|
 |
In a nutshell
|
|
Start
Finish
Countries
Stages
Rest days
|
:
:
:
:
:
|
Barcelona, Spain
Nice, France
Spain, France
17
3 days : Luz St. Sauveur, Carcassonne,
Malaucène
|
 |
Total distance
Average distance
Total climbing
Average climbing
|
:
:
:
:
|
1.850 km
109 km
34.000 meters
2.000 meters
|
1.155 miles
68 miles
111.500 feet
6.560 feet
|
Road condition
Period
Accommodation
Price
Discount
|
:
:
:
:
:
|
100% paved
Friday
May 10th,
2024
Wednesday May 29th,
2024
Campings plus 3 hotel nights
in Barcelona, Montserrat and Nice
€ 3.195,-
€ 200,- for early registration
|
Description
You take a map of France and start dreaming
about the moon landscape of the Mont Ventoux. You look
further on the map and see the classic climbs of the
Pyrenees. Your finger drifts over the map and your eyes
discover wonderful gorges which connect the Pyrenees
with the Mont Ventoux. But... where to start and where
to finish? At the Atlantic Ocean? The Mediterranean?
Let's start this time in Barcelona and after a great
loop through the Spanish and French Pyrenees head east
in the direction of the Mont Ventoux and finish in Nice.
"La Grande Boucle des Pyrénées" is
born. This time vice versa compared to previous editions
and 90% over the same course, only in the reverse
direction.
We start near Barcelona at the beaches
of the Mediterranean and cycle inland over quiet roads
which soon start to climb. The first stop is
Montserrat where we stay at the monastery on
top of a spectacular massif in the heart of Catalunya.
You will be amazed about its beauty and spirality.
The Pyrenees which form the natural
border between France and Spain loom up above the
horizon and is the inspiring décor for the next ten
days. Picturesque villages, small and quiet roads,
traditional craftspeople and an older way of life
dominate the mountain range. In this setting you climb
numerous legendary cols which featured many times in the
Tour de France and Vuelta d'España.
Less known passes on the Spanish side are alternated
with tranquil dam reservoirs and narrow canyons. The
towering canyon walls and lush greenery in the
Cañon de Anisclo may not be missed. This gorge
in the Parque Nacional Ordesa y Monte Perdido
is one of the most amazing sections on the Spanish side
of the Pyrenees. The narrow one-way road manoeuvres to
great heights around the majestic rock formations and up
steep grades to an enchanting land of nature.
You enter France at an altitude of 1.794 meter, more
specific, at the Puerto del Portalet.
You climb the famous French cols in the Pyrenees from
the West. It's the most beautiful, but also the most
challenging side. The first one is the Col
d'Aubisque (1.709 m) which is one of those
hors catégorie cols that make the legend of the
Tour de France.
You drop down to the Gorge de Luz and have a first rest
day in Luz St. Sauveur. If you don't
feel tired yet, you can climb to one of the nearby
ski-resorts like Luz Ardiden or Hautacam. Probably you
want to safe your energy for the upcoming queen stage :
the Col du Tourmalet (2.115 m), the
Hourquette d'Anzican (1.564 m) and the
Col de Peyresourde (1.569 m). The
Tourmalet is one of the most popular mountain climbs and
most famous in the Tour de France having featured more
than 80 times since 1910. From Luz St. Sauveur, the
Tourmalet is 18 kilometers long at almost 8% with a last
kilometer of over 10%. Definitely a challenge. The
Hourquette d'Anzican and Col de Peyresourde have open
scenery most of the way and are not the most difficult
climbs. The tough day ends in the fashionable resort of
Bagnères-de-Luchon which is celebrated
for its thermal springs.
You continue with another iconic triple-col day.
