La Transpyrénéenne

Experience the rugged beauty and superb cycling of the French Pyrenees on an epic coast-to-coast ride.

Follow in the wheels of Tour de France legends over the classic Pyrenean cols: Marie Blanque, Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, Menté, Portet d’Aspet, Port de Pailhère on a 5 - day adventure from Bayonne on the Atlantic to Collioure on the Mediterranean coast. Five days, each averaging 130km, will take you on a 640km journey over 15 major cols along some of the finest cycling routes in the Pyrenees.

Day 1: Bayonne to Lanne-en-Barétous

Distance: 120km
Climbing: 1209m
Key climbs: Col d’Osquich (500m),12km at 2.9%

The first stage will provide a relatively gentle prelude to the mountains to come. The heights of the cols steadily increase as you ride eastwards and leave the Atlantic coast behind you. You will get your first taster of a real Pyrenean col over the Col d’Osquich. After a short descent, it’s a steady, gradual climb for the last 40km to the hotel.

Day 2: Lanne-en-Barétous to Saint Savin

Distance: 98km
Climbing: 2138m
Key Climbs: Col de Marie Blanque (1035m), 9.5km at 7.5% - Col D’Aubisque (1709m), 16.6km at 7.2% - Col du Soulor (1474m), 2.1km at 5.5%

The second day leads you in to the heart of the “Hautes Pyrenees”. A pleasant cruise through the valley acts as a short warm-up before the vicious Col de Marie Blanque (1035m). This is shortly followed by the Col D'Aubisque (1709m). This was used on Stage 13 of the 2011 Tour de France that saw World Champion Thor Hushovd take a gravity defying victory over Frenchman David Moncoutie.

After negotiating the narrow mountain road which links the two cols, you will tackle the final climb to the Col Du Soulor (1474m). In 1951, Dutch rider Wim Van Est crashed into a ravine on this road and had to be pulled to safety by his team-mates using their inner tubes as an improvised rope. After the summit, there is a spectacular descent off the Soulor that leads towards the valley floor and the hotel at Argeles-Gazost.

Day 3: Saint Savin to Bagneres de Luchon

Distance: 109km
Climbing: 3092m
Key climbs: Col du Tourmalet (2115m),19km at 7.4% - Col d’Aspin (1498m),12.8km at 5% - Col de Peyresourde (1569m),10km at 6.6%.

A classic big mountain stage featuring three cols (one HC and two 1st category), taking you through the heart of the Hautes Pyrenees and into the Haute Garonne. The day starts with a gradual climb up the valley to Luz St Sauveur and the start of the mythical Col du Tourmalet, first ridden in the Tour de France by Octave Lapiz in 1910.

From the “Géant du Tourmalet” statue at the summit, it’s a fast descent through the ski village of La Mongie and down to St Marie de Campan- famous as the place where Eugène Christophe, in 1913, repaired his broken forks in the forge only to have a time penalty imposed because he received “outside assistance” from the boy who operated the bellows.

From there it’s a relatively gentle ride up the Col d’Aspin, from the summit of which you can just see the day’s final climb – the Peyresourde. As you tackle the final climb of the day, remember that the Hotel is just at the bottom of the descent!

Day 4: Bagnères de Luchon to Garrabet

Distance: 135km
Climbing: 1800m
Key climbs: Col de Ares (797m), 8km at 4% - Col de Portet d’Aspet (1069m), 4.3km at 10.1% Col des Caougnous (947m from half way up Col de Port) - Col de Port (1250m),12.8km at 4.7%.

The fourth day, though not as demanding as the previous day, should not be underestimated. Leaving the hotel it’s a quick ride down the Luchon valley before tackling the Col de Portet d’Aspet (1069m), a short but viciously steep ascent. After descending past St Girons and Massat, you have the relatively gentle Col de Port (1250m) to cross before the descent into Tarascon sur Ariege and a well earned rest.

Day 5: Garrabet to Collioure

Distance: 192km
Climbing: 2056m
Key climbs: Col de Marmare (1361m), 11.5km at 4.5% - Col des Sept Frères (1253m), 5km at 2.3% (form Marmere), - Col d’Aussieres (1020m),10km at 5.4% - Col des Auzines (1506m), 3km at 3.5%.

On this final day you will ride through some of the most remote parts of the Pyrenees before dipping a toe in the azure waters of the Mediterranean. After an initial climb out of the Ariege valley you will wind your way on near-deserted roads towards the Mediterranean. It is not till you reach to the Perpignan plains that you return to civilisation.

Note: Alternative routes may be used for all but the first day depending on weather conditions.