Pyrenees Bike Tour Itinerary

Day 1
The Tour arrives!  You will be picked up in the foothill town of Montrejeau, from there we will drive to Luchon for our first experience with the Tour.  As a stage town 51 previous times, Luchon is no stranger to the energy and crowds that follow the Tour de France.  The Tour will arrive that afternoon, so we shall have enough time to stretch our legs out on the bike before we settle in to watch the race.  Following the riders arrival, we’ll retire to the comfort  and great location of the Hotel Luchon Corneille.  Following a great dinner of the exceptional local fare, we’ll get a good night’s rest, ready to ride the next day.

Meals: Light lunch & Dinner
Destinations visited: Bagnères-de-Luchon, Artigue
Distance cycled: Approximately 18km with 600m of elevation

Day 2
A morning ride up the Col de Portillon 10.2km at 6.5% will warm us up before we watch the start from Luchon.  After the racers take off, we can roll up the Peyresourde (to the top 15.2 km at  6.1%) to grab a great view for the riders as they rocket, 144kms later from the start, to the Peyragudes Ski Station. With the time-trial to Chartres looming two days later, this will be the last chance for the climber-contenders of the TDF to make their mark.  That is to say, Andy and Frank Schleck will have to attack.  Be there for the fireworks! Don’t forget that Bagneres-de-Luchon is celebrated for its thermal springs. The springs are chiefly impregnated with sodium sulfate, and range in temperature from 62 to 150 Fahrenheit.  If time permits you can enjoy the healing elements of these ancient roman baths. Tonight, another fabulous dinner awaits in the heart of this bustling mountain town.

Meals: Breakfast &  dinner
Destinations visited: Col de Portillon , Peyresourde
Distance cycled: 50km, 23km of climbing, 1500m of elevation

Day 3
The crowds have left to watch the racers sprint in the Corrèze, so we’ve the mountains to ourselves.  There is one main target today, the Port du Balès.  Featured for years on the Route du Sud race, it did not appear in the TDF until 2007, when a connection road between Bourg d’Oueil  and the top was paved.  It quickly became notorious with Andy Schleck’s dropped chain in 2010, but what it is really is one of the most beautiful climbs in the Pyrénées. At almost 19km long  it averages 6.3 %. But that’s misleading  - the first 9 kms are well under this average, the last 12km average over 8%.  You pass from farmland to verdant forest to alpine meadows, and it does not really let up until you arrive at the top.  From the 1755m-high pass, you can see the flat plains leading up to Toulouse on one side, and 3000+ meter mountains on the other.  Beautiful. The descent on the other side is fast with long straight lines - but be careful, some fellow cyclists will probably be cycling the other side!  Descending into Luchon, we will then have a wonderful afternoon to relax at the local spa - or for those who need a few more meters, your guides will be happy to take you up to Super-Bagnères.  It was a star of the Tours of the 70s and 80s, a site that highlighted the unfriendly truce between Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault in 1986. But since 1989 it has disappeared from view. A shame  - At 6.3% and 18.5 km long, it is a real challenge. Again the route is surrounded by gorgeous scenery, and from the 1800m top you are at the feet of the rocky crags of the highest mountains. It is awesome!  Tonight,  dinner is of your own choosing; your guides will be sure to suggest their favorites.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch
Destinations visited: the Port du Balès, Super-Bagnères
Distance cycled: 69km, 23.5km of climbing, 1338m of elevation with an option for 18 more km and 1100m+ of elevation

Day 4
 We’ll leave Luchon behind; but don’t let the exit through the gentle valley fool you, the Pyrénées are not done with you yet. The Col de Menté awaits. This Col was first used in the Tour de France in 1966 and has appeared 13 times since (including on stage 15 of the 2007 tour). From our approach at St. Beat, the Menté “only” goes 9.3km up, but it averages 9.1%.  It is mean.  And of course, beautiful.  After an invigorating descent , you will be able to enjoy your riding at a calmer heart rate as we roll into St. Gaudens. The architecture in this town is impressive; Several tall buildings are reminders of the city's medieval period, and some have façades with pediments, friezes and cornices, mouldings and gabled dormer windows. Following a deserved lunch in this ancient town, we will speed off to Toulouse for an evening in La Ville en Rose.  After watching the remaining contenders try to gain time, a gourmet feast awaits once we’ve settled in to our luxury hotel. Enjoy a stroll along the Garonne River, and take care of those weary legs!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Destinations visited: St. Beat , Col de Menté, St. Gaudens, Toulouse
Distance cycled: 64km of riding with 11km of climbing, and 1063m of elevation

Day 5
A morning TGV train will take us to Paris in plenty of time to catch the end of the Tour along the Champs-Élysees. Since 1975 the finish has been on the Champs-Élysées in Paris; from 1903 to 1967 the race finished at the Parc des Princes stadium in western Paris and from 1968 to 1974 at the Piste Municipale south of the capital. Fortunately for us, the Champs finish is a much more exciting way to finish such a great event, with champagne in hand, of course. Barring catastrophe, Cavandish will probably have racked up the largest number of sprint victories in the history of the race, and maybe a win on the main avenue of Paris will be an afterthought. Or maybe someone stronger will take him by surprise. The best way to find out will be to see it live!  From our calm and comfortable hotel, the Bel Ami, we will stroll out into Paris, working up our appetites for delicious meal in the City of Lights. 

Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Destinations visited: Paris, city of lights
Distance cycled: Optional ride on the Velib bikes

Day 6
Enjoy a calm breakfast and a stroll before heading towards your next destination.  Your guides will be there that morning to advise you on your future travels, or maybe point you in the direction of that “can’t miss” wine bar. Take a coffee in the numberless cafes of Paris and try to pick your favorite memory of the week. There’s sure to be plenty of great ones to choose from!

Meals: Breakfast