French & Spanish Pyrenees

French & Spanish Pyrenees (+ Andorra)

When earth was created, however you believe it came about, the Pyrenees is one place that some serious thought, engineering and style came together to create a masterpiece. These manificant mountain ranges form a border between France and Spain located in Southwest Europe.

The highest peak in the Pyrenees is Aneto, which sits at 3,404m asl and the highest paved pass is Port d'Envalira at 2,408 m (located in Andorra)

The Pyrenees span some 491 km from the Bay iof Biscay (Cap Higuer to be precise) to the Mediterranean Sea (Cap de Creus).

Most people come back to the Pyrenees a few times in their cycling life, visiting different zones at each time in order to experience as many passes as possible or maybe you just want to traverse the entire range over 14 days and 1300km!!

Translations - Spanish: Pirineos, French: Pyrénées, Aragonese: Pirineus, Catalan: Pirineus , Occitan: Pirenèus, Basque: Pirinioak

Find Tours in the Pyrenees

"Orthodoxy on one side of the Pyrenees may be heresy on the other"
_____________________
Blaise Pascal
(The French philosopher and mathematician (1623-1662))

Major Passes

Envalira Pass 2,408 m
Port de Cabús 2,302 m
Andorra Arcalis 2,240 m
Err-Puigmal 2,225 m
Col des Tentes 2,208 m
Cim de Coma Morera 2,205 m

Lac d'Aumar 2,200 m
Presa de Llauset 2,190 m
Lac de Cap-de-Long 2,175 m
Vallter 2000 2,144 m
Col du Tourmalet 2,115 m
Cirque de Troumouse 2,100 m

Els Cortals d'Encamp 2,083 m
Port de la Bonaigua 2,072 m
Plateau de la Calme 2,050 m
Puig de la Tossa 2,040 m
La Rabassa 2,037 m
Boí Taüll Resort 2,031 m

Riding

The Pyrenees can vary in temperature and climate in general, so be aware of the regions youa re visiting and the altitudes. Anything over 1000m be cautious can be cold if it does rain, even in the middle of summer.
The best time of the year is: Late May, June, July, September and October with consistent weather throughout the summer period.
Be sure to always have a wind/rain proof jacket with you, sometimes the afternoon storms can catch you out on a long day!

Memorable Wins

3 of the most memorable victories in the Pyrenees

1969: Stage 17 TdF - Merckx breaks away on Tourmalet, extends lead on Aubisque
2003: Stage 15 TdF - Lance Armstrong crashes climbing Luz-Ardiden, then drops Jan Ullrich and Iban Mayo to win the stage
1996: Stage 16 of TdF Miguel Indurain, 5-time winner, cracks on Hautacam and looses the Tour to Bjarne Riis.

2018 Tour de France

The Pyrenees will most likely form some major classification in this years TdF
STAGE 16: Col du Portillon 8.3km, Avg. Gradient 7.1% | Col de Portet D'Aspet 5.4km, Avg. G 7.1% | Col de Mente' 6.9km, Avg. G 8.1%
STAGE 17: Col de Val Louron-Azet 7.4km, Avg. Gt 8.3% | Col de Portet 16km, Avg. G 8.7% | Monte'e de Peyragudes 14.9km, Avg. G 6.7%
STAGE 18: Col des Borde'res 8.6km, Avg. G 5.8% | Col d'Aubisque 16.6km, Avg. G 4.9% | Col du Tourmalet 17.1km, Avg. G 7.3%

Food glorious food

Magret de Canard
Croustade aux Pommes
Aligot
Roquefort
Rocamadour
Tomme de Laguiole
Piperade Basque
Garbure
Pa amb tomàquet
Verduras, setas (del bosque)
Trufas

Enriched Friendships

Michelin Star Restaurants

Legendary Climbs

"14 days on the road, 1200km of cycling,
25,000m of climbing
from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean,
with 5 Star support....
a truely life-changing experience and achievement for the entire group"
_____________________
Roger T.
(Australia)