Col de Menté (1.349 m), Col de Portet
d'Aspet (1.069 m) and Col de la Core
(1.395 m). The Col de Portet d'Aspet was already used
for the first time in the Tour de France of 1910 and has
appeared regularly since. The col is also known for the
tragic incident of Fabio Casertelli which died whilst
descending a steep section when leading the peloton in
1995. The Société du Tour de France and the Motorola
team placed a memorial stone dedication to Fabio
Casartelli on the spot where it happened.
The Col d'Agnès (1.570 m) and Col du Chioula (1.431 m)
follow before we have a rest day in Carcassonne.
The medieval fortified city looks like a surreal
fairy-tale town of turrets, magic and wonder.
Carcassonne has always been on a strategic position
between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, for you it's
a sign that you have left the Pyrenees behind. But there
is still a lot to come.
You enter the lush Haute Languedoc with
gentle climbs and dozens of winding roads. We head in
the direction of Millau where we cycle below the
impressive Millau Viaduct. It's the one
of the tallest vehicle bridges in the world with a
highest pier which fits between the Eiffel Tower and the
Empire State Building. The viaduct is also the gateway
to the Gorges du Tarn. Absolutely
spectacular, the gorges cut through the limestone
plateaux of the Causse de Sauveterre and the Causse
Méjean in a precipitous trench about 500 meter deep and
1.600 meter wide for almost 50 kilometer. It's like a
geography lesson has sprung to life.
Cycling through the wild and untamed Cévennes
Mountains we end up at the famous Pont
d'Arc near Vallon which is the largest natural
bridge in Europe. It was here that the discovery of the
Chauvet Cave was made in 1994 where 32,000 year old cave
paintings were found. So, you are definitely not the
first one which enjoys the beauty of this incredible
natural feature. You cycle downstream through the
Gorges de l'Ardeche with spectacular
limestone cliffs towering up to 350 meter above the
meandering river below.
The Mont Ventoux towers in the distance
as you cycle through the lavender fields of the
Provence. The mountain is a magnet for cyclists
throughout the summer and is probably the second most
famous climb in the world after l'Alpe d'Huez. The Mont
Ventoux became famous on July 13th, 1967 when the
British cyclist Tom Simpson rode himself to exhaustion
on the slopes and died. There is a memorial to Tom
Simpson on the southern side of the mountain, just over
one kilometre from the summit. The last six kilometres
come the Mistral wind into play and can buffet a cyclist
all over the road. The seven percent gradient can feel
more like 15 percent. On a good day it is possible to
see as far as the Alps to the north and the
Mediterranean to the south.
We have a rest day planned in Malaucène,
located in the shadow of the Mont Ventoux. This gives
you the opportunity to reach the summit also from one of
the other sides or to explore the fabulous surroundings.
You continue further east and cycle on the northern rim
of the Grand Canyon du Verdon. The
largest canyon in Europe is a dramatic series of
limestone cliffs, stunning views, dramatic waterfalls
and a startling turquoise-green river is floating up to
700 meters deep. The last stage you pass the narrow and
beautiful Gorges du Loup before you
drop to sea level at the Mediterranean.
The 5th edition of "La Grande Boucle des Pyrénées"
starts Friday May
10th, 2024 in Barcelona. The finish lies
after 20 days, 1.850 kilometres and a lot of climbs in
Nice, the capital of the Côte d'Azur.
The whole route follows paved, relatively quiet and
scenic mountain roads. The course varies from serious
hills to long, steep climbs as the Mont Ventoux and the
Col du Tourmalet. Don't expect one single flat stage.
The tour is planned in the middle of spring which
guarantees normally pleasant cycling temperatures
throughout the tour with still patches of snow in the
mountains. The weather conditions in the Pyrenees can
always be unsettled and the circumstances can become
heroic if you reach altitudes around or above 2.000
metres.
The tour is open for cyclists from all around the world
to create an exceptional atmosphere, during as well as
after the bike ride.
"La Grande Boucle des Pyrénées" is a physical challenge
in an alluring and picturesque area. Ride the climbs you
always wanted to do, and enjoy the best of what Southern
France and Northern Spain has to offer.
|
| |
|
|
