peak tours classic cols

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French Alps Classic Cols

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Description

• Additional Info

Booking Conditions

Testimonials.

The Tour de France is the most iconic race in cycling. Join us for the trip of a lifetime, tackling some of the Tour’s Classic Cols, while exploring some of France’s most spectacular scenery.

We begin in Annecy, finding our climbing legs with an ascent of the Col de Semnoz, before dropping down to the valley for a lap of the beautiful lake. Two shorter climbs on Day 2, the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin and Col de Tamié, continue to warm us up for what is to come: an ascent of the Col de la Madeleine on Day 3. This iconic climb, at an average of 6% for 16 miles / 25km, is a serious test for any rider, but the beautiful woodland, cascading waterfalls, stone bridges and finally the spectacular summit is well worth the effort. Day 4 sees us following in the pedal strokes of riders gone before with the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer, which both featured in the Tour de France as early as 1947. The fourth highest summit of all of the climbs the TdF has ever visited, the Col du Galibier at 2642m awaits on Day 5, after we have made our way over the Col du Télégraphe. We end a superb week with the mighty Alpe d’Huez.

Highlights – Stunning Alpine scenery – Cycle 9 Cols / classic climbs over 6 days – Col de Semnoz, Col de la Madeleine, Col de la Forclaz de Montmin, Col de Tamié, Col du Glandon, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Alpe d’Huez – Enjoy the challenge of some of the most challenging and iconic climbs in cycling history – Visit typical Alpine villages and towns – Explore Annecy, famed for its lake and medieval town

Duration 7 nights / 6 days cycling

Total distance 254 miles / 410 km

Total elevation 31800 ft / 9700m

Practicalities We will transfer you from Geneva airport to Annecy at the start of the tour (Annecy is also accessible directly by train) and also from La Grave to Geneva airport at the end of the tour on Saturday morning. Geneva train station is a short shuttle ride from the airport, from here there are train connections to many places in Europe.

Please see the Itinerary page for a more detailed description of the route and the Additional Information page for more information on the logistics.

Many riders combine this holiday with the Week in Provence tour. If you book both of these tours together so that they are done back to back then you will receive a 10% discount off both tours. If you do this then we will move your bike from the end of one tour to the start of the other and also arrange transport between the two tours.

You can download the trip notes for this tour here: Classic Cols Trip Notes

To see some of the latest photos from this fantastic tour just click here: French Alps Classic Cols Photos

2024 Dates:

Sat 1st – Sat 8th June 2024 Only 2 spaces available

Sat 31st Aug – Sat 7th September 2024 Only 8 spaces available

Sat 14th – Sat 21st September 2024 Only 2 spaces available

Prices for 2024 are £1495 for shared twin or double, £1845 for a single and £1995 for sole occ of a double.

2025 Dates:

Sat 31st May – Sat 7th June 2025 Places available

Sat 30th Aug – Sat 6th September 2025 Places available

Sat 13th – Sat 20th September 2025 Places available

Prices for 2025 are £1595 for shared twin or double, £1945 for a single and £2095 for sole occ of a double.

Many riders combine this holiday with the Week in Provence tour. If you book both of these tours together so that they are done back to back then you will receive a 10% discount off both tours. If you do this then we will move your bike from the end of one tour to the start of the other and also arrange transport for you and your luggage between the two tours.

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French Alps Classic Cols Route

This tour is aimed at cyclists who like a challenge but the tour is such that the mileages aren’t too long and generally we only take on one of the major climbs each day, which should allow time for relaxation in the afternoon and should hopefully ensure that the climbs are achievable for most regular cyclists. It should be noted however that these are long, tough climbs and the tour is only suitable for riders who are used to climbing.

Saturday : Arrival Day Non-riding day Arrive at Geneva and transfer to Annecy. Our guides will set off from our base in Glossop on Thursday with all the bikes and stop a couple of times en route to Dover. A coach will depart from Geneva at 17.00 to arrive in Annecy for 18.00 to allow time to settle in before the first evening meal.

Sunday : Semnoz and Lake Annecy Distance: 32 or 45 miles / 50km or 72km. Elevation Gain: 4653ft /1418m.

Our first ride is a loop which takes you up to the summit of Mount Semnoz which last featured on the penultimate day of the 2013 Tour de France and on a clear day you may be able to make out to Mont Blanc in the distance. Continuing down to the lake for lunch you can take the shorter route back to Annecy or our longer route around the eastern side of the lake. Nestled on the banks of Lake Annecy, with a backdrop of spectacular mountains, Annecy also boasts a perfectly preserved medieval old town which makes a fantastic place to explore after a day of riding.

Monday : Annecy to La Lechere Distance: 49 miles / 78km. Elevation Gain: 4900ft / 1500m.

Travelling alongside the eastern shore of the lake we then climb up over the Col de la Forclaz de Montmin, featured in the 2023 Tour de France. If you choose to, you can miss the climb and continue along the lake to meet back up with the route before the Col de Tamié and the descent down to Albertville. A very gentle climb takes you to La Léchère to be in place to start the climb up the Madeleine tomorrow.

Tuesday : La Léchère to St Jean du Maurienne Distance: 38 miles / 60km. Elevation Gain: 6300ft /1900m.

Not long after leaving La Léchère, and the valley floor, we start to ascend one of the toughest climbs of the tour, the Col de la Madeleine. With over 1500m of climbing over 16 miles, the Madeleine is a serious test for any rider. However, we will be tackling the mountain fresh and not after having already ridden 100 miles as is often the case with the Tour de France. The beauty of the climb through forested woodland, cascading waterfalls, stone bridges and finally the spectacular summit is well worth the effort and amazing sense of achievement when you reach the top. You will also be rewarded with a fantastic descent down to the lovely town of St Jean du Maurienne. You also have the option of riding the Lacets de Montvernier if you want to extend the ride further.

Wednesday : Glandon & Croix de Fer Loop Distance: 39 miles / 62km. Elevation Gain: 7600ft /2300m. Today we tackle another two of the Tour de France’s most classic climbs with the Col du Glandon and the Croix de Fer. Essentially the Col du Glandon is the beast to conquer with the Croix de Fer only another few miles or so to the summit after the Glandon. This spectacular climb has featured in the TdF many times as far back as 1947. Once again the views are sublime and you have another winding descent back down to the valley below.

Thursday : St Jean du Maurienne to Le Grave via Col du Galibier Distance: 42 miles / 68km. Elevation Gain: 7800ft /2400m. This is our longest day in the saddle as we tackle the mighty Galibier. After a flat start we first tackle the Col du Télégraphe through Alpine woodland. The road descends to Valloire before you tackle the mighty Galibier. After lunch at the top of the mountain you have a fantastic descent down to the attractive little village of La Grave, situated in the most spectacular setting.

Friday : Alpe d’Huez Distance: 36 miles / 59km. Elevation Gain: 5300ft / 1600m.

We leave La Grave and continue towards Bourg-d’Oisans cycling past the turquoise blue Lac du Chambon. Just away from Bourg, we start our climb up the Alpe d’Huez, which must be one of the TDF’s most iconic mountains. After your triumphant climb at the top, you will decend back down to Bourg-d’Oisans where you will have lunch and a chance to wonder around this lovely town before your final meal at the hotel.

