PYRENEEN PURSUITS RAID

We've been involved with the Raid Pyrenean since 1991 and have supported many people successfully through the Raid. Nobody understands the area and the riding better than us. We will fully support you on one of the greatest European cycling challenges.
Our 9 night package includes

Thursday; arrival day we meet you between 12 noon and 3.00pm
From the UK Fly in to Carcassonne (by Ryanair) or Toulouse (Easyjet or BA) connecting with Paris or London for intercontinental flights . From there we will take you to your accommodation in the Hotellerie des Trois Seigneurs for two days of preparation and getting to know each other

Friday take a ride with the group over two local cols Saraille and Latrape discover who you'll enjoy climbing with during the raid. This day has always been especially appreciated as a chance to forge new acquaintance and to check any problems with the bike. Spokes take an extra pounding, brakes may need adjusting and, unless you have the chance to train regularly in mountains, you may find you'll need to change your cassette – not something you want to do when you are riding day by day against the clock. We have a good relationship with several bike shops in the area, they will try to help out with supplies in a crisis .

Saturday Take a ride down to St Girons ( several times stage start for the Tour de France) to see the large and impressive local craft and provision market, listen to some street musicians, the best time to pick up souvenirs and presents for the family and friends. several alternative choices of routes back which your host Nick will discuss with you.

Sunday
10.30am departure, we transfer you to Hendaye to your first stage hotel and ideally situated for beginning along the corniche Basque . The journey is four hours and is agreeably broken by a picnic lunch at a rest stop dedicated to the Tour de France.

Monday
9.00am start
Your first stage takes in the basque cols and finishes at Arudy in the centre of the Bearn region.

Tuesday
8.00am Two big cols of the Raid, the Aubisque and Soulor, leading to one of the monsters of the Pyrenean Circle of Death, the Tourmalet. Always either too hot or too cold on its slopes, the Tourmalet is always ever too long and has been one of the great battlegrounds of the Tour de France since its first inclusion in 1910.

Wednesday
8.00 am The third day is long and hard but you'll be making your way back to an area you'll know from your explorations of Friday and Saturday staying the night again in Massat, so it feels like coming home. Col D'Aspin,Col de Peyresourde,Col d'Ares, Col de Buret,Col de Portet D'Aspet,

Thursday
Maybe the hardest day so an early breakfast and a 7.45am start. Col de Port, Col de Puymorens, 30km of sapping ups and downs and a glorious 39km descent into Prades - nearly there.

Friday
8.00 am start Midday and you will have finished, fast undulating riding through coastal villages, the legs can be dipped in the Mediterranean and you have completed the most respected Raid of them all. Congratulations. All that remains is to box up your bike, relax and enjoy a slap-up celebration meal in the restaurant/hotel which we have chosen for you.

Saturday, departure from Cerbere to Toulouse or Carcassonne airports at 10.00 am ,4 hour journey so earliest check in time at airports 2.00pm