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  • Pyrénées 

The Pyrenean Raid

The legendary challenge by road bike

From
730€/person
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Presentation of your trip

The Pyrenean Raid is a legendary circuit, crossing the Pyrénées by road bike. Established in 1952, this route of 5 stages, climbing 11000m and linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean through beautiful landscapes, has become an internationally renowned challenge for amateur cyclists.

Starting in Hendaye, the challenge is to reach Cerbère in less than 100 hours of cycling, covering 710km and conquering 18 acclaimed mountain passes (cols). You will follow legendary Tour de France routes and pass over notable mountain passes to cross 5 Pyrenean departments. Ride from the lush, green summits of the Basque Country to the peaks of the Hautes-Pyrénées, crossing vast forests in Ariège, weaving between the Corbières’ vineyards before finally arriving at the beaches of the Mediterranean coast.

After validating your race, your medal and certificate await you; a just reward for this unmissable cyclo-sporting feat!

  • DestinationPyrénées
  • TypeFree
  • Length of trip6 days and 5 nights
  • ActivitiesRoad bike
  • Physical level

Possible periods for this trip

  • Jan.
  • Feb.
  • March
  • Apr.
  • May
  • June
  • Jul.
  • August
  • Sep.
  • Oct.
  • Nov.
  • Dec.
Description of the tripProgramTravel conditionsDates and price

Trip details

Highlights

  • Fabled cols of the Tour de France
  • Certificate and official medal following a triumphant challenge
  • The most beautiful landscapes of the Pyrénées: cols, forests, gorges, plateaus
  • Accommodation on a half-board basis with transfer (there and back) included

Complementary informations

  • 6 days - 5 nights including 5 days of cycling
  • Transfer there and back included
  • Option: Self-guided cycling with assistance vehicule

Program

  • Day 1

    Cerbère

      Meeting at Cerbère and immediate transfer to Hendaye in the assistance vehicle. 
      Preparation of the bikes and equipment. Dinner and night in Hendaye. 
      For arrivals by train or plane: meet directly in Hendaye or at Biarritz airport.

    • Day 2

      From Hendaye to Lurbe-Saint-Christau

      • Distance : 165 km
      • Elevation gain : 2500 m

      Departure at 9am for the first stage of cycling. Leave the Atlantic Coast and head through typical Basque landscapes to reach the Pyrenean foothills. The Raid route encourages you to stretch your legs by passing first over the Col de St-Ignace (169m), then the Col de Pinodieta (176m), the Col d'Ipharlatze (328m) and, finally, the Col d'Osquich (392m). You are required to pass through control points in Espelette and Tardets. 
      Night on a half-board basis in Lurbe Saint Christau.

    • Day 3

      From Lurbe-Saint-Christau to Sainte-Marie-de-Campan

      • Distance : 131 km
      • Elevation gain : 3550 m

      Start the day with a quick warm up of your thighs and a climb to Arudy. During the descent, you’ll be able to take in views over the countryside around Laruns before starting your climb up the Col d’Aubisque (1709m) and refuelling with a lunch break. The spectacular descent takes you on to the Col de Soulor (1466m), before reaching the station at Argelès-Gazost. Next, it is on to the legendary Tour de France stage of the Col du Tourmalet (2115m), your final climb for the day, and with a well-earned break at the top. Descend to Saint Marie de Campan where you will spend the night on a half-board basis.

    • Day 4

      From Sainte-Marie-de-Campan to Massat

      • Distance : 163 km
      • Elevation gain : 2000 m

      This stage starts with a climb of the Col d’Aspin (1489m), followed by the Col de Peyresourde (1569m). You then cross over a series of linked peaks starting with the Col des Ares (797m), then the Col de Buret (599m) before climbing the Col de Portet d’Aspet (1069m) where you can take a moment at the memorial to cyclist Fabio Casartelli. The end of the stage involves a descent towards Saint-Girons, through the Gorges de Ribaouto, to arrive at your accommodation. Night on a half-board basis in Massat.

    • Day 5

      From Massat to Prades

      • Distance : 168 km
      • Elevation gain : 2650 m

      A beautiful stage tackling the famous Col de Port (1249m), before a ride through the thermal valley of Ax-les-Thermes to start your ascent of the Col du Puymorens, which sits right on border with Andorra. The return through the valley includes two climbs - the Col de Rigat (1485m) and Col de Perche (1581m). A fantastic descent takes you straight to the entrance of the hotel. Night on a half-board basis in Prades.

    • Day 6

      From Prades to Cerbère

      • Distance : 82 km
      • Elevation gain : 300 m

      Last stage on the Pyrenean Raid - with no more cols to tackle, the roads wind through the hills. The challenge has to be finished before 1pm by reaching the Mediterranean and crossing the beautiful village of Collioure. Having completed the Raid in less than 100 hours, and having successfully collected all of the control point stamps, you receive your medal and official certificate ! You then have a free afternoon to relax and recover on the Mediterranean beaches.
      End of trip. 