Saturday : Transfer to Geneva and tour ends Non-riding day

A coach will pick us up at 8.00 to arrive at Geneva airport for 11.00. Meanwhile your bikes will start their journey back home in our back up van and will stop of a couple of times en-route to Derbyshire

Additional Information

What’s included.

The tour price includes 7 nights accommodation, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, snacks, tea, coffee, & hot chocolate, full trip support including a tour leader that cycles with the group (on smaller groups there will just be back up vehicles), back up van with spare parts and a few spare bikes, detailed route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, a Peak Tours cycle shirt, certificate, luggage transfer each day, lots of fun!

What’s Not Included?

Evening meals, cycle hire (available for a fee), transport to France, transport from Geneva.

The group will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 25 people. We feel that this size of group works best as there will always be enough in the group for some good company but there won’t be so many people that it becomes overcrowded.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in clean and comfortable 3 star hotels or top end 2 star hotels when 3 star aren’t available (France has an unusual rating system).  Either sharing a twin or a double room or, if you would like your own space then you can choose the single room option (single or double bed, mostly ensuite but with some shared bathrooms), or sole occupancy of a double (all rooms en-suite). Please see the Booking Conditions section ’14. Accommodation Provisions’ for further information.

Covering approximately 260 miles over 6 days we average around 43 miles a day. This tour really isn’t about mileage but about conquering some truly majestic and iconic mountains. Generally you will have finished cycling by early afternoon with time to relax and explore.

All of your breakfasts and lunches are included in the price of the trip. Lunches will be provided each day in a cafe or restaurant or picnic lunches provided by the guides when the weather is good. Evening meals can be bought at your accommodation or in a nearby pub/restaurant. We also have tea, coffee, fruit, biscuits, cake, nuts etc in the back up van that you are welcome to fill your pockets with at the morning and afternoon ‘brew stops’. We don’t provide gels or powders – only real food.

An experienced tour leader will cycle with you each day and be on hand to help with any bike problems that may occur. You will have detailed route notes so that you can go slower or faster than the leader if you prefer or you can cycle with the tour guide at the back so that you don’t have to navigate at all.

A back up van will leap frog the group a number of times each day so that help is never far away. We carry a range of spare parts so that repairs can be made en-route and we will have a couple of spare bikes available in the event that your bike has a serious breakdown.

We highly recommend that you use a bike that you are used to and feel comfortable riding. Your bike should be fully serviced and in good condition before you start, this will reduce the risk of mechanical problems and unnecessary stoppages along the way. It should be noted that if you have your bike serviced before the tour then it is a good idea to ride it a few times to allow things to ‘bed in’ before joining the tour. Either a road bike or a touring bike is preferable. We have a range of road and touring bikes available for hire if you don’t have your own bike. We will take your bike over for you if you bring it to us before hand and we will take it back for you at the end of the tour as well. We used to provide this service for free but we now have to charge a small fee of £60 per bike to cover the post Brexit paperwork (ATA carnet) that is required. If we take your bike for you then we would also need to bring it back. We can’t take bikes one way I’m afraid. This is due to the post Brexit paperwork that needs to be completed. Please note that Peak Tours will not be held responsible for any damage cause in the transportation of the bikes, problems are very rare indeed and we have a very safe, tried and tested system. Any bikes with DI gears need to bring their chargers with them for the trip and riders also need to be aware that it may be necessary to remove the saddle and in some cases with DI gears, unplug the cable (although we try to avoid this). We also remove the front wheel of most bikes being transported and place them in wheel bags, if anyone has a wheel that requires a specific tool you would need to provide that too please.

This tour is suitable for someone with a good level of fitness and who wants a challenge. If you do plenty of training beforehand you should have no problem completing the ride. We will have a training day in the Peak District available if you would like to join the group before the main event.

It must be stressed that a good amount of training before the ride will make your tour much more enjoyable and ensure that you finish your ride. We are always happy to advise you about training plans in preparation for the ride.

Clothing & Equipment

Clothing for all weathers is recommended so waterproofs are essential. A full recommended kit list is provided and we are always happy to answer any questions that you may have.

It is compulsory that you take out adequate insurance to cover against personal accident, loss of belongings and cancellation cover. This should cover you in the event that you have to cancel the tour anytime after the final payment has been made as we may be unable to fill your place. If you don’t already have a policy in place then you can try Yellow Jersey who specialise in providing insurance for cyclists. You can see further details here: Yellow Jersey

What happens at the start of the tour?

The tour starts in Annecy on the first Saturday. There are two main options for arriving into Annecy:

Train : Annecy can be reached from Paris directly, in just under 4hrs. Paris direct from London St Pancras takes between 2hrs – 3hrs 20 mins on the Eurostar.

Alternatively, you could get the train to Geneva airport from Paris (3hrs 35 mins with one change) and get the transfer from Geneva to Annecy with the people who have arrived by plane. Paris direct from London St Pancras takes between 2hrs – 3hrs 20 mins on the Eurostar.

Some customers choose to arrive in Annecy a day before the tour starts and have a day to explore and enjoy the various different activities on offer (lots of watersports at the lake!). This can be a great way to extend your holiday at either end to combine tourism with your cycling.

Plane : Geneva airport can be reached from lots of different UK airports.

Whether you arrive at Geneva Airport by train or by plane, we will have a guide to meet you and a coach is booked for 17.00, Geneva to Annecy takes around 45 minutes. If you are arriving earlier then you can leave your bags with our guides if you want to have a look around Geneva (you would need to get from the airport to the city) before the coach arrives at 17.00. If you arrive after this, then you will need to arrange your own transfer from the airport to the accommodation. There is a taxi rank directly outside the airport if you need to use this option. We have a group meal on Saturday night and then the cycling starts on Sunday. We will take your bikes over for you so that you don’t have to take them on the train or plane. You can either drop them off with us in Glossop, Derbyshire beforehand or meet us on the Thursday before the tour starts as we drive down to Dover. We will stop near Birmingham and at South Mimms services on the M25. Alternatively you can post your bike to us and we will take it over for you.

What happens at the end?

After the ascent (and descent) of Alpe d’Huez you have the afternoon free to relax in Bourg-d’Oisins. Meanwhile your tour guides will pack your bikes into our back up van ready to be transported back to the UK. On Saturday morning a coach will arrive to take everyone back to Geneva airport for 11.00 for your train or flight home.

How do I transport my bike?

As always, if you can get your bike to Peak Tours HQ in Derbyshire then we can take it and bring it back for you. There is a charge of £60 for this service.

If you are flying with your bike then you will need to box your bike or put it in a bike bag before you board the plane. If you choose to do this then please be aware that there is only room in the vans for a limited number of soft cases that will fold down. Hard cases are not generally taken as they take up too much room but we have made exceptions for people in the past in mitigating circumstances. If you use a cardboard box for your bike we can easily fold that down and lay it flat on the floor of the van.

If you would like us to post the bike back for you after the trip to your home address the way it works is that the bikes will be boxed (this usually means that they will remove the front wheel, pedals, saddle & turn the handlebars) and posted to your address. The price for this service is available on request. If you would like to use this service please let us know & we will book it in for you.

How difficult is the tour?

