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RAID Pyrenean Routes
Cycling across the pyrenees in six, ten or twelve days...
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We offer several alternatives to cyclists looking for more in their holiday than the classic Club Bearnais 100 hour RAID pyrenean provides. Each route has been chosen to
maximise the experience of cycling across this natural border between France and Spain. Our proposed routes are suited to different levels of
ability and vary in both pace and distance. Your journey through the pyrenees can be arranged with overnight stops
at selected camp sites or stays in hotel accommodation.
Decide the duration of your trip:
- 6 Days: This is a beautiful but testing route, suitable for an elite club level cyclist, or very fit amateur - our trip is a total of 9 days, with 25 cols over 6 days. [The variant 6 day route is tougher still including the Port de Pailheres.]
- 10 Days: shorter day distances at the beginning for active cyclists, or people with good level of fitness. Longer days in the saddle as the legs get stronger - our trip is a total of 13 days, with a route including 26 cols over 10 days.
- 12 Days: suitable for most active cyclists and including two rest days to turn the RAID pyrenean into a more enjoyable break.
The RAID pyreneans we run go from Atlantic ocean to Mediterranean sea to take advantage of the prevailing westerly wind and the steadily improving climate when heading from west to east.
It can be noticed that our RAID pyrenees route favours on the Spanish side of the pyrenees initially. This is for two very good reasons: Firstly, experience has shown us that the build up to the larger famous French cols
should be gradual, and secondly, the weather is generally better on the Spanish side of the pyreneen chain in the far west.
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2008 RAID Dates |
Hotel** |
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Spaces Left |
June |
6 Day Road Route trip is 9 days total (8 nights) Sat. 30 May - Sun. 8 June |
1495 Euros |
695 Euros |
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June |
10 Day Road Route trip is 13 days total (12 nights) Sat. 14 June - Thurs. 26 June |
1995 Euros |
950 Euros |
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Sept |
12 Day Road Route trip is 15 days total (14 nights) Sat. 6 Sept - Sat. 20 Sept |
2245 Euros |
1080 Euros |
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Sept |
6 Day Road Route trip is 9 days total (8 nights) Sat. 27 Sept - Sun. 5 Oct |
1495 Euros |
695 Euros |
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**demi-pension. The prices shown for the hotel option are per person based on two sharing a room, and includes all evening meals and breakfasts. |
***Pay-as-you-Stay. You have the freedom to choose room types and menus. The price shown above is per person and excludes the costs of accommodation and meals. VeloLoco makes reservations in your name in each hotel (or campsite) and you settle the bill on departure each day.
We will try to reserve your preferred room type and provide approximate costs for each night of the trip before departure. |
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This coast-to-coast route has been designed for the strong club cyclist. The detailed road route for this VeloLoco fully supported RAID Pyrenean (with daily distances) follows:
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Day |
Route |
Col |
Alt. (Difficulty) |
Arrival Day |
Arrivals from Toulouse airport transferred to Aulus-les-Bains where we assemble bikes and test ride locally. Stay overnight in Aulus-les-Bains. |
Transfer Day |
Transfer from Aulus to the Atlantic coast (4hrs). Stay overnight near Hendaye. |
Day 1: 140km |
Starting near Hendaye at Saint-Jean-de-Luz, following the D4 to Sare then Dancharia on the Spanish border |
Puerto Otxondo |
570m (*) |
In Spain, continuing on the N121B to Erratzu then back into France |
Ispeguy |
672m (*) |
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Spain at Arnéguy then at Auritz following the NA202 to Garaiva and staying in Ochagavia |
Puerto Ibañeta |
1,057m (*) |
Day 2: 115km |
Following the NA140 eastwards |
Alto Laza |
1,129m (*) |
descend into Isaba then head north to France |
Portillo Eraice |
1,578m () |
Belagua and into France |
Pierre-St-Martin |
1,760m (**) |
on the D441 |
Labays |
1,351m () |
then the D442 |
Bouézou |
1,009m () |
until arriving in Osse-en-Aspe |
Houratate |
1,109m () |
then north on the N134 to Escot and over to Bielle ending in Laruns |
Marie-Blanque |
1,035m (***) |
Day 3: 130km |
A hard day starting on the D918 to Eaux-Bonnes and up... |
Aubisque |
1,709m (***) |
...soon afterwards, |
Soulor |
1,474m (*) |
descend into Argelès-Gazost head south to Luz-St-Sauveur and up... |
Tourmalet |
2,115m (****) |
...descend into Ste-Marie-de-Campan then over into Arreau |
Aspin |
1,489m (**) |
Day 4: 143km |
Taking the D618 out of Arreau |
Peyresourde |
1,569m (***) |
into the sizeable Bagneres de Luchon and back into Spain |
Portillon |
1,293m (***) |
decend into Bossost and back to France at St-Béat take the D44 |
Mente |
1,349m (****) |
then the D618 over the fated... |
Portet-d'Aspet |
1,069m (***) |
