Sept 1 –
Arrive TOULOUSE
We’ll meet you at the airport and
take you to our country hotel, 12 miles outside of town. You’ll
have the afternoon to assemble bikes, test ride and cruise some
of the local roads, or perhaps take a nap before our
get-acquainted dinner tonight, which will follow an overview of
the tour.
Sept 2 –
ST GIRON - 62mi, 3500ft
Our first day’s ride, while not spectacular, will be quite
scenic, as we cycle the back roads over rolling to hilly
terrain. This is mostly farming country, punctuated by patches
of dark green forest. There will be numerous small stone
villages along the route, with little change in appearance over
the last 300 years. Eventually the Pyrenees mountains will be
visible in the distance, drawing closer and closer, as we near
our destination, only to disappear as our route enters a small
winding river valley, and climbs over a small pass above St
Giron. Our hotel, nondescript on the street, is elegant on the
interior, and surrounds a large inner courtyard and swimming
pool. The cuisine is excellent; all in all well worth a two-day
stay.
Sept 3 –
ST GIRON - 47mi, 2400ft, -or- 60mi, 5300ft
Today’s loop ride is pure Tour de France. This year’s Stage 14
starts in St Giron and follows our exact route over the Col de
Latrape and the Col de la Core, however they continue for
another 100 km, over four bigger climbs. These first two cols
are an interesting choice for the Tour de France, because they
usually stick to the larger roads and bigger passes. These are
small roads that one would choose mostly for the beautiful
scenery and small, secluded villages. The shorter route omits
the second climb, gaining valuable sunbathing time by the pool,
or more shopping opportunities.
Sept 4 - FOIX - 42mi, 2300ft,
-or- 57mi, 3800ft
We begin with a leisurely ride to the Grotte du Mas d’Azil.
This is a large river carved cave through the limestone hill.
The road goes completely through the cave emerging on the other
side of the hill near the cute village of Mas d’Azil. From here
the route climbs into the foothills along a beautiful forested
road before descending to Foix. This is an historic town with
plenty of small streets worth exploring. Especially worth a
visit is the ancient castle on the steep hill above town.
Today’s long route is totally different, leaving St Giron up the
Gorges du Ribaouto to Massat, where we begin the climb of the
Port de Lers. This small pass is well above tree line and the
views of meadows and mountains are grand in all directions. The
long descent passes through Nioux where we can visit the Grotte
de Niaux with its prehistoric cave paintings. These are some of
the best cave paintings still open for viewing to the public.
Sept 5 - COUIZA - 50mi, 3400ft, -or- 70mi, 4200ft
We cycle up a beautiful
valley beneath a long ridge of the Plantaurel mountains.
Our destination is Montsegur, the most celebrated of all the
Cathar citadels. High on the top of a granite outcropping, the
site is quite stunning. This was the last stronghold of the
Cathar religion where its non-repentant residents were burned at
the stake, victims of the Catholic Inquisition. It is well
worth the steep hike up to the castle. From here it is a
pleasant ride through beautiful countryside, passing by the
Cathar castle ruins of Puivert, to our hotel in Couiza. The
hotel, a registered Historic monument is a restored 16th
century fortified chateau. The longer route climbs up to the
Plateau de Sault, we then have 31miles of gradual downhill to
our hotel. The majority of this descent is down an absolutely
beautiful narrow valley following the Rebenty River and then the
Aude River.
Sept
6 – COUIZA – Carcassone loop - 60mi, 1700ft, - or- 30mi, 1000ft
Today we have the opportunity to see the Cite de Carcassone, a
13th century double walled, fortified city. This is
an amazing fairytale like castle, beautifully restored, and well
kept, and certainly not lacking for tourists! There are plenty
or restaurants and shops for those who would like to have lunch
and spend more time here. The 60-mile loop ride is mostly on
small roads in the scenic hills along the Aude River, however,
we will have van assistance for those who might want to cycle
only half the distance, because of a longer stay in Carcassone.