The fitter you are and the more training that you do beforehand will add to the enjoyment of your tour and improve your chances of succeeding the challenge. If you need any advice about fitness please contact us and we will be happy to discuss any questions and concerns that you may have.

What mechanical knowledge do I need?

We don’t expect you to be an expert bike mechanic but there are a few simple skills that will be a great benefit to you. The most important skill you need to know is how to fix a puncture. It is quite likely that at some point you will have a puncture or two so it is essential that you carry a puncture repair kit & a spare tube or two with you. It is also helpful if you know how to change your brake pads and adjust your brakes and gears however this isn’t essential. Our guides will help you with any repairs and adjustments en-route.

What are the lunches like?

Lunches will be a mixture of picnic lunches and lunches in cafe’s or restaurants situated in some picturesque places. We will source local specialities and provide plenty of delicious French food every day of your tour, you certainly won’t go hungry. We will have plenty of food available and will cater for any special dietary requirements.

Will I be left behind?

No, a tour leader cycles at the back of the group so that you won’t be left behind if you are worried about cycling too slowly. Throughout the group there will be a mix of abilities and cycling speeds so you will usually be able to cycle with others that cycle at a similar pace. Some people like to cycle fast whilst others prefer to take their time, stop for coffee & cake or stop to take photos etc so whether you are a ‘speed demon’ or more of a ‘tourer’ there usually will be someone to cycle with each day.

What are the groups like?

Obviously each group is different but generally they are a fun, friendly, helpful & adventurous bunch. There will be people of all ages and from all walks of life. We tend to get quite a few older riders although there will always be a few younger riders as well. The average age for our riders is people in their 50’s and 60’s. We think that a group of 20-25 is ideal as there will be plenty of people with similar interests & character without being such a big group that it becomes too much. Generally the group will be split 50/50 between people travelling alone and people that travel as a pair such as two brothers, two friends, two partners. There will be plenty of people to socialise with throughout the day and in the evening.

Many of the people on this tour will have cycled on a tour with us previously so you may even bump into someone you know!

What happens in the evenings?

Once you have arrived at your accommodation you should have chance for some time to relax, have a shower etc before the evening meal. We usually arrange somewhere to eat for the evening meal so that we can all get together & you won’t be left alone if you would like to eat with others. Quite often will simply arrange a certain pub to meet up & just drift in when you are ready whilst at other places we have a set time to eat – it just depends on the location.

Does the support vehicle follow the group?

No, the back up van doesn’t drive behind the group at all times but the van shouldn’t be too far away if you require assistance. Usually we have two vans on each tour. This way we can ensure that the luggage is delivered in time for the faster riders whilst another van stays out to provide refreshments and assistance for riders who prefer to take their time.

How much luggage can I take?

There is limited space in the back up van to store luggage. We therefore request that you try to keep your luggage size to a minimum and try not to bring too much with you. Washing clothes can be done en-route so you shouldn’t need to bring a clean set of clothes for every day. The ideal size for luggage is 70 x 50 x 30 cm and a weight of 15-18kg (or less).

What training should I do?

The more the better. We will provide a training guide for you so that you can build up your cycling strength and prepare for the ride in the correct way. It is important that you cycle two long days back to back whilst training & also that you cycle on some hills. We hold training weekends at the start of the season so that you can meet with others in the group, ask any questions you may have & also test yourselves amongst the hills of the Peak District.

What bike should I use?

The most suitable bike for this trip is a road bike, however it is entirely up to you what type of bike you use. Generally most riders on this tour will prefer a slightly lighter bike, bringing either a carbon fibre bike or a bike with an alloy frame and carbon forks (such as the Cannondale Synapse bikes which we hire out).

Please ensure that your bike is fully serviced and in good working order before the start of the trip.

Tyre inflation & rubber composition is important & a tyre width of 25mm is recommended for this tour. Please ensure that you have hard wearing tyres with plenty of tread.

You are going to cycle 260 miles so it is important that your bike won’t let you down. You may want to fit new brake blocks, tyres & inner tubes before you start the ride and also bring 3-4 spare inner tubes, pump, puncture repair kit and multi-tool to carry with you each day. It is essential that you are able to fix a puncture.

It is also advisable to have lights from & rear lights on your bikes and try to be a visible as possible.

Can I hire a bike from you?

It is advisable to use your own bike if possible however we realise that it is not always possible to use your own steed so you may wish to hire one. We have two types of road bike and three types of hybrid/touring bikes bike available. Details of these bikes can be found by clicking on the ‘Tour Extras’ tab.

All of our hire bikes come fitted with water bottle cage, bell, rear rack (for touring bikes only) and front and rear lights. We also provide a pannier (touring bikes) or seat post bag (road bikes) with a multi-tool, pump, puncture repair kit, spare tube and tyre levers at no extra cost. All bikes can have flat or SPD pedals so please let us know your preference or, if you would prefer to use your own (and maybe your own saddle) then please bring these along with you. We can also provide a helmet for you at no extra cost.

What gear should I take?

We provide a suggested kit list so please contact us if you would like a copy sending to you.

What is the male / female ratio?

This varies with each group. There are usually more guys than gals but an average would be about 1/4 ladies and 3/4s gents.

Why France?

France is a wide and diverse country which contains a variety of different and changing landscapes. France is also 1/4 as densely populated as the UK and much more rural so the roads are quieter and cyclists are treated with much more respect.

France is the cultural home of cycling and everyone has heard of the Tour de France. We will cycle through some of the iconic landscapes that you will have seen whilst watching the tour.

France enjoys much better weather than the UK so chances of a dry and sunny tour is much more likely than if tackling LEJOG although it must also be noted that it can get very hot in the summer months.

France is also well known for it’s gastronomy and also fine wines and we will do out best to ensure that you sample plenty of the delights on offer. Added to that a rich culture, medieval villages and stunning architecture all of which makes France an ideal place for a long distance cycle tour.

These Booking Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy and where your holiday is booked via our website or over the phone, our Website Terms of Use , together with any other written information we brought to your attention before we confirmed your booking, form the basis of your contract with Peak Tours Ltd, company number 07992506, of 38 Storth Meadow Road, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 6UZ ("we", "us", "our"). Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. In these Booking Conditions references to "you" and "your" include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is made or any other person to whom a booking is added or transferred.

By making a booking, the first named person on the booking agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking that:

• he/she has read these Booking Conditions and has the authority to and does agree to be bound by them;
• he/she consents to our use of personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and is authorised on behalf of all persons named on the booking to disclose their personal details to us, including where applicable special categories of data (such as information on health conditions or disabilities and dietary requirements);
• he/she is over 18 years of age and, where placing an order for services with age restrictions, declares that he/she and all members of the party are of the appropriate age to purchase those services;
• he/she accepts financial responsibility for payment of the booking on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking.
• he/she has key rights under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 - Standard Information Form on Travellers Rights when Booking a Package Holiday .

1. Booking & Paying For Your Arrangements

A booking is made with us when you pay us a deposit (or full payment if you are booking within 60 days of departure) and we issue you with a booking confirmation. All bookings are made subject to the eligibility requirements listed at section 2 below. We reserve the right to return your deposit and decline to issue a booking confirmation at our absolute discretion. A binding contract will come into existence between you and us as soon as we have issued you with a booking confirmation that will confirm the details of your booking and will be sent to you. The accommodation provisions included at section 14 will also apply to your booking.

