"EXTREME" Trip

2011 Advance Reservations Now OPEN Click here to make your advance reservation! Full details of our 2011 trip will be available November 15th. What is an advance reservation? click here to find out! 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
Daily Average:		78 miles	9,383 ft

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
Col du Tourmalet (from Ste Marie)	4,160	7.4%	10.7 miles		133
Port de Bales	3,888	6.3%	11.7 miles		130
Superbagneres	3,839	6.3%	11.5 miles		126
Col d'Artigaux	2,730	8.6%	6.0 miles		122
Col d'Aubisque	3,904	7.2%	10.3 miles		120
Luz-Ardiden	3,314	6.9%	9.1 miles		111
Col de Peyresourde	3,081	6.1%	9.5 miles		96
Col de Marie-Blanque	2,346	7.5%	5.9 miles		96
Col de Portillon (from Luchon)	2,175	6.5%	6.3 miles		95
Col d'Azet-Val Louron	2,034	8.3%	4.7 miles		92
Puerto de la Bonaigua	3,615	4.8%	14.3 miles		82
Col d'Aspin	2,556	6.5%	7.4 miles		81
Hourquette d'Ancizan	2,966	4.0%	14.0 miles		78
Col de Portillon (from Bossost)	1,913	6.8%	5.3 miles		68
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 Difference Your 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.