The initial, eastern loop adds 25 miles and is on small roads that pass through pretty mountain hamlets. Riders doing the Challenge ride first take in a loop east of Saint Lary that includes the Col d’Azet before joining the Intermediate route up the Lac de Cap- de-Long. You return to Saint-Lary-Soulan the same way you arrived – only much faster.įor Intermediate riders this is an in-and-out ride to the lake. There is a small café at the lake which provides the perfect spot to admire the view and appreciate the climb you just completed. Your destination is the Lac-de-Cap de Long – the largest lake in the Pyrenees. Towards the top of the climb, the views open up and you see that you are riding along the spine of the Pyrenees. The climb is a heady mix of forests, craggy peaks, and cascading waterfalls. The raw beauty of this climb takes your breath away as does the final altitude at over 7,100 feet. In places, you will be riding a single-lane road alongside a sparkling stream with snow-capped peaks off in the distance.įor many, riding through the Néouvielle Natural Reserve to the Lac de Cap-de-Long is the highlight of the tour. There are numerous villages as well as small farms and orchards along the route. You ride on delightful country lanes through the rolling countryside of the Pyrenean foothills. The Intermediate route avoids the Col du Tourmalet by taking a northerly loop. You rejoin the Challenge route in Luz-Saint-Sauveur. The Epic route follows the Challenge route but adds in a challenging detour before the Col du Tourmalet up to Luz Ardiden. From the top of the col, it is almost 20 miles of pure descent into the vibrant market town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre. The spectacular views make it all worthwhile and the café makes for a cozy rest stop. At 6,940 feet, this is the highest paved mountain pass in the French Pyrenees. Towards the top, the classic switchbacks of the Tourmalet take to the summit. In the picturesque mountain village of Luz-Saint-Sauveur you turn east and the climbing begins in earnest.
You start heading south alongside the fast flowing Gave de Gavarnie. The Challenge ride takes you over the famous Col du Tourmalet. On the lake at the top of the climb, thereis a café that makes a great lunch stop. The Intermediate route also takes you deep into the Pyrenees National Park: to the Lac d’Estaing situated at the top of the valley at an altitude of 3,800 feet. The ride ends with the Col de Spandelles: a small winding lane that climbs 2,750 feet in ten miles before descending through thick woodland to Argelès-Gazost. The Challenge route is equally stunning but with less climbing and half the mileage. The riding is literally breath-taking as are the views.
The Epic ride takes you on a mountainous adventure over three high cols – Bordères, Soulor, and Aubisque – and down to Asson in the Ouzom Valley. Small lanes twist up the side of snow- capped mountains and cows roam freely across the unfenced valleys. This is one of the last pockets of true wilderness left in France. Today’s riding takes you into the Pyrenees National Park – a sanctuary for flora and fauna that stretches for 60 miles along the French border with Spain. Learn more about the LifeCycle Adventures difference. So, you know you will be looked after by real locals who will help you find the hidden gems and the authentic Pyrenees. LifeCycle Adventures is an owner-operated company – we live and ride in the areas we operate. During your bike tour, we take care of all the logistics and our support vans are always nearby so you simply enjoy the freedom of cycling at your own pace. If you want to take a day off, relax in a spa town, take a long day hike, or simply relax and take in the mountain scenery.Īll trips are customized for you: your dates, your ride distances and your style of lodging. At the end of every day of your cycling tour enjoy what France is known for-the cuisine and the wine. The area has a lot to offer for advanced intermediate riders all the way to enthusiast riders. The scenery is stunning, the villages are charming, and the traffic is light.
Ride up – and down – the mountain or simply have us give you a ride as far up as you want to go. Cycle past snow covered peaks, enjoy phenomenal mountain vistas. Forming a natural border between France and Spain, the Pyrenees are unexploited and wild, and dotted with peaks in excess of 11,00 feet. The Pyrenees represent a much quieter alternative to their mountain cousin, the Alps, yet the beauty is no less stunning. Our Pyrenees trips offer a contrasting landscape to Provence, yet offer all of what visitors to France seek in its cultural, historical, and culinary offerings.
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