Upon receipt, if you believe that any details on booking confirmation or any other document are wrong you must advise us immediately as changes cannot be made later and it may harm your rights if we are not notified of any inaccuracies in any document within ten days of our sending it out.

The balance of the cost of your arrangements (including any applicable surcharge) is due not less than 60 days prior to scheduled departure. You will receive a payment reminder from us prior to your balance becoming due. If we do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case we shall retain your deposit.

2. Eligibility Requirements

In booking with Peak Tours you understand that there are certain risks and dangers inherent in taking part in a cycling holiday and that by the very nature of the activities you will participate in these may be hazardous to you, including cycling on uneven surfaces, cycling in inclement weather, cycling in close proximity to vehicular traffic and any other activities involving inherently dangerous risks, and you acknowledge that you will be exposed to an element of personal risk. These include the risk of personal injury and death and loss of or damage to your property. You are under a duty to mitigate any risks to yourself as far as is practicable, by taking all reasonable steps to comply with all instructions of your tour leader and the instructions included in your route map, and taking all reasonable steps to ensure your own safety whilst taking part in the holiday.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are at a sufficient level of fitness to take part in your chosen holiday (please also see section 13 - Disabilities and Medical Problems). You will generally be at a sufficient level of fitness if you are able to complete your day's cycling within a reasonable timescale (which shall be set by your tour leader, and in respect of most holidays shall mean completing the day's cycling by 18:30 hours local time at the latest). If you finish your day's cycling beyond this time period, it shall be at the tour leader's absolute discretion as to whether you are at a sufficient level of fitness to continue with your chosen holiday. You are required to follow any safety advice or other instructions provided to you by your tour leader, and wear a cycle helmet and appropriate clothing at all times whilst cycling.

If you are using your own bike, it must be suitable for use for the duration of the route of your chosen holiday. It is your responsibility to arrange for your bike to be transported to the holiday. Your bike must be insured for the duration of your holiday, and your insurance should cover loss or damage to your bike that may occur during your holiday. Peak Tours take great care to ensure that your bike is safe at all times. However, Peak Tours cannot accept any responsibility for any damage to your bike or loss of your bike, including if your bike is stolen during the holiday. This includes times when your bikes are being transported in one of the vans. If a van was stolen containing your bike then you would need to have an adequate insurance policy in place to cover this.

Bike hire is available to be booked at any time up to the start of your holiday, subject to availability. If you choose the bike hire option, your bike will be provided at the beginning of the holiday and returned to ground staff at the end of your holiday.

3. Accuracy

We endeavour to ensure that all the information and prices contained in our advertising material are accurate, however occasionally changes and errors occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances. You must check the current price and all other details relating to the arrangements that you wish to book before you make your booking.

4.Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is a condition of your contract with us. You must be satisfied that your insurance fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.

We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold holidays at any time and correct errors in the prices of confirmed holidays. We also reserve the right to increase the price of confirmed holidays solely to allow for increases which are a direct consequence of changes in:

• the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from the cost of fuel or other power sources;
• the level of taxes or fees chargeable for services applicable to the holiday imposed by third parties not directly involved in the performance of the holiday, including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports; and
• the exchange rates relevant to the package.

Such variations could include but are not limited to cost changes which are part of our contracts with accommodation suppliers (and their agents), transfer operators and any other transport providers.

You will be charged for the amount of any increase in accordance with this clause. However, if this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 8% of the price of your confirmed holiday (excluding any insurance premiums, amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements), you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of lower price you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid to us, except for any insurance premiums and any amendment charges and/or additional services or travel arrangements. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 7 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy.

Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, then any refund due will be paid to you less an administrative fee of £10. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.

There will be no change made to the price of your confirmed holiday within 20 days of your departure nor will refunds be paid during this period.

6. Jurisdiction and Applicable Law

These Booking Conditions and any agreement to which they apply are governed in all respects by English law. We both agree that any dispute, claim or other matter which arises between us out of or in connection with your contract or booking will be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only. You may however, choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you live in those places and if you wish to do so.

7.Cutting your holiday short

If you are forced to return home early, we cannot refund the cost of any travel arrangements you have not used. If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for that part of your holiday not completed, or be liable for any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.

8. If You Change Your Booking & Transfers of Bookings

If you wish to change any part of your booking after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you must inform us in writing (which includes by email) as soon as possible. This should be done by the first named person on the booking. Whilst we will do our best to assist, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your requested change. Where we can meet a request, all changes will be subject to payment of any costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers in making this change. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Where we are unable to assist you and you do not wish to proceed with the original booking we will treat this as a cancellation by you. A cancellation fee may be payable in accordance with clause 9.

Transfer of Booking:

If you or any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that person(s) may transfer their place to someone else, subject to the following conditions:

• that person is introduced by you and satisfies all the conditions applicable to the holiday;
• we are notified not less than 7 days before departure;
• you pay any fees, charges or other costs arising from the transfer; and
• the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us.

You and the transferee remain jointly and severally liable for payment of all sums. If you are unable to find a replacement, cancellation charges as set out in clause 9 will apply in order to cover our estimated costs. Otherwise, no refunds will be given for passengers not travelling or for unused services.

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed and any alteration could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

9. If You Cancel Your Booking Before Departure

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel your confirmed booking you must notify us in writing (which includes by email). Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by us at our offices and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.

Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements, you will have to pay the cancellation charges as follows:

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

10. If We Change or Cancel

As we plan your holiday arrangements many months in advance we may occasionally have to make changes or cancel your booking and we reserve the right to do so at any time.

Changes: If we make a minor change to your holiday, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure but we will have no liability to you. An example of a minor change would include change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard.

Occasionally we may have to make a significant change to your confirmed arrangements. Examples of "significant changes" include the following, when made before departure:

• A change of accommodation area for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
• A change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away.
• A change of outward departure time or overall length of your arrangements by more than 12 hours.
• A significant change to your itinerary, missing out one or more destination entirely.

Cancellation: We will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 60 days before your departure date, except for reasons of Events Beyond Our Control or failure by you to pay the final balance. We may cancel your holiday before this date if, e.g., the minimum number of clients required for a particular travel arrangement is not reached.

If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of:

• (for significant major changes) accepting the changed arrangements; or
• having a refund of all monies paid; or
• if available and where we offer one, accepting an offer of an alternative holiday (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).

You must notify us of your choice within 7 days of our offer. If we do not hear from you within 7 days, we will contact you again to request notification of your choice. If you fail to respond again, we will assume that you have chosen to accept the change or alternative booking arrangements.

Compensation

In addition to a full refund of all monies paid by you, we will pay you compensation as detailed below, in the following circumstances:

• If, where we make a significant change, you do not accept the changed arrangements and cancel your booking;
• If we cancel your booking and no alternative arrangements are available and/or we do not offer one.

The compensation that we offer does not exclude you from claiming more if you are entitled to do so.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: We will not pay you compensation in the following circumstances:

• where we make a minor change;
• where we make a significant change or cancel your arrangements more than 60 days before departure;
• where we make a significant change and you accept those changed arrangements or you accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements;
• where we have to cancel your arrangements as a result of your failure to make full payment on time;
• where the change or cancellation by us arises out of alterations to the confirmed booking requested by you;
• where we are forced to cancel or change your arrangements due to Events Beyond Our Control (see clause 11).

