Pyrenees Multisport

ITINERARY

We will pick you up from Toulouse airport in the morning and transfer you to the starting hotel in Hendaye. You also have the option to fly directly to Biarritz and we will meet you at the hotel in the afternoon. Time for building bikes and a test ride down to the sea front before having the welcome meal.

The first day takes you from the Atlantic Ocean into the low Pyrénées taking in the Col de St-Ignace (169m), Col de Pinodieta (176m), Col d'Ipharlatze (328m) and the Col d' Osquich (392m). These are all small climbs that should allow you to get a taste of what is to come. We stay in the pretty village of Lurbe St Chritau and have a welcome evening meal in a great little hotel nestled on the side of the mountain.

After a short rolling ride from Lurbe St Christau, the first climb of the day is the Col de Marie-Blanque (1035m) a beautiful but very steep climb. The descent is well worth the effort though and we swing down to a beautiful ride into Laruns before starting the ascent to the Col D' Aubisque (1709m) and a welcoming lunch at the top with stunning views. The descent from the Aubisque is spectacular riding through mountainside tunnels and very narrow roads perched on the side of the cliff. The Col de Soulor (1466m) is next but most of it has already been climbed so it passes without a hitch before descending into Argelès Gazost where we turn right and head up to the big one. The Col Du Tourmalet (2115m) is last on the list and we will take our time climbing before hitting the summit and the famous café & shop where you can buy all the Tourmalet memorabilia before descending into St Marie de Campan and a well earned beer and rest.

We start out at the base of the Col d'Aspin (1489m) but this is a gentle warm up for the first 6 km before the final 5 km of real climbing. At the summit you will be face to face with a cow or a range of other animals, but they are all friendly. We then ride the final stretch over the Col de Peyresourde (1569m) and back to our centre in Luscan for a slap up meal and a relax next to the pool. A good chance to wash the kit and check out the bikes in our workshop.

After leaving Luscan we head over the Col des Ares (797m) and the Col De Buret (599m) which warms the legs up before the start of the Col De Portet d' Aspet (1069m) where you can see the monument of Fabio Casatelli. We head down into the valley towards St Girons before heading down into the Gorge de Ribaouto and the Col de Port (1249m). The hotel is all the way down hill into Tarascon where the owners are always waiting for us with a beer or two.

The penultimate stage and it is a long one, with the first of three major climbs coming up after around 30km. The Col de Marmare (1367m), a long but gentle climb through the trees followed by the Col des Sept Frères (1253m) soon after but a mere mole hill in comparison. Then a long down hill ride through tunnels and overhanging cliffs to Axat for lunch. After refueling it is a hard slog up the Col de Jau (1513m) but with a fantastic descent directly to the hotel. Here you can relax by the pool before a great dinner in the beautiful square of Prades.

The last stage in this epic personal achievement. 85km downhill to the Mediterranean and hopefully with a tailwind. A gentle ride in and then relax in the seaside restaurant where we can have a well earned lunch after dipping your toe into the water to seal the challenge. We will then load the bikes and head back to Toulouse for the evening where we will go out to a restaurant for the celebratory meal where we can chat about the week and receive your certificates.

The hotel is very close to the airport so a quick transfer after breakfast or if your flight is a little later then leave your luggage at the hotel and take the shuttle bus into Toulouse for a day out. You can always fly out of Perpignan on the Friday afternoon if this is better for you.