FRANCE 2011
Pyrenees Playground Trip 2011
June 19th to July 2nd
For more info contact Scott: scott@cyclesporttravel.com (608) 352-0245
Sunday 19th
Riders arrive and are greeted by Cyclesport staff at Toulouse airport. Transport by vans to Vicdessos (2hrs) and move into cabins by 3pm. We’ll assemble your bike while you are moving in, having a bite to eat, and breathing in the mountain air. Then have a walk around town or do a short (1-1.5 hrs) exploratory ride to check out the valley towns before having a dinner at the cabins and getting acquainted with other group members. Early to bed.
Monday 20th
We’ll begin with a general orientation meeting and distribute maps, route profiles and schedules.
Ride: mid-morning start for jet lag adjustment. Down towards Tarascon and back for warm-up before climbing to the top of Port de Lers for coffee overlooking a high lake, with options for longer route (Col d’Agnes) before return.
Tuesday 21st
Ride: Through small medieval villages along the Corniche leading to the Col de Marmare, descend back to the base of the Plateau de Beille for a lunch/snack before climbing this classic beyond-category climb and a mountain-top finish for the 2011 Tour.
Wednesday 22nd
Ride: Preview portions of the Ariégeoise Cyclosportive, starting with the Port de Lers, descending to Massat, over the Col de Saraillé, up the valley to Aulus les Bains. Stop for coffee, then climb the Col d’Agnes, before returning via the descent to Vicdessos.
Thursday 23rd
Departure 6:30 A.M. early morning ride, followed by a visit to the weekly farmers market in Vicdessos that features great Pyrenees cheeses, ham, artisanal knives and bone jewelry. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Montségur, visit the château and then climb the Col de la Croix des Morts.
Friday 24th
Ride or drive to Tarascon, pick up event packets and check out exposition merchandise (excellent deals on European clothing and bike accessories). Longer ride option for those not tapering for the Cyclosportive: climb the Pas de Soulombrie, descend to Les Cabannes, and return down the valley to Tarascon.
Saturday 25th
Two ride options:
Ariégeoise Cyclosportive Event Day
Location, location, location! In the morning, as warm-up, we ride the 20km road in the valley downhill to the start in Tarascon. The event finishes 1km from our cabins and it’s all downhill to get your tired souls home! Choices of 165km and 110km. (www.cyclosport-ariegeoise.com)
Ride: We will design and lead a ride with anyone not doing the Cyclosportive. This will be a route that intersects with the event route and allows us to cheer on our mates as they climb and/or finish. (Route details await the January route announcement of The Ariégeoise Cyclosportive.
Sunday 26th
This is a day for kicking back and relaxing. Take the opportunity to visit neighboring villages, hike the mountains, or tour the Niaux cave paintings.
Monday 27th
Mini “Raid Pyrenees”
Transfer to Arreau. After our last breakfast in the cabins, we will drive the first 40km or so of the route west to the central Pyrenees, then ride about 130km to our hotel in Arreau. Climbs/descents include the Portet d’Aspet, the Col de Menthe, and the Peyresourde.
Tuesday 28th
Ride the many switchbacks of the Col d’Azet – Val Louron with long valley stretches to give our legs a break. 60km
Wednesday 29th
Ride: Always a peak experience to climb the infamous Tourmalet. We roll out from the hotel and quickly begin the ascent of the Col d’Aspin. This is a beautiful, mostly open climb with several switchbacks from which you can see Arreau growing steadily smaller in the valley below. Descend through the wooded side of the Aspin, ride along a lengthy valley that brings you to the base of the Tourmalet. We’ll join 50 or so other cyclists who are dining at the famous mountaintop café, at over 2000m. The return is one of the great, fast open descents of the Pyrenees through the ski resort of La Mongie.
Thursday 30th
Ride: Up the valley to Saint Lary, then we start climbing the beyond-category Plat d’Adet, with the road etched in the rock face. Return directly or add an additional Col, up to the Spanish border, taking a road veering off in the village of Soulan on the way down.
Friday 1st
Ride: Early-morning start for those interested in riding one more morning before afternoon transfer to Toulouse: The Hourquette d’Ancizan, with its mountain pastoral paradise, followed by a descent to Payolle and a return over the back side of the Col d’Aspin, in time for lunch in Arreau. Another option is a morning hike to the Lac de Bareilles, where you are quickly above the tree line and the ridges offer spectacular views of the central Pyrenees peaks.
Saturday 2nd
Sorry, but no ride today, but you will wake up in a hotel near the Toulouse airport with memories to last a lifetime. Quick drive to the airport and the flight home.