If we become unable to provide a significant proportion of the arrangements that you have booked with us after you have departed, we will, if possible, make alternative arrangements for you at no extra charge and where those alternative arrangements are of a lower standard, provide you with an appropriate price reduction.

11. Events Beyond Our Control

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Conditions we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by "Events Beyond Our Control". For the purposes of these Booking Conditions, Events Beyond Our Control means any event beyond our or our supplier's control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include warfare and acts of terrorism (and threat thereof), civil strife, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely to the travel destination or remain at the travel destination, the act of any government or other national or local authority including port or river authorities, industrial dispute, labour strikes, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster, unavoidable technical problems with transport and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned's control.

Brexit Implications: please note that certain travel arrangements may be affected as a result of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. Please rest assured that this is something we will continue to monitor and will advise our customers as soon as possible if we become aware of any confirmed bookings that will be affected. However, since this is something which is completely unprecedented and outside our control, we would treat any such changes as Events Beyond Our Control, and whilst we will endeavour to provide suitable alternative arrangements or refunds where possible, we will not be liable to pay you any compensation.

12. Special Requests

Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of booking e.g. diet, room location, a particular facility at a hotel etc. You should then confirm your requests in writing. Whilst every effort will be made by us to try and arrange your reasonable special requests, we cannot guarantee that they will be fulfilled. The fact that a special request has been noted on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation or that it has been passed on to the supplier is not confirmation that the request will be met. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of contract on our part unless the request has been specifically confirmed by us. We do not accept bookings that are conditional upon any special request being met.

13. Disabilities and Medical Problems

We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements you may have. If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your booking, please provide us with full details before you make your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor's certificate certifying that you are fit to participate. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking or if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will cancel it and impose applicable cancellation charges when we become aware of these details. If, during your holiday, we become aware of a medical problem or disability which may affect your health and safety or the health and safety of others, which you did not disclose at the time of booking, we reserve the right to postpone, restrict or cancel your involvement in any cycling activities, at the tour leader's sole discretion.

14. Accommodation Provisions

B&b option & double or twin/triple.

If you choose the B&B only option you will stay in a mixture of B&B's, hotels and country pubs. If you are travelling with a friend then you will be roomed together in a twin or if you're with your partner then you will be in a double room (or a twin if you prefer). If you are travelling alone then you will be roomed with another member of the group in a twin or triple room (same sex). The actual stopovers may change from the advertised accommodation providers, if this happens then an equivalent standard of accommodation will be used nearby. The majority of the rooms you stay in will be en-suite however you may stay in a couple of rooms that are not en-suite.

SINGLE ROOM OPTION

If you choose the single room option, you will have your own room for the duration of the holiday. This will be in either a single room or single occupancy of a double room in a mixture of en-suite and non en-suite rooms.

SOLE USE OF A DOUBLE ROOM OPTION

If you choose this option, you will have a guaranteed double room to yourself throughout the tour. You will always have an en-suite each night of your holiday. There may be an exceptionally rare occasion when you have a separate bathroom but this is very unlikely. Occasionally you may have a twin room to yourself if a double room isn't available but again, this is rare.

YHA (YOUTH HOSTEL) OPTION

This option is only available for the fourteen day LEJOG tour. If you choose the YHA option you will stay in a mixture of hostels, hotels & B&B's staying in dormitory rooms, single rooms, twin rooms & triples.

15. Complaints

We make every effort to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly but if you do have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. your hotelier) and your tour leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please contact 07495 023 022 or 01457851462.

If the problem cannot be resolved and you wish to complain further, you must send formal written notice of your complaint to us at our office, ideally within 28 days of the end of your stay, giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you. Failure to follow the procedure set out in this clause may affect ours and the applicable supplier's ability to investigate your complaint, and will affect your rights under this contract.

You can access the European Commission Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/ . This ODR platform is a means of registering your complaint with us; it will not determine how your complaint should be resolved. Please Note: the ODR platform is unlikely to be available for use by UK consumers at such a point that the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union.

16. Your Behaviour

All our customers are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and acceptable manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others. If in our opinion or in the opinion of any hotel manager, tour leader or any other person in authority, your behaviour or that of any member of your party is causing or is likely to cause distress, danger or annoyance to any other customers or any third party, or damage to property, or to cause a delay or diversion to transportation, we reserve the right to terminate your booking with us immediately. In the event of such termination our liability to you and/or your party will cease and you and/or your party will be required to leave your accommodation or other arrangements immediately. We will have no further obligations to you and/or your party. No refunds for lost accommodation or any other arrangements will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of termination. You and/or your party may also be required to pay for loss and/or damage caused by your actions and we will hold you and each member of your party jointly and individually liable for any damage or losses caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or losses must be paid directly to the hotel manager or other supplier prior to departure. If you fail to make payment, you will be responsible for meeting any claims (including legal costs) subsequently made against us as a result of your actions together with all costs we incur in pursuing any claim against you. We cannot be held responsible for the actions or behaviour of other guests or individuals who have no connection with your booking arrangements or with us.

17. Our Responsibilities

• We will accept responsibility for the arrangements we agree to provide or arrange for you as an "organiser" under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, as set out below and as such, we are responsible for the proper provision of all travel services included in your package, as set out in your confirmation invoice. Subject to these Booking Conditions, if we or our suppliers negligently perform or arrange those services and we don't remedy or resolve your complaint within a reasonable period of time, and this has affected the enjoyment of your package holiday you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction or compensation or both. You must inform us without undue delay of any failure to perform or improper performance of the travel services included in this package. The level of any such price reduction or compensation will be calculated taking into consideration all relevant factors such as but not limited to: following the complaints procedure as described in these Booking Conditions and the extent to which ours or our employees' or suppliers' negligence affected the overall enjoyment of your holiday. Please note that it is your responsibility to show that we or our supplier(s) have been negligent if you wish to make a claim against us.
• the acts and/or omissions of the person affected; or
• the acts and/or omissions of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
• Events Beyond Our Control (as defined in clause 11).
• loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions and money: the maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is an amount equivalent to the excess on your insurance policy which applies to this type of loss per person in total because you are required to have adequate insurance in place to cover any losses of this kind.
• Claims not falling under (a) above and which don't involve injury, illness or death: the maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is up to three times the price paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you or your party has not received any benefit at all from your booking.
• The extent of our liability will in all cases be limited as if we were carriers under the appropriate Conventions, which include The Athens Convention (with respect to sea travel); The Berne/Cotif Convention (with respect to rail travel) and The Paris Convention (with respect to hotel arrangements). You can ask for copies of these Conventions from our offices. Please contact us. In addition, you agree that the operating carrier or transport company's own 'Conditions of Carriage' will apply to you on that journey. When arranging transportation for you, we rely on the terms and conditions contained within these international conventions and those 'Conditions of Carriage'. You acknowledge that all of the terms and conditions contained in those 'Conditions of Carriage' form part of your contract with us, as well as with the transport company and that those 'Conditions of Carriage' shall be deemed to be included by reference into this contract.
• When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question.
• It is a condition of our acceptance of liability under this clause that you notify any claim to us and our supplier(s) strictly in accordance with the complaints procedure set out in these conditions.
• Where any payment is made, the person(s) receiving it (and their parent or guardian if under 18 years) must also assign to us or our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party and must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require.
• which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you;
• relate to any business;
• indirect or consequential loss of any kind.
• We will not accept responsibility for services or facilities which do not form part of our agreement or where they are not advertised on our website. . For example any excursion you book whilst away, or any service or facility which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you.
• Where it is impossible for you to return to your departure point as per the agreed return date of your package, due to "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances", we shall provide you with any necessary accommodation (where possible, of a comparable standard) for a period not exceeding three nights per person. Please note that the 3 night cap does not apply to persons with reduced mobility, pregnant women or unaccompanied minors, nor to persons needing specific medical assistance, provided we have been notified of these particular needs at least 48 hours before the start of your holiday. For the purposes of this clause, "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" mean warfare, acts of terrorism, significant risks to human health such as the outbreak of serious disease at the travel destination or natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes or weather conditions which make it impossible to travel safely back to your departure point.

