Trans Pyrenees Bike Tours with Thomson Bike Tours

The Trans-Pyrenees Challenge

Sitges - starting point for our trip

Day 1

SUNDAY › Rat Penat!

Our trip starts at Barcelona airport where our staff will be there to welcome you before the short transfer to our hotel in Sitges.

After lunch and orientation meeting we'll ride out along the Mediterranean coastline for 15km before tackling the dreaded Rat Penat climb. The "Rat" may only be 4.6km long but with an average grade of over 10% and several sections of over 20% it sets the scene for the week to come....!!!

RIDE SUMMARY:	30 miles	3,450 ft elev. gain

Today's Major Climbs

Climb	Elev. Gain	Profile	Length	Av. Grade	Max. Alt.	Category
Rat Penat	1,500 ft		2.9 miles	10.0%	1,550 ft	Cat. 1

Typical Catalan landscape

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 20 miles of rolling terrain to the lake of Castellet, the climbers get the chance to test their climbing legs on the Cat. 4 Coll del Ventosses that leads to Coll de Montaigu.

From there it's mostly rolling until the "surprise" climb only 20 miles from Solsona, our final destination.

RIDE SUMMARY:	100 miles	7,000 ft elev. gain

Today's Major Climbs

Climb	Elev. Gain	Profile	Length	Av. Grade	Max. Alt.	Category
Coll de Ventosses	1,760 ft		4.3 miles	3.4%	1,480 ft	Cat. 4

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:	79 miles	8,700 ft elev. gain

Today's Major Climbs

Climb	Elev. Gain	Profile	Length	Av. Grade	Max. Alt.	Category
Coll de Jou	No data
Coll del Canto	3,609 ft		16.3 miles	4.2%	5,676 ft	Cat. 1

On top of the 2000m Port de la Bonaigua

Day 4

WEDNESDAY › Across the border into France

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 Sort we can enjoy a 10-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:	68 miles	6,700 ft elev. gain

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	1,910 ft		5.3 miles	6.8%	4,240 ft	Cat. 1

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:	58 miles	9,450 ft elev. gain

Today's Major Climbs

Climb	Elev. Gain	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	10.7 miles	7.4%	6,940ft	HC

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:	80 miles	7,875 ft elev. gain

Today's Major Climbs

Climb	Elev. Gain	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	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

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:	91 miles	7,850 ft elev. gain

Today's Major Climbs

Climb	Elev. Gain	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	5.4 miles	6.0%	2,200 ft	Cat. 2
Puerto d'Otxondo	1,050 ft	5.6 miles	3.2%	1,870 ft	Cat. 3

Day 8

SUNDAY › Au revoir

End of our trip and final transfer to San Sebastian airport.

Alternatively, riders can travel back to Barcelona in our vans. Journey time to Barcelona is about 6 hours so expect to be there mid-afternoon.

Please note that only 1 drop-off location is available: the Hotel Tryp Barcelona Airport. Fly out the following morning.