Trans-Pyrenees Challenge

Scheduled

7 nights

Advanced

768 km

16307 m

trans-pyrenees challenge
FranceTrans-Pyrenees Challenge

Summary

Conquer the Pyrenees mountains from Girona to San Sebastián on this spectacular point-to-point tour. Summit 13 Pyrenean Cols, including the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, and Peyresourde. Prepare for stunning scenery, hard climbs, spectacular descents and breathtaking days in the saddle. The Eat Sleep Cycle team will be there to support you every pedal stroke of the way.

Stay in a different location each night as you make your way across the Pyrenees (Girona, Pobla La Lillet, Sort, Bagnères du Luchon, Saint Savin, St Jean Pied du Port and finally San Sebastian). All hotels and guesthouses have been hand selected to provide the most comfortable experience, each with their own unique style and features and all with high-quality facilities and friendly staff.

Start the day with a breakfast buffet at the hotel, then enjoy a quick lunch served by the support team, and stay fueled all day with ride nutrition from the support vehicle. Dinner is served at hotels and local restaurants where you can taste three-course Catalan, French, Basque and Spanish cuisine en route. On an Eat Sleep Cycle tour, we take care of everything so you can savour the ride of a lifetime.

DURATION

8 days / 7 nights

DISTANCE

768 km

HOTELS
★★★★★ ★★★★★
REGION

France

Terrain

Road

LEVEL

Advanced

Average Distance X DAY

110 km

Average Time X DAY

5 h 29 min

PRICE PER PERSON FROM€ 4.599

TOUR highlights

The Tourmalet

The Peyresourde

The iconic ‘Circle of Death’ Tour De France route

Rolling roads in the Basque Country

Delicious cuisine from four different regions

IS THIS TOUR FOR ME?

Advanced

Rated 3 out of 4 our Advanced tours are designed for people who ride regularly and want back to back challenging days on the bike. Riders should be confident riding in a small group, comfortable on extended climbs (at your own pace) and have good bike handling skills on corners and descents. E-bikes are available on all of our tours.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Welcome to Girona!

Meet the Eat Sleep Cycle team in Girona and head out for an optional warm-up ride of around 40 km. Enjoy dinner in Girona city centre and rest before the first official day of the Trans-Pyrenees Challenge.

EAT

Welcome meal in Girona city centre

SLEEP

Hotel Carlemany

CYCLE

Warm-up ride in Girona - 40.3 km, 380 m

Day 1

From Girona to Campdevanol

Day 2 kicks off with a hearty breakfast at the hotel before saddling up and setting off on the first leg of the tour, from Girona to Campdevanol, a village in northern Catalonia, just south of the French border. Enjoy lunch en route and fuel up once again with an evening meal with the team. Sleep in Campdevanol.

EAT

Breakfast, lunch en route, free evening in Campdevanol

SLEEP

Hotel La Sequiar Molinar

CYCLE

Girona to Campdevanol - 103.9 km, 2,054 m

Day 1

The Catalan Pyrenees

On day 3, the route heads west, skirting around the border of Andorra before reaching Rialp, another village in northern Catalonia. This leg of the tour includes two long climbs and two descents, all in all covering around 130 km.

EAT

Breakfast, lunch en route and dinner at the hotel

SLEEP

Hotel Pessets and Spa

CYCLE

Campdevanol to Rialp - 129.8 km, 2,625 m

Day 1

Into France

Fuel up on a big breakfast at the hotel, before setting off for today's route, which will finally pass over the Spanish-French border, ending up in the village of Bagneres de Luchon. Climb high into the Pyrenees today, with two climbs and two descents (the first covering around 50 km) before arriving in your destination for the night. Enjoy lunch on the road and a well-deserved evening meal with the the group.