18. Excursions

Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your contracted arrangements with us. For any excursion or other tour that you book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.

19. Insolvency Protection

In accordance with the requirements of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, we provide full financial protection for all package holidays that we sell, by way of a separate account held by HSBC.

If you book arrangements other than package holiday from us, your monies will not be financially protected. Please ask us for further details.

20. Passport, Visa and Immigration Requirements & Health Formalities

It is your responsibility to check and fulfill the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We can only provide general information about this. You must check requirements for your own specific circumstances with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates and your own doctor as applicable. Requirements do change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure.

Most countries now require passports to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. If your passport is in its final year, you should check with the Embassy of the country you are visiting. For further information contact the Passport Office on 0870 5210410 or visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/passports .

Special conditions apply for travel to the USA, and all passengers must have individual machine readable passports. Please check https://uk.usembassy.gov . For European holidays you should obtain a completed and issued form EHIC prior to departure.

Up to date travel advice can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visit https://www.gov.uk/travelaware .

Non British passport holders, including other EU nationals, should obtain up to date advice on passport and visa requirements from the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of your destination or country(ies) through which you are travelling.

We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.

21. Conditions of Suppliers

Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions which will form part of your contract with us. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier's liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions. Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from us or the supplier concerned.

22. Prompt Assistance

If, whilst you are on holiday, you find yourself in difficulty for any reason, we will offer you such prompt assistance as is appropriate in the circumstances. In particular, we will provide you with appropriate information on health services, local authorities and consular assistance, and assistance with distance communications and finding alternative travel arrangements. Where you require assistance which is not owing to any failure by us, our employees or sub-contractors we will not be liable for the costs of any alternative travel arrangements or other such assistance you require. Any supplier or transport supplier may however pay for or provide refreshments and/or appropriate accommodation and you should make a claim directly to them. Subject to the other terms of these Booking Conditions, we will not be liable for any costs, fees or charges you incur in the above circumstances, if you fail to obtain our prior authorisation before making your own travel arrangements. Furthermore, we reserve the right to charge you a fee for our assistance in the event that the difficulty is caused intentionally by you or a member of your party, or otherwise through your or your party's negligence.

23. Delays, Missed Transport Arrangements and other Travel Information

If you or any member of your party misses a transport arrangement, it is cancelled or you are subject to a delay of over 3 hours for any reason, you must contact us and the transport supplier concerned immediately.

We cannot accept liability for any delay which is due to any of the reasons set out in clause 11 of these Booking Conditions.

24. Foreign Office Advice

You are responsible for making yourself aware of Foreign Office advice in regard to the safety of the countries and areas in which you will be travelling and to make your decisions accordingly. Advice from the Foreign Office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Events Beyond Our Control. (See clause 11).

Company Details

Peak Tours Limited 38 Storth Meadow Road, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 6UZ. Registered in England 7992506 VAT No 130935822

The leader and guides were excellent. They worked well as a team. They gave us the space to enjoy our holiday, but were always there when needed. This trip was everything I hoped for. I would certainly use Peak Tours again.

This is my first time ever doing a multi-day bike tour with a tour company. It was everything I imagined, and more! I was also impressed by the value — the price for the tour was very reasonable given everything we were provided. I am a very satisfied customer and will recommend “Peak Tours” to my friends.

This has been the only thing like this I’ve ever done. My expectations were met and exceeded. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the Peak Team! Tour of a life time. Peak Tours enabled me to truly enjoy my dream by offering the right amount of support. More support would have been too much, less would have been upsetting. It felt to me that they were proving just the right amount to each type of rider in order to help us achieve our own personal goals. I don’t know if this was so, but it sure felt like something “individual” was going on for each of us. Very nice job.

Very well thought out route the entire week. Spectacular last day amendment to do the Balcony Road – it was awesome!

Very good lunch stops. Outstanding brew van.

All round great organisation before and after the tour.

We had an absolutely fantastic week, I won’t hesitate to recommend to friends!

The tour leader/backup was ‘Par excellence’

Challenging routes, excellent support and good company – surely this cannot be improved.

Loved every minute (of the route)

I enjoyed every day of the tour. It was suitably challenging and hugely rewarding. Many thanks.

The alpine Cols tour is magnificent. Thank you.

Special mention to the guides and particularly Tony who has real leadership and man management abilities.

He brought out the best in Hamish and Graham as well, a great team.

Hold on to him if you can.

The accommodation provided were very cycle friendly places.  I felt bikes were safely locked up.

The route was well planned. Clear advice and GPX ahead of time was really helpful.

The food was superb – well timed. It was always looked forward to and enjoyed.

Each day on the route seemed to build on the previous day – so we were gradually stretched. I had only been riding for three weeks after a back op, so I was a little nervous about what I’d be able to do. A bit anxious before Semnoz, but by the time we got to Galibier I knew it was doable if I just kept grinding on. And the views and descents were wonderful rewards.

The route was ABSOLIUTLEY FANTASTIC!

The following extras are available for this tour:

Bike Transfer and Return – UK to Europe

Garmin Hire – 7 Days

Dawes Galaxy Plus Touring Bike – 7 Days Hire

Dawes Galaxy Super Touring Bike – 7 Days Hire

Cannondale Synapse Road Bike – 7 Days Hire

Training Weekend for difficulty level 5-7 tours

Cycle Servicing

June/July 2018 August 2018 Aug/Sept 2018 Best Bits 2018

June (1) 2019 June (2) 2019 September 2019

June 2022 September 2022

From: £ 1,495.00

How many people:

Please select an arrival date: Please select 01/06/2024 31/08/2024 14/09/2024 31/05/2025 30/08/2025 13/09/2025

Shared Double Room

Shared twin room, single room, sole occupancy double room.

Would you like us to transport your bike from Glossop, Derbyshire to Europe and back? (Please select number of bikes, select 0 if not required)

• Pay Deposit
• Pay in Full

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Argelès-Gazost / Luz St Sauveur (Fixed Base)

May - October

£855.00 - €925.00

7 Days (Sat - Sat)

Check out the Western portion of the Classic Cols of the Pyrenees on this week-long fixed-base tour. Pyrenees Cycling Tours is the perfect way to discover the Classic Cols and mountain passes of the Tour de France. Takes in the Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aubisque, Soulor and Aspin along with other climbs of Luz Ardiden and Hautacam.

