorens (1915m). From here it drops down into the town of Bourg Madame, before heading up the Col de la Perche (1570m) and the Col de Louis (1345m). Next the 36km long descent to our hotel, make sure to take a detour through the town of Villefranche, a stunning medieval walled town.
Day 4 Photos:
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| Raid Pyrenées Day 4 2009 |
Friday 10th September:
Prades to Cerbere – 91km with about 300m of ascent.
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87914
Almost there, just 90km of mostly flat roads with some little climbs along the Mediterranean coast, but you will have to be quick as you must be at the finish in Cerbere by 13:00.
Day 5 Photos:
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| Raid Pyrenées Day 5 2009 |
Saturday 11th September:
Transfer to airports (Perpignan, Carcassonne or Toulouse) for journey home.
