Cycling holiday in the French and Spanish Pyrenees

Spanning the distance between the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Coast and Mediterranean Sea, Europe's most impressive mountain range forms a natural border between France and Spain. The home of both Basques and Catalans who have for centuries straddled the border between two countries. Throughout history the region has seen its share of conflict and struggle. Thankfully today however the struggle for supremacy in the mountains is mainly fought out on two wheels and whether it be professional riders battling for points or Tour De France stage wins or amateur riders battling against the mountains themselves, the challenges presented by the Pyrenees are just as dramatic and just as exciting.

The French Alps might have high peaks but the passes in the Pyrenees are generally higher and the riding is widely recognised as more challenging. The beauty and tranquility of these mountains are absolutely breathtaking and the riding is possibly the best in the world.

If you’ve always wondered what it feels like to climb the likes of the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin and Perysourde then this is your chance. These mountains are legendary in cycling terms, and on this trip you get to follow in the wheel marks of the pros and see what it’s really like to take on these great monsters.

Arriving in Biarritz we begin the riding on the Northern fringes of the mountain range and our challenge is to traverse our way right across to the shores of the Mediterranean in the South, from where we will return home when our tour finishes.

Aided by a short transfer at the very beginning of our trip to allow us to concentrate on the best riding, we move from place to place on a daily basis, crossing many of the most famous classic Tour De France cols in the process. Designed with climbers in mind this tour will appeal to the more serious amateur rider who enjoys pushing themselves just that little bit further.

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrival Biarritz and transfer to St. Jean-Pied de Port
Following your arrival in Biarritz, we've plenty of time to transfer (approximately one hour) to the starting point of this superb tour of mountain riding. We'll be spending our first night in, or close to, St Jean-Pied de Port, a lively Basque town with a bustling medieval centre situated just a few km from the Spanish border. We'll spend the afternoon building and preparing our bikes for the challenges that lie ahead. Depending on flight arrival times we may have an opportunity for a quick warm-up ride and should still have enough time to enjoy a relaxing evening in a local restaurant getting to know our fellow riders.

Day 2 - St Jean de Pied de Port to Arette (85 Kms / 53 miles)
Today is a fine introduction to the Pyrenees, a taster of what to look forward to over the coming days. Riding out of St Jean-Pied de Port, the climbing starts almost immediately, relatively gentle at first becoming progressively more difficult as the morning progresses. Our first taste of Pyrenean mountain riding is an excellent warm up for what lies ahead and comes in the shape of two minor but challenging cols; Col de Burdincurutcheta is followed almost immediately by Col Bargargui and its tight hairpin decent. Over the next small hill to Larrau and then it’s a gentle run into Arette where we will spend the evening.

Day 3 - Montory to Argeles Gazost (102 Kms / 64 miles)
A big day lies ahead, big scenery, big distances, big views and a big mountain or two! Things begin gently enough as we head from Arette toward Escot. Soon afterwards however we face our first real test of our tour when we meet Col de Marie Blanque. At just 1073m it isn't a giant but we're taking it on from the toughest of the two sides and it will certainly test our legs. The descent on the eastern face is thrilling, picturesque and rewarding and before long grimaces will be replaced by grins. Next up is a real Pyrenean classic; the ascent of the Aubisque. It begins gently enough and doesn't really kick in seriously until the mountain spa town of Eaux Bonnes. From here things start to get a little more serious and we rise constantly to the summit at 1709m. Once over the pass it's generally downhill (although Col du Soulor does make an appearance to spice things up!!) for the next 40km. We then arrive at our destination for today, the bustling town of Argeles Gazost where we can rest up and prepare for tomorrow's challenges.

Day 4 - Argeles Gazost to Arreau (78 Kms / 49 miles)
After Alpe d'Huez, Col du Tourmalet is possibly the most famous of all the Tour De France climbs and since first featuring in the Tour in 1910 it has been a firm favourite of both professional and amateur riders. Topping out at 2115m the col is the highest point in our journey and one of the highest roads in the Pyrenees and this morning we'll find out exactly why it has such a reputation. We'll spend some time at the top of the pass to regroup and to admire the famous Geant du Tourmalet monument which marks the summit. With the highest climb of the week out of the way and a weight off the mind we'll wrap up for the swooping descent into the village of St. Marie de Campan, a tiny but very pretty village, famous for being the place that Eugene Christophe staked his claim as the unluckiest man ever to ride the Tour De France.

From here we start climbing once more, this time it's the improbably picturesque Col d'Aspin, the tricky descent spits us out on the outskirts of Arreau. Arreau is situated at the crossroads of the Louron and Aure valleys where the two rivers meet in spectacular fashion and it is here that we will spend our evening.