Our Pyrenees cycling tours high in the French mountains are the perfect way to experience the classic Cols of the Pyrenees for yourself. We are located near all the Tour de France Cols with easy access from the UK. From our 2 fixed bases – Argelès-Gazost / Luz St Sauveur -we’re the perfect base from which to ride the Classic Cols of the Pyrenees.

Classic Cols Tour Itinerary

An easy day to start! It's a gentle roll down to the valley bottom, and our ride will take us round to Argelès-Gazost along Voie Vert – The Green Way – an old railway line with tarmac surface and an excellent place away from any traffic , to start the climb to the ski station of Hautacam a out and back climb but a tough and unrelenting.

Warm up for this one - it's one long climb! We'll start from the town of Luz St Sauveur, heading up the valley past the Pic du Bergons as we ride close to the edge of the Gave du Gavarnie. Heading towards the village of Gèdre this is the easy part: once into Gavarnie village we swing a right and head up the Port du Boucharo and the Spanish border - a total of 32 km.

This is the Tourmalet from Bagnères de Bigorre side. After descending the valley again, the route takes us past the bottom of Hautacam onto a small unknown climb of the Croix Blanche. This takes us through the picturesque valley of Castelloubon to Juncalas where we start the climb of the Croix Blanche, which is sometimes used in the Tour de France and is well used by cyclists, not by cars. We descend to Trébons where we start climbing all the way to the top of the Tourmalet - see you at the top!

We approach the Tourmalet from the reverse side we came down yesterday an run on to the last climb of the day the col d'Aspin. With a return ride through the rolling foothils of the pyrenees.

Another big day sees us tackling the Col d’Aubisque and the Col du Soulour from the hard north south ascent. After this, the hard side of the Col makes today’s ride a tough one and the support vehicle will there to support us in our ride returning over the Col du Soulor.

Today we climb to the ski station of Luz Ardiden. Its the last riding day and for all those that want a extra climb we can add in another climb to Cirque de Troumouse to make your week complete.

Classic Cols West dates

You will be staying for 7 nights and riding for 6 days.

11th - 18th

18th - 25th

25th - 1st June

15th - 22th

22th - 29th

29th June - 6th

13th - 20th

20th - 27th

27th July - 3rd

10th - 17th

17th - 24th

24th - 31st

31st August - 7th

14th - 21st

21st - 28th

28th September - 5th

12th - 19th

Pricing and Fees

£855.00 – €925.00

Single supplement:

£115.00 / €145.00

Included on this tour

• Half board including breakfast, and fantastic 3-course meals every night.
• Return transfers from/to Pau airport (1hr 15min Transfer) or Lourdes airport (40 min Transfer) or train station (30 min Transfer).
• Cereal bars and energy drinks to keep you fuelled-up.
• Experienced ride leaders.
• Secure storage for your bikes - we know how much you love them!
• Vehicle and driver back-up for major break downs.

What's not included

• Food on the road.
• Transfers to from Toulouse or Biarritz unless previously agreed extra charges apply.
• Wine, beer or any hotel extras e.g. washing of kit (this can be added to the price of your room and paid for on check-out).
• 6 day Raid Pyrenees
• Training Camps Girona
• Paris - Roubaix Challenge 2024

• Skiing into Spring

10 legendary mountain passes and climbs

Mise à jour le --> 21.06 2023 --> --> --> --> Discovery

Regularly used by the Tour de France, every summer they attract cyclists from all over the world. However, you’ll need at least some training to follow in the wake of the top cycling champions, but the stunning landscapes revealed along the way make it well worth the effort. 

Le Portet d’Aspin (1,489 metres)

Like Tourmalet, le Col d’Aspin is a real classic for the Tour de France, which has climbed it 71 times. Thomas Voeckler was the last to conquer it in the lead, during the 16th stage of the 2012 Tour de France (Pau / Bagnères-de-Luchon), a race he went on to win after leading the day’s four challenges (Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde). The most difficult climb starts at Arreau (12 kilometres at 6.7%). It’s unusual because of the unevenly spaced hardwood trees alongside the road, which zig zags up through picturesque mountain pastures. The climb is more irregular from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan (12 kilometres at 5%) with a harder final section (from the ski resort and Lac de Payolle, at 1,100 metres in altitude).

Le Col du Grand Colombier (1,498 metres)

Despite only featuring in the Tour de France once (in 2012), le Col du Grand Colombier is nonetheless formidable. Its four access routes all represent an almost two-hour climb for the average cyclist: 15.9 kilometres at 7.87% from Artemare; 18.3 kilometres at 6.89% from Culoz; 15.7 kilometres at 7.97% from Anglefort and 19.2 kilometres (at 6.75% on the last 15 kilometres) from Champagne-en-Valromey. This Jura giant – situated on the border of the Savoie department – provides breath-taking views over Lac du Bourget from its summit.

Col de Peyresourde (1,569 metres)

Situated near the ski resort of Peyragudes, le Col de Peyresourde is characterised by the blanket of moss covering the Alpine pastures through which its road snakes. According to the former director of the Tour de France, Jean-Marie Leblanc, “this climb makes you want to lie down and sleep in the grass, next to the sheep and cows”! Climbed 65 times by Tour de France competitors, it offers a 9.9 kilometre stretch on the west side (at an average incline of 6.6%) and 15.3 kilometres on the east side (at an average incline of 6.1%). Beware though, its irregular incline (with 12% stretches on each side) and frequent gusts of wind make this climb a more delicate operation than the numbers alone suggest.

Alpe d’Huez (1,803 metres)

It’s hard to imagine it today, but the first time the Tour de France came to Alpe d’Huez in 1952, only a handful of fans were in attendance. Thereafter, the climb went on to become a highlight of the world’s biggest cycling race. Now some 500,000 people gather along the climb’s 21 numbered hair-pin bends – each road sign featuring the name of an Alpe d’Huez stage winner and the corresponding year of their victory – happily arriving several days in advance to set up. In summer, around 1,000 cyclists (5,000 a day during the week of the Tour) set off every day to tackle the 13.1 kilometre climb, at an average of 8.19%. Internationally, Alpe d’Huez is more famous for its access road’s 21 hair-pin bends than for its 250 kilometres of ski runs! 

Le Mont Ventoux (1,912 metres)

Visible for 100 kilometres in all directions, the Mont Ventoux summit appears to be permanently snow-capped, even at the height of summer. This almost lunar look, a consequence of repeated forest fires and deforestation that began back in the Middle Ages, is why it’s been nicknamed “Mont Bald”. Despite only looking slightly more difficult on paper (21.5 kilometres at 7.22%, versus 21.2 kilometres at 7.15%), the climb from Bédoin, on the south side, is unquestionably more famous than that on the north side, from Malaucène. It’s worth noting that 12 of the 15 Tour de France climbs started at Bédoin, compared to 2 on the north side and just 1 on the east side, from Sault. The latter, by far the easiest (25.7 kilometres at 4.5%), joins the Bédoin road at the level of the Reynard chalet, 6 kilometres from the summit.

