Archives: Tours
24 hours before the professionals, amateurs from around the world will have the opportunity to measure themselves against the legend of the Hell of the North with its mythical cobbled sections like the “Carrefour de l’Arbre” or the “trouée d’Arenberg”.
There are three increasingly difficult routes on offer, on roads which are open to traffic but secured by numerous volunteers and motorcyclists.
A SPORTING CHALLENGE AND A HUMAN ADVENTURE
You’ll have to tackle the most legendary cobbled sections in the world on your own. But the spirit of the Paris-Roubaix is to take up the challenge with friends and to cross the finish line at the velodrome in Roubaix together. The shared experience can continue the next day as you cheer on the best cyclists in the world, fighting it out to ensure their name goes down among the winners of Paris-Roubaix.
Experience the legend of Paris-Roubaix
The same roads, the same dreams, the same joy, the same pain: you, the amateur cyclists of the world, can experience the same emotions as Merckx, Boonen & Mr Roubaix Roger de Vlaeminck you to can emulate other professionals on the Queen of the Classics: Paris-Roubaix!
Spend an entire weekend dedicated to this mythical race, pedalling along the same roads as the pros on the Saturday and watching their passage over the cobbles in the forest of Arenberg on the Sunday.
Kit list for the halfway van at the end of the Arenberg forest sector:
- Spare tyre (if you need advice on tyre choices, ask us!)
- 2 spare inner tubes
- Energy drink tabs and energy bars (there are 3 – 4 refill stations en route providing energy drinks and snacks)
- Spare CO2 cartridges if you use them
Kit list for Velodrome
- Warm Dry clothing and shoes/trainers
- Towel and shower kit
- Snacks (there are places to eat and get a victory beer when you get to the velodrome in Roubaix)
- Bag for dirty kit
General Advice
- Make sure your tyres are made for the job. Vittoria, Continental or Challenge
- Ensure cages are in good condition and the bottles are a tight fit – Elite Ciussi Gel will hang on to them.
- Bring at least 3 spare inner tubes and 2 in the van.
- Bring cartridges and/or a minipump.
- Take a saddle bag with good Velcro! (You will see these scattered everywhere – if its old, replace it or attach an old toe strap as a precaution!)
- Ensure your handlebars are ready: good bar tape double wrapped or Specialized Roubaix tape with Bar Phat underneath and a good pair of track mitts!
- Tyre pressure is very very important! This depends on tyre/tubular width and weather conditions. We can advise and help you with this.
- Make sure all bolts and are tightened and checked with a torque wrench.
This week comprises three historic stages of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees. The rides will be done on the Sunday, Tuesday and the Friday on the weeks below. On the other days, you’re free to relax or ride any other Cols you may want to try while you’re here with us.
Our day off is the Wednesday, but you can take our advice on finding some local hidden secrets that the Tour has never touched.
This is the ultimate Girona cycling holiday. It’s classic Tour de France and Tour of Spain territory and offers the opportunity to ride the roads and emulate the Tour stars who have done battle here over the years.
Our cycling training camps in Girona are probably the best place in Europe to base your pre-season training. It’s perhaps not the first place you would think of for taking a bike for a bit of training over the colder months (although temperatures on the valley floors can get to 20°C even in the spring). Though, if you combine it with a bit of skiing which is not too for away, as a team building training camp there couldn’t be anywhere better.
Pro teams of the 80’s and 90’s regularly did just this – it’s a perfect way to introduce and integrate into a new team over the closed season before the serious business of training and racing gets underway.
As cyclists who have cycled all of the Cols en route, we know what it’s like on the tough climbs, and when you are most likely to need support. Our Raid Pyrenees cycling tour follows the exact route of the original Raid and all of the Cols we climb were on the original route. Plus, there are a couple of extras if you’re up for even more of a challenge!
This one week Raid Pyrenees tour is 720 km total with 11,000 metres of climbing. There are other Cols on this trip that can be done along the way if you want to do more.
The Raid Corsica this tour really needs no introduction – an almost complete tour of the island coastal route and central spine of the island. Check out the itinerary to get a feel for our cycling tour in Corsica – one of our toughest undertakings.
You will need to get your carnet stamped to get your medal and certificate!
Day 1 BASTIA, MACINAGGIO, NONZA, CALVI.
Day 2 PIANA, CALACUCCIA, CORTE, GHISONI, ZICAVO.
Day 3 BASTELICA, AJACCIO, PROPRIANO.
Day 4 BONIFACIO, ZONZA.
Day 5 ALÉRIA, PIEDICROCE.
The route of this Raid Pyrenees cycling tour takes you over many of the Cols including the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, Portet d’Aspet and Peyresourde; with around 11,000 metres of climbing during the route.
Crossing the Pyrenees as part of an official Raid Pyrenees tour is a difficult undertaking, however, it also gives you the opportunity to ride most of the famous Cols of the Tour de France. These Cols are steeped in history as the route passes through Pyrenees Atlantique, Aquitaine, Hautes Garonne, Hautes Pyrenees, and Ariège to the finish in the Pyrenees Orientale.
*Flights on this trip may vary Saturday or Sunday* See below our 2023 trips based from Saturday to Friday currently this may change depending on airline dates with Ryanair and Easyjet. If unsure about booking please send us an email for further date availability.
Our Pyrenees cycling tours high in the French mountains are the perfect way to experience the classic Cols of the Pyrenees for yourself. We are located near all the Tour de France Cols with easy access from the UK. From our 2 fixed bases – Argelès-Gazost / Luz St Sauveur -we’re the perfect base from which to ride the Classic Cols of the Pyrenees.
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