Coast-to-Coast 'Pro Strength'

Route & Profiles

Day 1 – Arrive to Toulouse or Biarritz airport then transfer to our start hotel in Biarritz for bike build, a short warm-up ride and pre-tour dinner.

Day 2 – Biarritz to Gurmencon (160km & 2700m ascent)  via Cols de Burdincurutcheta & Bagargui

Basque Country climbs are notoriously steep on occasions & that certainly holds true of the two we tackle today. Multiple kilometres at 10-12% let you know that you're certainly riding in the mountains already.

Day 3 – Gurmencon to Argeles-Gazost (123km/3400m ascent) via Cols de Marie-Blanque, Aubisque & Hautacam

The 'big name' climbs start to appear today as we strike into the heart of Tour de France territory. The Marie-Blanque features a savage final 3kms at 11%+, Aubisque opens up some of the best scenery anywhere in the mountain range & Hautacam tests what you have left in your legs with its varying gradients & tricky wind directions.

Day 4 – Argeles-Gazost to Bertren (140km/3400m ascent) via Cols du Tourmalet, Aspin & Peyresourde

Possibly the most iconic 'triple' of climbs anywhere in Europe as we link together three of the original four cols from the Tour's first visit to the Pyrenees in 1910. Tourmalet tops out at 2115m and tests even the best riders. Aspin is gentler and offers welcome respite & a superb descent. Peyresourde is a climb of two halves followed by an ultra-quick descent.

Day 5 – Bertren to Tarascon (144km/3050m ascent) via Cols de Mente, Portet d'Aspet, Saraille, Peguere & Port

Today's climbs might not be the most famous, but this is many riders' favourite day of the trip. Mente, Portet d'Aspet & Peguere are all nastily steep (averaging 9%, 9.5% & 11.5% respectively), but the tranquil section in the middle of the day & the excellent descent off the Col de Port help 'ease the pain'!

Day 6 – Tarascon to Prades (135km/3450m ascent) via Cols de Chioula, Pailheres, Garabeil & Jau

The last big day of climbing strings together five very different ascents. Real back-country roads onto the Route des Corniches & Chioula, then the 'big dog' of the 2001m Port de Pailheres with its very technical descent. Garabeil is rugged & remote & the Jau takes us through the backwoods to a fabulous 25km descent riddled with history & pretty villages.

Day 7 – Prades to Argeles-sur-Mer (92km/750m ascent) via Col de Xatard

An easy spin down to the coast, but we make sure that the 'victory parade' still has one last climb involved. After the Col de Xatard, the 45km downhill to the sea makes for a fittingly enjoyable finale.

Wethen transport you back inland to stay overnight in Carcassonne for our end-of-ride celebratory dinner

Day 8 – France to home via morning transfer to Carcassonne or Toulouse airport