Sitges - starting point for our trip |
Day 1
SUNDAY › Welcome to Spain
Our
trip starts at Barcelona airport where our staff will be there
to welcome you before the short transfer to our hotel in Sitges.
Lunch, orientation meeting, build up the bikes and then an afternoon ride to loosen up the legs before tomorrow's big day.
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31 miles
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3,300 ft elev. gain |
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Today's Major Climbs |
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Climb |
Elev. Gain |
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Max. Alt. |
Category |
No major climbs today
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Typical Catalan landscape
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Day 2
MONDAY › Through the Pyrenees Foothills
Today's stage sees us leave behind the turquoise waters in Sitges and start our journey across the Pyrenees mountains. After 30 miles of rolling terrain through vast vineyards and olive groves the climbers get the chance to test their climbing legs on the Cat. 4 Coll del Castella.
From there it's mostly rolling until the "surprise" climb only 20 miles from Solsona, our final destination.
RIDE SUMMARY:
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94 miles
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7,800 ft elev. gain |
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Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb
|
Elev. Gain
|
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Max. Alt.
|
Category |
Coll del Castella |
1,760 ft |
|
9.8 miles |
3.4% |
2,710 ft |
Cat. 4 |
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Spectacular ride through the Solsones canyons |
Day 3
TUESDAY › Into the Spanish Pyrenees
One of our favorite rides through the deep gorges and canyons on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.
The Solsonese countryside offers some of the best road-cycling in Europe - traffic-free routes, spectacular scenery, challenging climbs and awesome descents.
Only with Thomson Bike Tours!
RIDE SUMMARY:
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78 miles
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7,600 ft elev. gain |
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Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb |
Elev. Gain |
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Max. Alt.
|
Category |
No profiles available for todays climbs
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On top of the 2000m Port de la Bonaigua
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Day 4
WEDNESDAY › It's getting serious...
Today's stage takes us over one of the all-time favorite climbs of the Vuelta a Espana - the 6,800ft Port de la Bonaigua.
From our hotel in Tremp we can enjoy a 40-mile flat ride up the Pallaresa valley - famous for it's white-water rafting and canoe races - before starting the 14-mile climb to the Bonaigua. After the Bonaigua one more climb remains before the descent to Luchon - the Category 1 Col de Portillon!
RIDE SUMMARY:
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93 miles
|
7,750 ft elev. gain |
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Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb |
Elev. Gain |
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Max. Alt. |
Category |
Port de la Bonaigua |
3,680 ft |
|
14.3 miles |
4.9% |
6,800 ft |
Cat. 2 |
Col de Portillon |
2,175 ft |
|
6.3 miles |
6.5% |
4,240 ft |
Cat. 1 |
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On top of the world - The Tourmalet |
Day 5
THURSDAY › Peyresourde & the Tourmalet
A massive day of climbing today with 3 major cols - the Col de Peyresourde, the Col d'Aspin and the infamous Col du Tourmalet.
Of course we'll be encouraging riders to attempt all 3 climbs but the SAG van will be available if you only want to ride part of the course today.
RIDE SUMMARY:
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75 miles
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11,150 ft elev. gain |
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Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb |
Elev. Gain |
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Max. Alt. |
Category |
Col de Peyresourde |
3,080 ft |
|
9.5 miles |
6.1% |
5,140 ft |
Cat. 1 |
Col d'Aspin |
2,555 ft |
|
7.5 miles |
6.5% |
4,880 ft |
Cat. 1 |
Col du Tourmalet |
4,160 ft |
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10.7 miles |
7.4% |
6,940ft |
HC |
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The spectacular route to the Col d'Aubisque |
Day 6
FRIDAY › The Aubisque
Pray for good weather today as the ride from the Col de Soulor to the Col d'Aubisque is one of the most spectacular rides in the Pyrenees. Riding along the cliff-face with the views of the Cirque de Litor is one of the highlights of the trip!
After the super-fast descent from the Aubisque we still have 2 more climbs to contend with before reaching our destination in Montory - the Cat. 2 Col de Marie-Blanque and the Cat. 3 Col d'Ichere.
RIDE SUMMARY:
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65 miles
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7,000 ft elev. gain |
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Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb |
Elev. Gain |
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Max. Alt. |
Category |
Col d'Aubisque |
2,840 ft |
|
13.0 miles |
4.1% |
5,610 ft |
HC |
Col de Marie Blanque |
2,020 ft |
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9.3 miles |
4.1% |
3,400 ft |
Cat. 2 |
Col d'Ichere |
1,000 ft |
|
2.5 miles |
7.6% |
2,215 ft |
Cat. 3 |
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The Basque-Atlantic Coast |
Day 7
SATURDAY › The Atlantic
One final day of riding and we can enjoy the sweet satisfaction of having ridden our bikes across the entire Pyrenees Mountain Range.
Of course we've still got a few climbs to go and for those who're still up for the challenge the Hors-Categorie Col de Bagargui is the final major obstacle.
We'll round off the trip with a swim and celebration dinner by the Atlantic Ocean.
RIDE SUMMARY:
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89 miles
|
8,400 ft elev. gain |
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Today's Major Climbs |
|
Climb |
Elev. Gain |
Profile |
Length |
Av. Grade |
Max. Alt. |
Category |
Col de Bagargui |
3,340 ft |
|
13.2 miles |
4.8% |
4,350 ft |
HC |
Col d'Ispeguy |
1,350 ft |
n/a |
5.4 miles |
6.0% |
2,200 ft |
Cat. 2 |
Puerto d'Otxondo |
1,050 ft |
n/a |
5.6 miles |
3.2% |
1,870 ft |
Cat. 3 |
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Day 8
SUNDAY › Au revoir
End of our trip and final transfer to San Sebastian
airport. |
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