King of the Mountains › France Pyrenees
| THE TOP 50 COLS ...you HAVE to ride! |
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Duration |
2010 Trip dates |
Start location |
Ending location |
Accommodations Price per person |
Non-rider price
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"EXTREME" Trip
2011 Advance Reservations Now OPENClick here to make your advance reservation! Full details of our 2011 trip What is an advance reservation? And don't forget to reserve your Orbea Rental Bike (limited supply) |
Based on the hugely successful 2009 Alps Extreme trip, the Pyrenees Extreme trip is designed for avid riders who want an exceptionally challenging week of riding in the Pyrenees.
We've put together an exciting mix of LIVE viewing and challenging rides specifically designed for our strongest riders!
Our itinerary includes TWO of the key days in the Pyrenees; the Port de Bales climb on July 19 and the Col du Tourmalet on July 22.
And of course, being an "Extreme" trip, you'll have plenty of opportunities to test your climbing legs on the most challenging climbs in the Pyrenees. Tourmalet (both sides)....Aubisque....Luz-Ardiden....Superbagneres....Peyresourde....Marie-Blanque....are just some of the climbs you'll ride on this 7-day journey through the Pyrenees!
Click here to view the complete list of famous climbs on this trip.
As always you can relax and enjoy the rides knowing that you have the best support team in the business behind you.
So join us for a thrilling week of LIVE action and challenging rides over the toughest and most spectacular cols in the Pyrenees!
Click here to view the complete list of famous climbs on this trip.
LIVE VIEWING
Our vantage points will be present on the following climbs:
- July 19 - on the Port de Bales
- July 22 - on the Col du Tourmalet
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Tourmalet: ride the most famous climb in the Pyrenees - from both sides!
- TBT "Death-ride": An Extreme Trip requirement....!! 120 miles, 15,000ft - over the Aspin, Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden and Hourquette d'Ancizan.
- Aubisque: beautiful final day ride into the French Basque country includes the Col d'Ichere, the Col de Marie-Blanque (the tough side) and final climb up the HC Col d'Aubisque.
- Superbagneres: spectacular climb where Greg Lemond dropped Bernard Hinault to set the stage for his 1st win in a Grand Tour.
YOUR DAILY RIDES
Day |
Route Summary |
Ride Distance |
Elevation Gain |
Hotel Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Vielha › Port de la Bonaigua › Vielha |
30 miles |
3,550 ft |
Vielha |
2 |
Vielha › Col d'Artigaux › Port de Bales › Col de Portillon › Vielha |
90 miles |
9,900 ft |
Vielha |
3 |
Vielha › Col de Portillon › Superbagneres › Col de Peyresourde › Col d'Azet-Val Louron › St Lary Soulan |
70 miles |
10,350 ft |
St Lary Soulan |
4 |
St Lary Soulan › Col d'Aspin › Col du Tourmalet › Luz-Ardiden › Hourquette d'Ancizan › St Lary Soulan |
120 miles |
14,550 ft |
St Lary Soulan |
5 |
Argeles-Gazost › Col du Tourmalet › Aucun |
50 miles |
6,850 ft |
Aucun |
6 |
Aucun › Col de Soulor › Col d'Ichere › Col de Marie-Blanque › Col d'Aubisque › Aucun |
105 miles |
11,100 ft |
Aucun |
Total: |
465 miles |
56,300 ft |
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Daily Average: |
78 miles |
9,383 ft |
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CLIMB THESE FAMOUS COLS
In just 1 week climb many of the legendary cols in the Pyrenees! Here's the complete list of cols included in our itinerary (sorted by difficulty index):
Climb |
Elev.
