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High Pyrenees Tour Itinerary

Route: High Pyrenees Ride difficulty- Average of 40Km day with 1200 meters of climbing per day

Day 1: Arrive at Bertren and assemble bikes and prepare for the trip. Accom: Bertren

Day 2: Starting the ride at the Bales (1755m), which is accessed from the logging road from the Barousse valley and the village of Ferrere. The Col gives you a first great view of the 3000m ridge line forming the Spanish/French borders and Pic de Cecire (2403 m). Descending down the old logging road southwest to the village of the Borg d Oueil and crossing the valley floor to follow the single track descent passing the villages to the first main climb of the Col De Peyresourde(1569 m) At the ski station of the Peyragudes on the west face we take an off road descent through the village of Germ and down to the lake side at the village of Loudenville. Continuing the ride with a road climb up to the Col de Azet (1624 m) the road climb is a challenge and said to be the one of the hardest in the road race of the Tour de France. From the Col a decent starting off with a traverse across the open slopes and then flowing down into the wooded tracks and finally ending up at the village of St Lary.
Accom
: St Lary
Distance: 57KM

Day 3: From the overnight stop we transfer to the top of the Col de Apin or you have the option to ride the Famous TDF climb of the Col De Aspin , From the Col we descend through the pine forests to the lake and cross-country ski station of Payolle. Heading west out of the valley the tracks climb up to a great view spot of the barren peaks of the Pic de Monfaucon and heading North over the valley de Campan with its scattered thatched cottages lining the hillsides and finally rejoining the road at Artigues crossing the valley we then climb Westwards for a final loop back to the Col De Aspin and a flowing descent through the tree line to our overnight stop in the village of St Marie de Campan.
Accom
: St Marie de Campan
Distance
: 45.Km 65km with road climb of Aspin

Day 4: A option from the overnight stop of riding the 16.9 Km road climb of the Tourmalet or take the support vehicle to the top of the Col for a quick visit to the cafe with its memorabilia of times when the Tour de France was ridden with fixed gears on dirt roads. From the Col we descend traversing Northwards down the goaty single track to meet the climb of the dirt road to the Capet and the snow barriers protecting the town of Bareges from the snow avalanches which nearly destroyed the town in 1897 .A carrying section must be made Westwards traversing across the steep mountainside through the barriers. Cutting across to the Northern face and circling around to the south you can rejoin a single track with 25 hairpins descending to Bareges.

Accom: Bareges
Distance: 37 Km 54Km with Tourmalet climb

Day 5: Day off the bike with a choice to relax around the spa town of Bareges or take a walk to the many mountain lakes in the area.
Accom
: Bareges

Day 6: Returning back over the Tourmalet we transfer out of the valley to the area of Espaross to ride a circuit which has every type of track imaginable undulating around the foothills and climb over Col de Couradabat and through the villages of Arrodets and La Bouchette and back to Esparros for a transfer back to base at Bertren.
Accom
: Bertren
Distance
: 40Km

Day 7: Back at the base at Bertren we assess the final days ride with the ability and fitnees of the group. The final days ride can consist of a days Descending in the valley of Luchon and Super Bagneres or we Complete a circuit around the valleys and ridges of the local area making a great final ride of a great and varied week of riding sampling the varied terrain of the High Pyrenees.

Day 8: Depart

This itinerary is given as a guideline and is subject to change depending on group ability and weather conditions.

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