...descend into Castillon en Couserans then over to Seix and on to the VeloLoco base at Aulus-les-Bains |
Core |
1,395m (**) |
Day 5: 127km |
From our base in Aulus-les-Bains climb |
Agnes |
1,580m (***) |
climb again, before descending into Vicdessos along the valley towards Tarascon |
Port de Lers |
1,517m (**) |
Tarascon take the D20 to avoid the Andorran traffic |
Pas de Soulombrie |
911m (**) |
on the D613 to Belcaire and Espezel then the D107 into Axat |
Marmare |
1,361m (*) |
Day 6: 150km |
Long climb towards Mediterranean region |
Col de Jau |
1,513m (***) |
On the D14 through Catllar, Eus, Marquixanes past Vinca to Bouleternère |
Fourtou & Xatard (optional) |
646m (*) |
Llauro, Vives, Le Boulou (by the A9) Sorède, Collioure and finally Banyuls. Stay near Banyuls and have farewell dinner. |
Tour de la Madeloc |
470m (**) |
Departure Day |
Transfers from Banyuls to Perpignan / Carcassonne and Toulouse airports. |
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This route follows a very similar path to the six day tour. The emphasis on the ten day coast-to-coast is to build up gradually until
the latter part of the trip when the legs are ready for longer distances! Overnight stops and daily route plan for this VeloLoco RAID is as follows:
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Day |
Route |
Col |
Alt. (Difficulty) |
Arrival Day |
Arrivals from Toulouse airport transferred to Aulus-les-Bains where we assemble bikes and test ride locally. Stay overnight in Aulus-les-Bains. |
Transfer Day |
Transfer from Aulus to the Atlantic coast (4hrs). Stay overnight near Hendaye. |
Day 1: 70km |
An easy first day to stretch the legs. Starting near Hendaye at Saint-Jean-de-Luz, following the D4 to Sare then Dancharia on the Spanish border |
Puerto Otxondo |
570m (*) |
In Spain, continuing on the N121B to Erratzu then back into France. Stay overnight in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port |
Ispeguy |
672m (*) |
Day 2: 85km |
St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Spain at Arnéguy then at Auritz following the NA202 to Garaiva. |
Puerto Ibañeta |
1,057m (*) |
Pass through Ochagavia and following the NA140 eastwards towards Isaba. Stay overnight near Isaba. |
Alto Laza |
1,129m (*) |
Day 3: 65km |
Climb out of Isaba along the Vallee de Belagua, heading north to France |
Portillo Eraice |
1,578m () |
Belagua and into France |
Pierre-St-Martin |
1,760m (**) |
on the D441 |
Labays |
1,351m () |
then the D442 |
Bouézou |
1,009m () |
until arriving in Osse-en-Aspe, then north on the N134 to stay near Escot |
Houratate |
1,109m () |
Day 4: 65km |
Starting from Escot, climb over to Bielle, then follow the valley to Laruns |
Marie-Blanque |
1,035m (***) |
A hard climb starting on the D918 to Eaux-Bonnes and up... |
Aubisque |
1,709m (***) |
...soon afterwards, descend into Marsous for the overnight stop. |
Soulor |
1,474m (*) |
Day 5: 62km |
A short descent to Argelès-Gazost head south to Luz-St-Sauveur along the Gave de Pau and up...
...descend to for the night in Ste-Marie-de-Campan. |
Tourmalet |
2,115m (****) |
Day 6: 63km |
Leaving St. Marie climb over into Arreau |
Aspin |
1,489m (**) |
Taking the D618 out of Arreau into the sizeable Bagneres de Luchon for a leisurely afternoon and the
next overnight stay. |
Peyresourde |
1,569m (***) |
Day 7: 130km |
The longest day after a few easier days, leaving Bagneres and back into Spain over the |
Portillon |
1,293m (***) |
decend into Bossost and back to France at St-Béat take the D44 |
Mente |
1,349m (****) |
then the D618 over the ill-fated... |
Portet-d'Aspet |
1,069m (***) |
...descend into Castillon en Couserans then over to Seix and on to the VeloLoco base at Aulus-les-Bains |
Core |
1,395m (**) |
Day 8: 120km |
Now we have our climbing legs, three large cols! From our base in Aulus-les-Bains climb |
Agnes |
1,580m (***) |
climb again, before descending into Vicdessos along the valley towards Tarascon |
Port de Lers |
1,517m (**) |
Tarascon take the D20 to avoid the Andorran traffic |
Pas de Soulombrie |
911m (**) |
on to Ax-les-Thermes and over to stay near Querigut. |
Port de Pailheres |
2,001m (***) |
Day 9: 110km |
From Querigut, head to Carcanieres les Bains then up... |
Garavel |
1,513m (***) |
.. down and over on the D14 towards Catllar |
Jau |
1,513m (***) |
After Eus, Marquixanes past Vinca to Bouleternère, head south |
Fourtou |
646m (*) |
over towards St. Marsal then descend into Amelie les Bains for the overnight stop. |
Xatard |
752m (*) |
Day 10: 50km |
From Amelie, head to Le Boulou (by the A9) Sorède, Collioure and finally Banyuls following
a stright line towards the Med. for an afternoon by the sea. |
Tour de la Madeloc |
470m (**) |
Departure Day |
Transfers from Banyuls to Perpignan / Carcassonne and Toulouse airports. |
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This route follows the same path to the six day tour. The build up is more gradual still with a rest day after the Col d'Aubisque, and
the Col du Tourmalet is the only climb the day after. The latter part of the trip has longer distances - up to 108km. Overnight stops and daily route plan for this VeloLoco RAID are available on request.
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