GROUP CYCLING TOUR IN THE PYRENEES
COAST TO COAST PYRENEES
EXAMPLE CUSTOM GROUP CYCLING TOUR IN THE PYRENEES
ROAD BIKE
Discover the iconic Coast to Coast Pyrenees! Set your preferred dates with us and let us organise a custom group cycling tour in the Pyrenees for your cycling group. Ride from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and tackle the famous Tour de France cols, including Col du Tourmalet, Hourquette d’Ancizan, Col d’Aubisque, and Port de Pailhères. Experience the stunning Pyrenees on this challenging, full-service stage tour with your cycling friends. Check out our example group package below and know everything can be customised to your wishes. You ride, eat, sleep, and enjoy, we take care of the rest!
GROUP CYCLING TOUR COAST TO COAST PYRENEES FROM BIARRITZ TO ARGELÈS-SUR-MER
Bonjour! Are you looking for a custom group cycling tour in the Pyrenees? Then discover our Coast to Coast Pyrenees group package! Ride, together with your cycling friends, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, straight through the rugged French Pyrenees! Every serious mountain cyclist must have done this iconic stage tour at least once in their career! We start in atmospheric Biarritz and finish in Argelès-sur-Mer, a nice coastal town near Perpignan. On the Coast to Coast Pyrenees, you’ll ride seven stages (including a short warm-up stage), experience all the highlights the French Pyrenees have to offer, and draw an impressive line from coast to coast on your Strava heatmap!
During most stages you can choose between a tougher black route and a less tough red route. The black routes cover more than 800 kilometres and almost 18,500 metres of elevation gain. If you always choose the red routes, you will cover approximately 730 kilometres and conquer 14,000 metres of elevation gain. We cross the challenging French Basque Country, get to know Gorge de la Pierre Lys and of course we climb many cols that you know from the Tour de France, such as: Marie-Blanque, Aubisque, Spandelles, Tourmalet, Hourquette d’Ancizan, Peyresourde, Menté and Port de Pailhères.
STAGES
7
OVERNIGHT STAYS
7
best TIME OF YEAR
June
September
TOUGHNESS
Distance (Km)
Red routes: 730
Elavation gain (m)
Red routes: 14000
Explanation Toughness routes
Is this your first cycling tour in the mountains and are you wondering if you can handle our routes? Or are you an experienced climber and are you curious whether the challenge is interesting enough for you? Using our five-point scale, we help you gain insight into the toughness of our routes. Based on the number of polka dots you can easily see if the routes of this cycling tour match your level and ambition!
all fit cyclists
reasonably trained cyclists with some climbing experience
trained cyclists with climbing experience
trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience
well trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience
Within stages we often offer different routes so that groups with cyclists of different levels can participate in the cycling tour:
red = easier route
black = tougher route
If you are unsure whether the routes are suitable for you and your cycling friends, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help you!
EXPLANATION EXAMPLE GROUP PACKAGE
Inspiration for your group package
An example tour is a fully designed stage tour. We have selected the most beautiful cols, designed well-balanced routes and chosen cyclist-friendly hotels. This example group package gives you an idea of what a stage tour in this cycling region could look like. You can book this tour for your cycling group or use it as inspiration for your own custom group package.
Let us know your preferences, and we can adapt this example tour for your group. Consider options such as adding or removing a stage or col, choosing different routes or overnight stops, including a rest day, or selecting more luxurious hotels.
Our Terms and Conditions apply to this tour.
STAGE 1: PAYS BASQUE – BASQUE COUNTRY
Salut les amis! We start our adventure in the beautiful French coastal city of Biarritz, located on the Bay of Biscay in the French Basque Country (Basque: Iparralde, or North Side). Biarritz was a popular seaside resort for European nobility from the 19th century. This is reflected in the beautiful buildings in the city. The Municipal Casino in Art Deco style, dating from 1929, is well-known. Consider coming a day earlier to enjoy the city beach and the nice bars and restaurants in the attractive historic center. We start in the afternoon with a short stage through the Biarritz area to kick off your legs. In stage 2 we cycle through the cycling-mad Basque Country. Although we do not encounter any high cols, this stage is not flat anywhere. Divide your energy well because we will encounter a number of very steep walls!
‘In the Coast to Coast Pyrenees you draw a big line from coast to coast on your Strava heathmap!’
STAGE 3 & 4: GRAND COLS OF THE TOUR THE FRANCE
From stage 2 we enter the Pyrenees. The first known climb is the Col de Marie-Blanque (1,037 metres). From Escot we climb on an increasingly steep road through a dense forest. After the descent we ride to Laruns where Col d’Aubisque (1,709 metres) starts. The often misty summit with the large metal bicycles is inhabited by sheep. In stage 3 we reach the roof of C2CP; Col du Tourmalet (2,115 metres). This tough but steady climb is the most climbed col in the Tour de France. After the descent follows perhaps the most beautiful part of the entire route; the climb to Hourquette d’Ancizan (1,567 metres), through a rural landscape with lots of stray cattle. We conclude this stage with another famous climb; Col de Peyresourde (1,568 metres).
STAGE 5, 6 & 7: THE PYRENEES, THE GREEN MOUNTAINS
In stages 4 and 5, the cols continue to follow each other in rapid succession. We ride through a fantastic green landscape, with thousands of trees, and pass sleepy villages. Along the way, we climb Col de Menté (1,344 metres), Portet d’Aspet (1,069 metres), with the monument for the unfortunate Fabio Casatelli, Col de la Core (1,394 metres), Col de Port (1,257 metres) and the majestic Port de Pailhères (1,998 metres), from the authentic spa town of Ax-les-Thermes. After the fantastic descent of this col, we head for Quilan, where the final stage starts. From there, we cycle through the beautiful Gorge de la Pierre Lys. After a final serious col and a few relatively easy kilometres, we dive into the Mediterranean Sea in Argelès-Sur-Mer!
WHAT's INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
We tailor the price to your wishes. If you would like to book this group cycling tour and opt for Grand Cols Cycling Tours’ full-service approach, we would normally offer the following (optional) services. Have different requirements? Let us know, and we’ll adapt our services to suit your needs.
The price includes:
- Hotel accommodation in nice, cycle-friendly hotels (double rooms)
- Breakfast and dinner
- Breakfast and dinner
- Professional, digital road book with all relevant route information
- GPX files for uploading routes to navigation devices
- Picnic lunch, coffee stop with good, coffee and the opportunity to restock your sports nutrition (sports drinks, water, energy bars, etc.) during the stages
- Support with a support vehicle (please note: not all unpaved roads are accessible by support vehicle): handing out extra clothing and carrying out minor repairs
- First aid and AED
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
- Help with minor repairs along the way and the use of a bicycle pump, lubricant and bicycle tools
- Grand Cols Cycling Tours cycling jersey (contact us if you would like to design a custom jersey)
- Participation in the VZR guarantee scheme
The price does not include:
– The outward journey to the starting location and the return journey from the finish location
– Personal insurance, such as travel and cancellation insurance
– Drinks during the dinners
– Equipment (you participate with your own equipment, such as: bike, helmet and clothing)
Optional extra:
- Upgrade to a single room
- Additional overnight stay (without dinner) before the start of the cycling tour
- Bike transport from the Netherlands to the start location and back (subject to availability)
- Commonly used spare parts, such as: tyres, cables and batteries (at cost price)
Anything else? Let us know!
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
DISCOVER THE COAST TO COAST PYRENEES
Are you interested in this cycling tour? Request more information without obligation.
A SELECTION OF OUR EXAMPLE GROUP PACKAGES
Take up the challenge and discover the most beautiful Grand Cols with us.
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