Gain |
Average Grade |
Length |
Profile (m/km) |
Difficulty Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Col du Tourmalet (from Luz) | 4,606 |
7.4% |
11.8 miles |
138 |
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| Col du Tourmalet (from Ste Marie) | 4,160 |
7.4% |
10.7 miles |
133 |
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| Port de Bales | 3,888 |
6.3% |
11.7 miles |
130 |
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| Superbagneres | 3,839 |
6.3% |
11.5 miles |
126 |
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| Col d'Artigaux | 2,730 |
8.6% |
6.0 miles |
122 |
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| Col d'Aubisque | 3,904 |
7.2% |
10.3 miles |
120 |
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| Luz-Ardiden | 3,314 |
6.9% |
9.1 miles |
111 |
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| Col de Peyresourde | 3,081 |
6.1% |
9.5 miles |
96 |
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| Col de Marie-Blanque | 2,346 |
7.5% |
5.9 miles |
96 |
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| Col de Portillon (from Luchon) | 2,175 |
6.5% |
6.3 miles |
95 |
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| Col d'Azet-Val Louron | 2,034 |
8.3% |
4.7 miles |
92 |
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| Puerto de la Bonaigua | 3,615 |
4.8% |
14.3 miles |
82 |
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| Col d'Aspin | 2,556 |
6.5% |
7.4 miles |
81 |
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| Hourquette d'Ancizan | 2,966 |
4.0% |
14.0 miles |
78 |
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| Col de Portillon (from Bossost) | 1,913 |
6.8% |
5.3 miles |
68 |
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| Col d'Ichere | 1,066 |
6.1% |
3.3 miles |
63 |
OUR VANTAGE POINTS
Enjoy your afternoon on the mountain-side in the comfort and safety of our elaborate vantage points:
- Large marquis tents provided by our partner Orbea
- LIVE Satellite TV in English
- Large "changing-room" tent allowing you to change out of your cycling clothes into dry, warm clothes (the clothes are transported to the vantage point several days in advance by our support team).
- Full picnic lunch and refridgerator stocked with cool drinks
- Prime viewing spots - our vantage teams are in place several days before the race ensuring that we secure prime viewing spots
OUR SUPPORT
Quite simply, we provide the best support in the industry - guaranteed!
- Staff to client ratio of 1:4
- Several ride groups of approximately 10 riders in each group - allows us to manage riders of varying ability levels
- 1 TBT experienced ride leader and 1 SAG van per ride group of approximately 10 riders
- Full-time Mechanic
- Top-of-the-line rental bikes available through our partner Orbea
NON-RIDERS
Space for non-riders will be limited in 2010. Please call Paul Rogen on 1-888-446-5502 or e-mail Peter (
) for full details.
WHAT's INCLUDED
- 7 days / 6 nights fully accompanied trip
- Mixed level of accommodations (4-star, 3-star and 2-star hotels)
- All breakfasts
- All dinners
- 3 lunches
- Pick-up at Toulouse Blagnac Airport
- Drop-off at Toulouse Blagnac Airport
- All ground transportation
- All luggage transfer
- Services of our expert guides
- Experienced mechanic
- Support vehicles
- Thomson Bike Tours maps, cue sheets and elevation profiles
WHAT's NOT INCLUDED
- Airfare
- Travel and personal insurance
- Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
The Thomson Bike Tours DifferenceYour trip to Europe may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you deserve the best! Performance cyclists now rate Thomson Bike Tours as the premiere provider of performance trips to Europe. Here are a few details that set us aside from the rest: LIVE Satellite TV coverage in English: our strategically placed mountain-top picnic spots have become the reference for the industry and the envy of the mountain! No-one else has LIVE Satellite TV coverage in English! LESS VAN - MORE BIKE: Minimum Van Transfers between your hotels and the start/finish of the bike rides. Unfortunately we can't avoid the transfer to the bottom of the Tourmalet on Day 5 but on all other days we ride from and back to the hotel. Our local knowledge, extensive planning and vast experience mean that you spend less time in a van and more time on the bike! THE THOMSON RIDES: over the years we've also gained a reputation for providing the best (and most challenging) rides. 25 years experience riding in the Pyrenees counts! Best-in-class Support & ride leaders: another key to our success! Sag van and ride leader for every 10 riders.
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