Cycling Holidays
“Ride As Much Or As Little Or As Long Or As Short As You Feel, But Ride!” — Eddy Merckx
The roads and views as well as numerous epic climbs made famous by the Tour de France make cycling here in the Pyrénées an absolute joy. Whether you are a pro, a serious amateur or just cycle for the fun of it, you will love it here!
Cycling Holidays in the Pyrenees
From our base here at Hello Pyrenees(HP), you can see the iconic Pic du Midi which sits at the top of perhaps one of the most famous cols in the Pyrenees, the Col du Tourmalet. Our breath-taking view spans almost the whole breadth of the Pyrenees so it’s likely that you’ll have the privilege of seeing the mountain you rode whilst enjoying your breakfast on the terrace!
Stretching well over 400 kilometres from east to west, the Pyrenees offer a wide array of climbs through beautiful and picturesque mountain villages and wild mountain terrain on well paved roads made famous by the Tour de France.
Tell me about the cycling…
Castelvieilh is in department 65, the Hautes-Pyrénées - the high mountain passes of the French Pyrénées – forget the flats and embrace the climbs and descents that we are famous for. Road biking here allows you to become a tour rider and follow in the pedals of the famous yellow jersey winners!
Within easy reach from HP are the Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aubisque, Col du Soulor, Hautacam and Luz Ardiden. Included in the TDF over an incredible 80 times, the Col du Tourmalet is the highest road in the central Pyrénées. It’s a gruelling climb that leaves your legs screaming but that euphoria when you hit the top is more than worth it (you might want to pack a jacket for the descent as its steep and fast)! Second in the list of famous Pyrenean cols is the Col d'Aubisque, the pass is 45km long and hits a 12% maximum gradient and has featured in the Tour over 60 times. Included in 2022, the Col du Soulor and Col de Spandelles may not be as well-known but are definitely a test for the legs. For those days when you are looking to mix up climbs with flatter rides there are plenty of options around Argeles Gazost, Lourdes and into The Gers.
Depending on how adventurous you are or how challenging you want your cycling holiday to be, the distance between some of the climbs means that a support vehicle or a car is needed – this is where we come in. We can offer supported riding or drop off and pick-ups at designated spots so that you can make the most of your Pyrenees cycling holiday and tackle as many Cols as you want.
If you fancy getting a bit gnarly, the mountain bike trails at Cauterets give you just a taste of what’s on offer. You’ll find 73 marked mountain bike (VTT) routes covering over 1,150km of trails in and around Luz St Saveur and Argeles-Gazost. The trails are classified green, blue, red or black and vary in difficulty from flat trails, running alongside the Gave de Pau, to technical high mountain trails 50 km long with up to 1900m of climbing.
When to come
The cycling season for riding the cols is generally from May to October depending on weather conditions. July sees the Tour de France and the start of the hot summer temperatures although it is always a degree or two cooler in the mountain. Spring through to summer (May to June) normally sees beautiful weather, green countryside and quieter roads, as do September through to October.
Plan your Cycling Holiday
We know that everyone has their own ideas on what constitutes the perfect cycling holiday, which is why we offer you full flexibility. In addition to accommodation in our gites, the following options are also available for you to include in your cycling holiday;
Supported riding Drop off/Pick Up Organising Bike hire Route planning
Breakfast Afternoon Tea 3 course evening meals Airport Transfers
Get in touch with us today and we will help you to create the cycling holiday you want.