EAT

Breakfast, lunch en route, free evening in Luchon

SLEEP

Hotel Alti

CYCLE

Rialp to Bagneres de Luchon - 106.4 km, 2,281 m

Day 1

The Peyresourde, Aspin & Tourmalet

On day 5, ride further into France towards the village of Saint Savin of the Hautes-Pyrénées region. There are 3 spectacular climbs on the cards today, Peyresourde, Aspin and Tourmalet, with a total elevation of 3,427 m. Charge your batteries with a wholesome meal at the hotel before spending a restful night in Pierrefitte-Nestalas.

EAT

Breakfast, lunch en route and dinner at the hotel

SLEEP

Hotel Rochers

CYCLE

Bagneres de Luchon to Saint Savin - 110.6 km, 3,427 m

Day 1

The Queen Stage

Day 6 is the penultimate day of the Challenge, and the longest leg of the journey, covering an impressive 151.8 km. Sticking to the north of the Spanish-French border, ride west towards the Atlantic coast, conquering several climbs (Soulour, Aubisque, Marie Blanc, Inharpu) and resting on several glorious descents before arriving in St Jean Pied de Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees, included among the most beautiful villages in France in 2016. Spend a final night with the group before completing the final stretch into San Sebastian.

EAT

Breakfast, lunch en route, free evening in Saint Jean Pied du Port

SLEEP

Hotel des Pyrenees

CYCLE

Saint Savin to St Jean Pied de Port - 151.8 km, 3,776 m

Day 1

A Basque Grand Finale!

On day 7, cross back into Spain and ride a final 124.9 km to the final destination of San Sebastian, a stunning town on the Bay of Biscay in Spain’s Basque Country. Marvel at the views over the sparkling Atlantic Ocean as you descend towards the town. Congratulations! Spend the afternoon and evening exploring this beautiful location, enjoy a final celebratory meal out in San Sebastian with the team, and a final night's sleep at the hotel.

EAT

Breakfast, lunch en route, celebration meal in San Sebastian

SLEEP

Sercotel Europa

CYCLE

St Jean Pied de Port to San Sebastian - 124.9 km, 2,144 m

Day 1

Departures from San Sebastian

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before departing from San Sebastian.

EAT

Breakfast

SLEEP

CYCLE

THE TOUR
IN DETAIL

RIDE SUPPORT

full support

Enjoy full ride support from our professional guide team & support vehicle.

The ride support vehicle is stocked with natural ride nutrition, electrolytes and water, as well as a full set of tools to resolve any mechanicals. On selected days the support crew will serve a delicious picnic lunch in a scenic location en route. Enjoy local foods chosen to keep you feeling energized and healthy.

Eat Sleep Cycle guides are experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of cycling who’ll help to keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime.

All guests will receive access to our digital Road Book and routes, giving everyone the flexibility to ride at their own pace.

HOTELS

Hotels shown are examples and are subject to change

BIKE HIRE

Wilier Filante SLR

Pure Road

The Filante SLR is an extremely lightweight aerodynamic bicycle used by World Tour team Astana. Enjoy a Shimano Ultegra Si2 groupset and DT Swiss ERC 1400 wheelset.

Premium Upgrade

Wilier Filante SL Hybrid Road E-Bike

Pure Road Electric

Our top of the range road e-bike from Wilier. Enjoy a lightweight carbon frame, carbon wheelset and Shimano Ultegra Di2 shifting. The Filante Hybrid has a range of 1,000-2,000m of elevation, or constant use 1.5-2hrs. Range extenders are avialable to hire which doubles this range.

Electric Premium Upgrade

Wilier Garda Hybrid Road E-Bike

All Road Electric

A comfortable e-road bike with a lightweight carbon frameset and a clean-cut design featuring fully integrated cable routing. The Garda Hybrid uses the proven and reliable Mahle X35+ drive unit with 250 Wh motor inserted in the rear hub while the battery is housed in the down tube. The groupset is Shimano 105 Di2. The Garda has an autonomy of 1,000-2,000m of elevation, or constant use 1.5-2hrs - it's possible to rent a range extender to double the range for an additional fee.