    • End of trip

    Travel conditions

    • Attendees

      Departure for group of 6 people.

    • Formalities

      • A valid official ID.
      • We recommend travel insurance with repatriation included. 
         

    • Accompanying

      Free Riding Bike with Assistance Vehicle:
      The assistance vehicle reaches you at different times during the day’s stage, often at the top of the passes and carries your picnic, water, extra clothes and a complete toolbox in case of mechanical problems. You enjoy your day with a light bag or no bag. The driver of the vehicle also gives you advice for each step, helps you manage your effort, and can most of the time answer your questions about the region visited.

    • Bike transport

      You only carry the items of the day and the picnic. Luggage is carried by assistance vehicle. 1 piece/person and limited to 15kg/piece.

      Transport of bike boxes/boxes/boxes and hard bottom bags is not included: option possible on request and subject to availability.

    • The Pyrenean Raid in details

      Touring the Pyrenean Raid is an essential challenge for road bike specialists. This legendary raid joins the Atlantic to the Mediterranean by covering 710 km and 18 passes, and offers the challenge of doing this course in 100 hours maximum! LaRébenne, in collaboration with the Béarnais cyclo-club, provides each participant with an official logbook to be stamped at specific points. To mark your success, a diploma and a medal will be given to you afterwards, after validation by the Béarnais cyclo-club, to formalize this sporting feat. The raid is accessible to both licensed and non-licensed users and can be run from west to east or vice versa. To be validated, the raid must be carried out between June 1 and September 30.

      More information: http://www.ccb-cyclo.fr/raid_pyreneen.html

    • Accommodation

      5 nights half board with two options:

      Double room formula: you sleep in comfortable rooms for 2 people in hotels, guest rooms and sometimes cottages. Sheets and towels are provided. A bathroom is reserved for you. Single room option.
      Formula lodging stage: selected in particular for the quality of their reception, you find in the cottages a friendly atmosphere. Most often you share dormitories of 4/6 places with other people. Sheets and towels are not provided.

    • Food

      No question of dieting during your stay but it is rather an opportunity to taste the local cuisine. We attach great importance to the quality of food: dietary balance, energy intake and specialty of the country are the ingredients of each meal.
      Picnics are not included in the price. Every day, you have the opportunity to prepare your picnics. Either you (or the logistician) buy everything you need at each step, or you order your picnic the day before from the host (subject to availability).

      Picnic option provided during the Raid possible (5 meals provided): +50€/person.

    • Difficulty level

      You have a very excellent physical condition and practice a high level of training. Stages from 85 to 170km per day with positive gradients from 900 to 3200 m per day.

    • DEPARTURE AND MEETING POINT

      Departure from Cerbère (66) at 12h or Perpignan train station at 13h and immediate transfer to Hendaye.
      For groups or if the majority of participants is from the west of France, we can make the appointment in Hendaye and make the transfer Cerbères/ Hendaye at the end of the stay.
      For arrivals by train or plane: appointment directly at Hendaye or Biarritz airport and transfer at the end of your stay to Perpignan or Carcassonne.
      Transfer to Toulouse optional.

      How to get there:
      By car: A9 Perpignan, then N114 or A63 Saint Jean de Luz exits 2 or 3.
      By train: Train station of Cerbère or Hendaye.
      By plane: Perpignan, Carcassonne or Biarritz airport. 

    • Options

      • +1 day or -1 day,
      • 5 picnics (+75€/person)
      • Customized program from the steps you choose yourself,
      • Additional accommodation before or after the stay,
      • Single room supplement,
      • High-end bike rental,
      • Transfer to Toulouse.

    Dates and price

    Information

    Free departure dates: you choose your own departure dates according to your availability.
    For constituted groups, we adapt the level, duration, price and program on demand.

    Possibility of quality road bike rental: see our dedicated page for more information.

    Free departure from

    Price TTC per person

    Formula with assistance vehicle
    Registration at 8 people730€
    Package with assistance vehicle and luggage storage - hotel
    Registration at 8 people870€

    Options

    Single room option (for hotel double room): +150€/pers

    The price includes

    • The reservation of accommodation in half board from the dinner of day 1 until the breakfast of day 6,
    • Maps, map holder, and GPS tracks,
    • The detailed daily topoguide,
    • The transport of luggage,
    • The transfer Cerbère-Hendaye (or return),
    • 1 vehicle 9 places (+ bike trailer according to availability) during the whole stay,
    • The official road book, the diploma and the medal of the Béarn cyclo club.

    The price does not include

    • Drinks,
    • Personal expenses,
    • Picnics (unless option chosen),
    • Personal bike equipment (helmets, gloves),
    • Bicycles,
    • Transportation to the meeting point,
    • Insurance,
    • Transport and storage of boxes/ cartons/ hard bottom covers.

    The destination

    • Pyrénées

      The Pyrenees! To summarize their beauty and diversity in a few lines would be vain ... From the green mountains of the Basque Country, to the wild lands of Ariège to the Catalan mountains with the scent of the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees are an invitation to travel.

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