Sept 7 - TARASCON - 67mi, 4900ft, -or- 57mi, 4900ft
We start
by retracing the long route from Sept 5th, up the
Rebenty River valley, gradual and very beautiful. After lunch
in one of the three small villages, we descend off the Plateau
de Sault on a beautifully forested hillside road. From here to
our Tarascon, the 22-mile Route des Corniches is one of the
best, most scenic stretches of road, of the tour. All in all,
one of the best days of cycling you will ever have.
Sept
8 - SAUVETERRE - 67mi, 3400ft, -or- 80 mi, 6000 ft
We start
the day challenging one of the Tour de France ’regulars’, the
Col de Port. From this particular direction, the descent is
winding and gradual, resulting in an exhilarating roller coaster
ride – one of the best anywhere. From St. Giron, we head
down-river, before heading off into the low hills on a series of
small farming roads. The long ride takes a different route from
St Giron, following the Tour de France course over the Col de
Portet d’Aspet, and then veers north over two small cols, the
Col de Buret and Col des Ares, before descending to our pleasant
country inn near Sauveterre.
Sept
9 – Bagneres de Bigorre - 64mi, 6800ft, -or- 53mi, 4500ft
We have a choice of two
very different rides today, one is pure Tour de France, and the
other is on small roads that have never been used by the Tour.
The big ride is over the Col de Peyresourde and the Col d’Aspin.
These are beautiful climbs and the views are grand. At the top
of the Peyresourde be sure to stop at the snack bar/café and try
the 30 cent crepes, they are quite delicious. The easier (?)
route follows the valley along the base of the mountains and
then climbs up and down, traversing the sides of these giant
foothills. Looking out over the lowlands to the north,
the viewpoints are many. But what makes this route so special,
is something that captures the essence of rural France; small
farming roads connecting ancient villages, roads winding past
neat stone farm houses, through pastures and over hills, an
excursion showing us a way of life that is hard working but slow
paced and rewarding.
Sept
10 – Bagneres de Bigorre - 38mi, 2200ft
We stay
two nights in this busy regional town, to rest and refuel for
tomorrows big ride. However, anyone doing the Col du Tourmalet
tomorrow absolutely must take the loop ride to Lourdes. Our
route through the foothills is stunningly beautiful, on small
winding roads with no traffic except other cyclists.
Surprisingly, the Tour de France used these roads this year on
their way to the Tourmalet climb. Also, Lourdes is a must see
town. It is a beautiful town, with a beautiful setting, but
more important, Lourdes is the biggest religious pilgrimage
destination in Europe. The streets will be packed with
thousands of people, there to drink the curative waters from the
grotto and participate in the numerous religious events. Those
who won’t be doing the big climb tomorrow can take the day off
from cycling and enjoy a leisurely day about town.
Sept
11 – St Savin - 37mi, 2000ft, -or- 39mi, 5800ft
The
challenge today, should you accept it, is to climb the Col du
Tourmalet, the highest pass in the Pyrenese, a venue each year
in the Tour de France. The Alps has the Col du Galibier, and
Provence has Mont Ventoux, monumental climbs, both steep and
long, that challenge the strength of even the best pro
cyclists. The Tourmalet is such a climb, with the upper
stretches at a constant 10 to 11 percent; some say this is the
hardest of them all. It is of course, a glorious descent and
the ride through the Gorge de Luz is beautiful. The easier
route takes the foothill roads into Lourdes and then up the
valley to St Savin. Our hotel is quite modest but the food is
the best of the tour. The chef has become quite fond of our
cycling groups, as we seem to quickly consume whatever delicious
dish he sets before us. Once he served 7 different deserts, 7
to each of us, burp!
