STAGE DESCRIPTION

We’ll start our most epic tour by discovering four Pyrenean valleys. We’ll begin in La Vall d’Aran, then we’ll go through La Vallée du Lys and continue along La Vallée du Louron to finish in La Vallée d’Aure. These valleys are linked by three legendary mountain passes that will turn this stage into an unforgettable day.

We’ll wake up in La Vall d’Aran, the highest district and the hardest one to reach in Catalonia. We’ll leave the valley by riding up the category 1 Coll de Portilló where, due to the fact it is on the border between France and Spain, it features in many editions of the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.

Once we’ve reached the La Vallée du Lys, we’ll discover the beautiful spa town of Bagnères-de-Luchon, full of skiers in winter and cyclists in the summer, which marks the beginning of the hardest climb of the stage, the famous Peyresourde.

After reaching the picturesque Vallée du Louron and the magnificent Lac de Génos-Loudenvielle, we’ll be ready for a rest. We’ll bask in this magical scenery before tackling the last mountain pass of the day, Col d’Azet, which will take us to the threshold of La Vallée d’Aure. From the top we’ll be able to enjoy some stunning views of both valleys and Saint-Lary, our base camp for the next four days.

STAGE DESCRIPTION

We’ll wake up in the heart of Vallée d’Aure ready to enjoy another epic day of cycling. Waiting for us today is the well-known Col d’Azet, the colossal Portet and the steep Pla d’Adet.

To warm up our legs we’ll start by climbing up the same side of Col d’Azet again, where we’ll get another chance to soak up the fantastic views. Today we can use the quiet and narrow road as an observation point to size up the formidable Col de Portet, recently repaved and included as an hors catégorie climb in the 2018 edition of the Tour de France. The figures of this climb are overwhelming: 16 kilometres and 1,400 metres of elevation gain convert the ride up to the summit into great challenge, pedalling amidst herds of sheep at 2,215 metres above sea level.

Halfway down Portet we’ll get back on the road where we turned off to go to the Pla d’Adet ski resort, which has been used as a stage finish in several editions of the Tour. Its natural observation point offers a wonderful view of La Vallée d’Aure and Saint-Lary, joined to the ski station by a spectacular cable car. After a quick descent, we’ll find the spa waiting for us in the wonderful hotel in Saint-Lary, where we’ll recover like real champions.

STAGE DESCRIPTION

After two intense stages, we’ll takes things easy today on the gentle lake route. We’ll climb two mountain passes that have never featured in the Tour de France because of their difficult access; however, their immense beauty converts them into a must-go destination.

We’ll leave Saint-Lary on the road that goes to Spain, though we’ll turn off at the junction and follow the path that will take us to today’s destination. We’ll start the climb surrounded by pine trees until we arrive at Lacets des Myrtilles, where the trees give way to open sky and the road starts twisting and turning up the steep slope. There is a junction at Lac d’Orédon, separating the two summits. On the left, the road ends at an altitude of 2,161 metres, at Lac de Cap-de-Long, the largest water reserve in the Pyrenees. From the top of the dam, you’ll be rewarded by breath-taking views of the mountains and lake that will be imprinted on our minds forever. A snack in the small mountain bar will help us savour the moment.

Our route continues as far as the lakes of Aumar and Aubert that are joined by natural wells, whose transparent waters from the Pic de Madamète will leave you spellbound. On the other side of the peak is the legendary Tourmalet.

We’ll return to Saint-Lary remembering the exposed landscape, with our eyes lit up and our mobile phones full of gorgeous photos.

STAGE DESCRIPTION

Ever since the 1910 edition of the Tour de France explored the Pyrenees for the first time, cyclists from all over the world dream of climbing the summits we propose to you today.

We’ll start the day by climbing the mythic Col d’Aspin, a classic feature on the Tour de France calendar and essential for connecting the Aure and Campan valleys, the gateway to the Tourmalet. We’ll descend from its summit surrounded by pine trees until we come to Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, lying at the bottom of the most renowned mountain pass of the Pyrenees, the Tourmalet. As we ride up its slopes, round its horseshoe bends and through its tunnels we’ll feel the epic emanating from this HC climb. We’ll reach the top at an altitude of 2,115 metres, together with Octave, le Géant du Tourmalet and for a day, we’ll feel like real professional cyclists. On the way back, we will have deserved a rest and we’ll stop La Mongie, the legendary mountain’s tourist centre where we can drink to the health of cycling champions.

We’ll end our tour by climbing the west side of the hidden and peaceful Hourquette d’Ancizan. After a technical and picturesque descent, we’ll reach the Vallée d’Aure again, where we’ll spend our last day enjoying the charms of Saint-Lary before saying farewell to the Pyrenees.