Day 5 - Arreau to Bossost (52 Kms / 33 miles)
Today is the shortest day of our tour and is intended to allow a little recuperation from the previous few day's challenges. Our route does include two beautiful and challenging climbs and still promises to pack a punch. The day begins gently enough as we leave Arreau, gradually rising as we approach Col de Peyresourde, another Tour de France favourite, having featured in the race dozens of times since its original inclusion in 1910. The view from the summit and the winding descent which follow are simply breathtaking. Our relatively short day allows us plenty of time for to enjoy on of the famous crepes from the cafe at the summit of the Peyresourde or a relaxing coffee in the town of Bagnères de Luchon before we take on our final challenge of the day; the Col du Portillon which summits on the border between France and Spain. The last 10kms of the day is a swift descent on a smooth sweeping tarmac hairpins which deliver us to the Catalonian town of Bossost where we will spend a Spanish-flavoured evening.

Day 6 - Bossost to Seix (96 Kms / 60 miles)
Back in the saddle for a full and action-packed day on the bikes. We ease in gently as we drop down the Garonne Valley from Bossost to St Beat. Make the most of the gentle start as the Col de Mente awaits to dish up a rather rude awakening. A sharp forested descent down the other side delivers us at the foot of the infamous Col de Portet d'Aspet, the scene of the tragic death of Olympic Champion Fabio Casartelli in the 1995 Tour de France. After paying our respects at the Casartelli memorial we'll continue, steeply upwards at first and then gently descending to Castillon. A few kms beyond the village we begin the day's final test as we haul ourselves over the Col de la Core and into the small village of Siex on the other side.

Day 7 - Seix to Ax-les Thermes (100 Kms / 63 miles)
The ascent out of Seix is via a very minor and infrequently used road that leads us into one of the prettiest rural areas of the entire tour. Dropping down into the village of Massat via similarly minor roads our legs will be warmed up and ready for the Col de Port, the first real climb of the day. As we all know by now "what goes up..." and the next 20km or so is spent in a generally downhill direction! We continue beyond the town of Tarascon heading back into the hills via the Route Des Corniches, the early stages of which undulate before rising more dramatically onto the cornice road. We end the day with a quick dash up and over Col de Chioula before turning off to the ski resort town of Ax-les-Thermes, where as the name suggests, we might just have time to soothe our tired legs in the thermal waters before dinner.

Day 8 - Ax-les Thermes to Prades (95 Kms / 59 miles)
Those spectacular morning ascents have become something of a habit and we're not about to break it today. Sitting at around 2000m above sea level the Port de Pailheres is the second highest point on our journey and it's a tough hairpinned climb which leads us there, it's more than worth the effort though, if not just for the view; once over the top the world just seems to drop away and the sweeping descent is breathtaking. A small bump in the road takes us to Escouloubre and one minor col later we'll be at the foot of Col de Jau, our final climb of the day. We will be at over 1500 metres at the top of the Col de Jau, before we then end our tour with 30km of cruising downhill to Prades where we'll spend the evening.

Day 9 - Prades - Collioure (70 Kms / 44 miles)
Alas, this is our final day of riding. We’re approaching the coast and the landscape and the vegetation have become unmistakably Mediterranean. Taking care as we negotiate a brief section of major road out of Prades we’re soon back on the minor roads as we pick our way across country to the coastal town of Collioure, a traditional finishing point for trans-Pyrenean riders. With the mountains behind us the ride today is, in the main, fast and flat and we should arrive at the coast early to mid afternoon. Our early arrival allows to take on one final challenge (optional) as we take a final loop from Collioure via the Tour Madeloc, a small but very cheeky climb from where the Panoramic views are simply breathtaking. We'll then make a quick dash back to Collioure via Banyuls-sur-Mer for celebratory drinks and dinner. Well done you've completed the Skedaddle Pyrenean Mountain Challenge!

Day 10 - Departure
After a lie in to recover from last night’s celebrations and of course the strains of crossing the Pyrenees on two wheels, we'll pack up the bikes and transfer to Pepignan in time for the late afternoon return home.

Equipment
We provide everything except a bike, personal equipment and clothing. If you are taking your own bike it should preferably be a road bike or, alternatively, a mountain bike fitted with slick tyres.

Although we will be taking things at a relatively leisurely pace, the route is mountainous and challenging, therefore we recommend that you have either a triple or compact chainset or a 27 bottom sprocket to ease the climbing. Please contact us if you are unsure whether your bike will be suitable.

It is imperative that your bike is in good mechanical order. If you are not mechanically minded, we advise you to take your bike to a local bicycle dealer for a service. Our guide(s) will of course be taking a full tool kit and a selection of spares, which we will provide should the need arise but please be sure to carry your own basic tool kit, pump, spare tubes, and any specific spare parts you may require for your bike - especially unusual spokes.

You will need to bring your own accessories including, helmet, gloves and hydration pack / bottles for drinking water. It is also a good idea to bring shoes suitable for walking along with your cycling shoes as well as a light, but waterproof rain jacket and a fleece / sweater for mornings and evenings.

What the price doesn't include
A) Personal clothing and equipment.
B) Alcoholic drinks.
C) Travel insurance (if required, £32).
D) Bar bills, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.
E) Bike hire (£200 if required).