Electric

Wilier Filante SL

All Road

The Wilier Filante SL guarantees a first-class weight, a precise ride and a great aesthetic clarity thanks to the integrated cables. Carbon Monocoque frame with full internal cable routing Electronic Shimano 105 Di2 shifting Carbon wheels Chainrings: 50/34, Cassette: 11-34

Basso Diamante

Pure Road

The ultimate bike for climbers. The Diamante features a lightweight fully integrated frameset, a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset and a carbon ERC 1400 wheelset from DT Swiss. The Diamante has gearing for climbing - a 50/34 chainset and an 11-34 cassette.

Premium Upgrade

Basso Astra

All Road

An endurance all-road bike that increases versatility with features that lean closer to gravel. Enojy a comfortable performance carbon frameset, an electronic SRAM Force AXS groupset and a MicroTech RE38 Carbon wheelset. 48/35 chainrings and 10-36 cassette

THE GUIDES

Josep

Josep is from a small city in Catalunya called Reus. He loves cycling and has a passion for sharing cycling experiences with others. He's a guide for Eat Sleep Cycle all over Europe & leads our Morocco tours.

Details

LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORTATION

HOW TO GET HERE

Travel to Girona

MEETING POINT

Girona city centre

TIME

12:00

DEPARTURE

San Sebastian

WHAT THE TOUR INCLUDES

CYCLING

Fully supported

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels and guesthouses

FOOD

Breakfast, Picnic lunches & 4 evening meals

TRANSFERS

Available on request, not included in the package.

BIKE RENTAL

Included

EAT SLEEP CYCLE LOCATION

ESC France

Lavendar, croissants and café au lait… Mont Ventoux, the Gorges du Verdon and the Cote d’Azur. Need we say more?! The South of France offers unique and contrasting landscapes to experience on two wheels. From the picture-perfect lavender fields of Provence, to the iconic Mont Ventoux, to the wild, remote Cevennes & Ardeche mountains, the South of France offers incredible rides for cyclists of all abilities. The region’s warm Mediterranean climate makes the South of France the ideal location for year-round riding.

Ready
to ride?

RESERVATION
& PAYMENT

If you have any questions about our tours, dates, or anything else, contact us here
/1
DEPOSIT

A deposit of €500 will secure your place on the tour.

/2
SECOND PAYMENT

50% is due 6 months before the departure of the tour.

/3
FINAL BALANCE

The final balance is due 2 months before the tour departure.

Single Occupancy:  PLUS €549
Monday

17 June 2024

Monday

24 June 2024

€4.599Book now
Monday

15 July 2024

Monday

22 July 2024

SOLD OUT
Monday

9 September 2024

Monday

16 September 2024

€4.599Book now
Start

Custom

Finish

Custom

€ Custom
MORE INFO

DOUBTS?CONTACT US

FAQs

1

What happens if I need to cancel the trip?

We have a flexible cancelation policy – please take a look at our cancellation policy at the time of booking. If you have any doubts please reach out and we’re happy to help.

1

Is the tour the right level for me?

We rate our tours from Level 1 (Leisure) to Level 4 (Epic). Each tour contains a description of the level, expected daily ride time, distance and elevation. If you have any doubts we’re more that happy to speak to you on the phone and help to find you the perfect trip!

1

What about bikes? Can I hire one or should I bring my own?

We recommend that you hire a bike for your tour and will work with you after you book to help you to choose the best size and model for your ride style. If you prefer to bring your bike, it’s no problem. Please be aware that on some of our epic trips we charge a supplement to transport your bike box to our finishing location. If you have any doubts, please ask!

1

Is insurance included?

Insurance is not included in our tour packages. We highly recommend contracting travel insurance at the time of reservation with a company from where you are from.

Health insurance which covers you for illness or injury whilst cycling in your chosen destination is mandatory, we’ll ask you for details of your insurance providor before you travel.

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