Sept 12 –
Oloron Ste Marie - 54mi, 4600ft, -or- 53mi, 1700ft
Yesterday we climbed
the highest pass in the Pyrenees and today we climb the most
stunningly beautiful pass, the Col d’Aubisque. This road,
ordered built by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, as one
guide book describes, “…is a marvelous, tortuous road that will
make any car miserable, not to mention the bicyclists of the
Tour de France, on those occasions when the sadists who run it
steer the race this way.” First we have to climb the Col du
Soulor, a twisting road with plenty of great views, but it is
the traverse between the Soulor and the Aubisque that is
amazing. Here the road is carved into the side of a precipitous
cliff, climbing steeply and dangerously to the summit of the
Aubisque. The cars drive very slowly along here, but be very
careful of the unpredictable, grazing bovines. The easy route
climbs neither pass, but descends back to Lourdes and follows
the small foothill roads to Oloron. This is also a very
beautiful route and should be strongly considered.
Sept 13 –
St Jean Pied-de-Port - 55mi, 4500ft, -or- 50mi, 2000ft
Stage 16
of the Tour de France cruised through the mountains between
Oloron and St Jean. The race rarely ventures here as the roads
are small, tortuous, and remote, but that is also what makes
this great cycling terrain. We can ride as much of their course
as wanted, or even none at all. If you choose to include the
Tour climb of the Col de Soudet, it will make for a hard day of
72 miles and 8600 feet of climbing. This is very beautiful
countryside, green and rugged, any route you choose to ride will
be most enjoyable. There is good reason to finish riding
early. St Jean is a wonderful Basque town, probably the best
for exploring on the whole tour. St Jean is on one of the more
historic routes through the Pyrenees, hosting Arab armies,
European crusaders, as well as religious pilgrims from all over
Europe, as they made their way to Compostela.
Sept 14 –
Biarritz - 52mi, 3500ft –or- 40mi, 1700ft
St Jean
has a wonderful street market this morning, so some last minute
shopping might be in order. On our last day in these beautiful
mountains, our route heads northwest, to Biaritz and the
Atlantic Ocean. This stretch of road promises some of the best
scenery and views of the trip, a fitting conclusion to a great
tour in the Pyrenees. No exploration of the Basque country can
pretend to be complete without visiting the Spanish side of the
Pyrenees. We therefore climb the Col d’Ispeguy and drop into
Spain, if only for 20 miles of scenic riding. The rest of the
ride traverses the low green hills along the coast. The easy
route misses Spain altogether, taking a series of small roads
over the low rolling hills east of Biaritz. Farewell dinner
tonight at the hotel.
Sept 15
- DEPARTURE. Van transport provided to Biaritz airport
COST:
$2650 per person based on Double Occupancy
$500 Single Supplement
INCLUDES:
·3-4 star Hotel Accommodations Full breakfast daily (except arrival day)
·All dinners (except departure day)
·Airport transfers
from and to Toulouse and Biarritz airports,
·Bike mechanic and van support with cellular phone,
·Ground transportation for all passengers, luggage & bikes,
·Regional map plus detailed daily route maps & cue sheets.
NOT INCLUDED:
·International
airfare,
·Tips and gratuities,
·Laundry, telephone, and items of a personal nature,
·Lunches and alcoholic beverages (a supplemental fee will be charged to those who wish wine with dinner, and may be prepaid before departure)
PRE-TRIP
PLANNING
A complete trip packet will be sent upon receipt of your final payment, including tour t-shirt, hotel lists, maps, and luggage tags. Our guidebook containing information on what to bring, how to pack your bike for flying,
equipment list, and changing currencies, will be sent upon receipt of your secondary deposit (due by March 1). All participants must possess a current passport
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Erickson Cycle Tours recommends purchasing insurance for trip
cancellation, injury, illness, and loss of effects. A travel insurance brochure with application is included with your confirmation letter.
AIRFARE
We offer the services of our travel agent, Des Peres Travel, in obtaining economical,
expedient air reservations, and we are happy to assist with pre- and post-tour accommodations. Please contact Claus Claussen at Des Peres Travel for flight information: 800.264.7717 or dptravel@primary.net. You may use your own travel
agent if you prefer.
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