Pyrenees Playground Trip 2012
June 25th to July 7th
For more info contact Scott: scott@cyclesporttravel.com (608) 352-0245
CST Day 1 Monday
A member of the Cyclesport travel crew will meet you outside the customs area of the Toulouse Blagnac airport. After your long flight we will get you and your luggage to one of our vehicles, provide you with a snack and something to drink, and drive you to the scenic village of Vicdessos(our base).
In Vicdessos, you can check out your cabin, settle in a bit, shower, snack, whatever you need to decompress a bit from the journey, and then we encourage you to go for a walk around the village while we get your bicycle ready to ride.
Time to ride! Click on the links to get a taste of what is to come.
We’ll return from the ride in time for you to shower before we head to dinner.
Tired and well-fed and you’re off to bed.
Day 2 Tuesday
Wake up to the mountain air for your first full day in the Pyrenees! Ride options for this day:
Port de Lers, Massat, Agnes Ride option
Port de Lers, Massat, Port de Lers ride option
Day 3 Wednesday
On this day we will preview part of the Ariegeoise Cyclosportive route and visit the historic Castle ruins of Montsegur, where we start and finish our ride.
Day 4 Thursday
Once again we will explore part of the Ariegeoise Cyclosportive route. We ride right from our cabins to the event start in Tarascon–just like we’ll do on event day. We then ride along a beautiful stretch of land called the Corniche, looking across to the Plateau de Beille, which we climb and descend to finish the day.
Corniche ride option.
Day 5 Friday
For those doing the Ariegeoise Cyclosportive this is the day we pick up your race packet and take a walk through the expo and the town of Tarascon. We will have an optional ride after we return to the cabins, or choose to visit the historic cave paintings of Niaux.
Day 6 Saturday
The big day is here! Ariegeoise Cyclosportive, we will be getting up early, eat a good breakfast, and get ready to ride.
Ariégeoise starts at 8:00, ride to the start begins from the cabins at 6:45.
Mountagnole starts at 8:30, ride to the start begins from the cabins at 7:15.
For those who choose not to ride the event, ride options are available.
Day 7 Sunday
The big day is over, today you can kick back and relax. Go for a hike or take an easy spin. We start getting ready for our transfer to Arreau on Monday.
Day 8 Monday
We say goodbye to our lovely valley and head for Arreau. After cleaning the cabins and packing, we’ll leave later in the morning, have lunch on the road during the 3+ hour trip, and arrive in Arreau in time to drop our gear in the hotel rooms, and do a short, beautiful ride in the afternoon.
Ride option Col d’Azet
Day 9 Tuesday
This will be our first full day in Arreau. And what a day it will be–the legendary Col de Tourmalet!
Ride option Tourmalet
Day 10 Wednesday
We first rode this beautiful mountain the year before it was discovered by the Tour de France, and last year we got the unexpected treat of getting to the top and seeing white clouds nestled into the valleys below. It was simply spectacular.
Ride option Ancizan Col d’Aspen
Day 11 Thursday
Descenders Delight! On our last big day in France we get three great descents for the price of only two climbs. We will drive to the top of the Col de Peyresourde, get on our bikes to descend the Peyresourde, and climb the picturesque Port de Bales. We’ll then descend the other side and climb the Peyresourde and finally enjoy the long and winding descent back to Arreau.
Day 12 Friday
Depending on the legs and the weather, we can do a short early easy ride before packing for the 2+ hour afternoon drive to Toulouse for our flight home on Saturday. Take in all the beauty that surrounds us!
Day 13 Saturday
For most this will be an early wake-up and shuttle to the airport. Bon Voyage!