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RAID Pyrenean Routes

Cycling across the pyrenees in six, ten or twelve days...

Introduction

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.

 

RAID Route Map Profiles - Atlantic Ocean to Mediterranean Sea

 

Dates & Prices 2008

2008 RAID Dates

Hotel**

Pay-as-you-Stay***

Spaces Left

June 6 Day Road Route
trip is 9 days total (8 nights)
Sat. 30 May - Sun. 8 June
1495 Euros 695 Euros
  • yes
June 10 Day Road Route
trip is 13 days total (12 nights)
Sat. 14 June - Thurs. 26 June
1995 Euros 950 Euros
  • yes
Sept 12 Day Road Route
trip is 15 days total (14 nights)
Sat. 6 Sept - Sat. 20 Sept
2245 Euros 1080 Euros
  • yes
Sept 6 Day Road Route
trip is 9 days total (8 nights)
Sat. 27 Sept - Sun. 5 Oct
1495 Euros 695 Euros
  • yes
**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.
 

Six Day RAID Road Crossing (803km): Trip total is 9 days (8 nights)

 

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:

 

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.
 

Ten Day RAID Road Crossing (820km): Trip total is 13 days (12 nights)

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:

 

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.
 

Twelve Day RAID Road Crossing (820km): Trip total is 15 days (14 nights)

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.

 
 

Please contact us for the latest prices and preferred dates

 
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