GROUP CYCLNG TOUR IN THE PYRENEES

GROUP CYCLING TOUR COAST TO COAST PYRENEES FROM BIARRITZ TO ARGELÈS-SUR-MER

Bonjour! On the group cycling tour Coast to Coast Pyrenees, we ride from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, straight through the rugged French Pyrenees! This iconic stage tour is a must-do adventure for every passionate mountain cyclist. We start in the vibrant town of Biarritz and finish in Argelès-sur-Mer, a lively coastal spot near Perpignan. In the C2CP you’ll ride seven stages (including a short warm-up ride), experience all the beauty the Pyrenees have to offer, and draw a bold line from coast to coast on your Strava heatmap!

In most stages you can choose between a tougher black route and a slightly easier red route. The black routes cover over 800 kilometres with nearly 18,250 metres of altitude gain. By opting for the red routes, you’ll ride about 730 kilometres and conquer 15,400 metres of altitude gain. Along the way, we cross the challenging French Basque Country, ride through the Gorge de la Pierre Lys, and of course tackle many famous climbs from the Tour de France, including: Marie-Blanque, Aubisque, Tourmalet, Hourquette d’Ancizan, Peyresourde, Menté and Port de Pailhères.

Travel to Biarritz and back from Argelès-sur-Mer is on your own arrangement. Biarritz is easily accessible by train or plane, and from Perpignan (near the finish) you can travel back conveniently. To make your journey easier, we can also arrange bike transport from and back to a location in the Netherlands.

STAGE 1 & 2: PAYS BASQUE – BASQUE COUNTRY AND THE FIRST PYRENEAN COLS

Salut mes amis! We begin our adventure in the beautiful French coastal city of Biarritz, located on the Bay of Biscay in French Basque Country. From the 19th century onwards, Biarritz became a popular seaside resort for European aristocracy. On stage one, we ride through cycling-mad Basque Country. Although we won’t encounter any high mountain passes, this stage is anything but flat. Pace yourself wisely, as we’ll tackle several brutally steep ramps! We finish in Oloron-Sainte-Marie. From stage two onwards, we venture into the Pyrenees. Our first famous climb is Col de Marie-Blanque (1,037 metres). Starting in Escot, we climb an increasingly steep road through dense forest. After the descent, we ride to Laruns, where Col d’Aubisque (1,709 metres) begins. Sheep roam the often mist-shrouded summit. We spend the night in Pierrefitte-Nestalas.

STAGE 5, 6 & 7: THE PYRENEES – GREEN MOUNTAINS AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

On stages five and six, we ride through a spectacular green landscape with countless trees, passing sleepy villages along the way. Stage five takes us through a lesser-known but equally beautiful part of the Pyrenees. We climb Col de Portel (1,440 metres), Col de Port (1,257 metres) and Col de Souloumbrié (911 metres). We finish in the classic spa town of Ax-les-Thermes, where riders choosing the black route tackle the additional climb to Ax-3-Domaines (1,381 metres). On stage six, en route to Belvianes, we take on the majestic Port de Pailhères (2,001 metres), whose descent is every bit as beautiful as the climb. On the final stage, we ride through the spectacular Gorge de la Pierre Lys. We climb two more passes, Col de Jau (1,506 metres) and Col de Fourtou (645 metres), before reaching Argelès-sur-Mer and dipping our wheels into the Mediterranean Sea!