Le Col de la Croix de Fer (2,067 metres)

It’s not only the average gradient (27.53 kilometres at 4.7% on the Isére side from Verney Dam; 30 kilometres at 5.07% from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne on the Savoie side) but also its irregularity and length that make La Croix-de-Fer such a difficult climb. Cyclists who gamely attempt this Tour de France classic (which has featured in the event 16 times since 1947) are however rewarded by a succession of stunning landscapes: waterfalls plunging down into the valley, the Grand-Maison Dam, the Aiguilles de l’Argentière on the Isére side; the Aiguilles d’Arves and the Belledonne chain on the climb from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

Le Col du Tourmalet (2,115 metres)

Despite having a name that seems to translate from French as the “bad trip”, this Pyrenean giant remains the most-climbed Col in the history of the Tour de France (79 times). The first time “La Grande Boucle” paid it a visit in 1910, Octave Lapize – who carried out a large part of the climb on foot, pushing his bike – felt entirely justified in labelling its organisers “killers”. Today, the climb will take an average cyclist around two hours to complete, either on its west side (17.2 kilometres at 7.4% from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, via the resort of La Mongie) or its east side (18.8 kilometres at 7.4% from Luz-Saint-Sauveur, via Barèges).

Le Col de l’Izoard (2,360 metres)

When you think of Izoard, the first thing that comes to mind is the barren scree slopes overlooking the road, which, like Mont Ventoux, give the place a lunar feel. The presence of cargneule peaks (a local sepia-coloured rock) reinforces the austere look of the so-called “Casse Déserte” situated just over 2 kilometres from the Col on the south side. Of the 33 times the Tour de France has been through here, it has been the most-climbed section (15.9 kilometres at 6.9%). In 2011, Andy Schleck, then 4th in the General Classification, launched an attack 60 kilometres from the start, which went on to deliver him first place in the stage. The Col’s north side, from Briançon, offers a 19.2 kilometre climb at an average gradient of 5.92%.

Le Col du Galibier (2,642 metres)

Climbed 58 times, le Col du Galibier numbers among the Tour de France’s “classic climbs”. This year once again it will be the highest summit the peloton passes through, during the Modane – Alpe d’Huez stage. If the south side (8.52 kilometres at 6.9% from le Col du Lautaret) is far from a bed of roses, what can be said about the north side, with 18.1 kilometres at 6.9%, and the most difficult kilometres bunched towards the end? It was on these slopes that Marco Pantani laid the foundations for his final victory in 1998.

Le Col de l’Iseran (2,770 metres)

This Col, which connects the Maurienne and Tarentaise Valleys, prides itself on being the highest Col road in the Alps. Before the road – which opened in 1937 – was built, the Col de l’Iseran the site of so many mysteries and dramas that in Bonneval-sur-Arc (the starting point of the south face climb) it gave rise to the following adage: “If everyone who died on Iseran stood hand in hand, they would stretch from here to Val d’Isère”. Today, the Col de l’Iseran is a prime tourism site. It provides access to Val d’Isère’s summer ski area (on the Pisaillas glacier), and of course two superb cycling climbs: 48 kilometres at 4.1% from Bourg-Saint-Maurice on its north side (including 16 kilometres at 5.8% from Val d’Isère) or 13.4 kilometres at 7.3% from Bonneval-sur-Arc, on the south side.

Col de l'Izoard ©Martin Léger

Col du Galibier ©ASO

Montée du mont Ventoux ©A.S.O

peloton montée au Col du Glandon ©A.S.O

Montée vers l'Alpe d'Huez ©A .S.O

Col de la Croix-de-fer© A.Gros

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Pyrenean Classic Cols

Road cycling holidays in the pyrenees.

• Cycle Tour de France Pyrenean cols and stage endings: Tourmalet, Portet d’Aspet, Peyresourde and more
• Multiple daily route options give you ultimate flexibility with how much you want to cycle
• Optional daily ‘Challenge’ routes with up to 3670m ascent per day!
• Comfortable and friendly 2-3* hotels with local cuisine
• Experience thermal spa towns that the Pyrenees is famous for
• Exceptional support from two of our customised support vans and expert Marmot guides who are focused on making your holiday the best it can be

Days on the bike

This is the best cycling trip I have done so far...reasons are so easy: great organisation with lots of fastidious and detail work that allows the participants to focus on just great rides tailored to the individual...what more can one ask? A wonderful, memorable trip for me, as I am sure for everyone.

Introduction

This French Pyrenean road cycling holiday has been carefully crafted so you can cycle the best cols and Tour de France stage endings that the Pyrenees have to offer. You’ll experience quiet roads and you’ll fall in love with the region’s charming ambiance. This point-to-point Pyrenean cycling tour traverses the region from east to west, and you’ll ride through quaint villages, rural countryside, ski resorts, and high pastures.

The joy of this French cycling holiday, as with all of our Marmot Classic itineraries, is its flexibility. Using our in-depth knowledge of the Pyrenees, we’ve devised daily ‘Classic’ routes, which warm you up gently and get progressively tougher throughout the week, in preparation for your ascent of the Col du Tourmalet on the final day. Taken at a steady pace, the ‘Classic’ route is manageable and enjoyable for fit cyclists regardless of experience in the mountains – the toughest day (on the easiest route) involves 1,750m of ascent. However, this holiday also offers a fantastic challenge for those wanting to push themselves further. Each day optional extra climbs and loops increase the possible daily ascent to over 3,600m. This makes this tour the perfect choice for very fit cyclists who are regular cyclosportive entrants and/or who would consider undertaking a raid cycling challenge.

Due to the variety of daily route options, this really is the perfect cycling holiday for mixed-ability pairs or groups of friends. With the exceptional support of two Marmot guides and customised support vehicles, it’s our mission that every rider has an incredible cycling holiday and an unforgettable cycling experience.

It is important to us that you book the correct holiday so please check out the  Trip Notes   for all you need on how this holiday works, food, accommodation & travel…  

F or the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice .

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Departure Dates & Prices

Discount information.

We are pleased to offer some tempting discounts off the basic trip cost (not including extras such as single rooms or bike hire):

• Book & pay your deposit more than 6 months in advance of the start of your holiday for our  5% early bookers discount
• Get a group of 10+ people together for a  7.5% group discount and, as the group organiser, receive a £150 voucher for your next holiday
• Be rewarded for your loyalty by receiving a  10% discount  from your 3rd Marmot trip onwards

Please note that there is a maximum 10% discount on any holiday.

Day 0: Arrival day

We offer included transfers from Toulouse airport to Ax-les-Thermes.

Full travel advice ( essential reading before booking your flights ) can be found in our  Trip Notes .

Meet your guides and have a welcome briefing and a great dinner.

Day 1: Day Ride from Ax

This morning there is time to assemble your bike after breakfast before heading out on the day’s ride. The Col du Chioula (1431m)  has pleasant gradients and great views over the eastern Pyrenees.

After lunch you can retreat to the local thermal spa, or take a leisurely ride up the stunning Orlu valley. For those wanting more, there is the option to take on the stage ending of Bonascre (1380m) or the HC climb of the Col de Pailhères (2001m) .

Easier route: 38km with 830m ascent Classic route: 55km with 1030m ascent [ ride profile ] Harder route: 56km with 1500m ascent [ ride profile ] Challenge route: 76km with 2111m ascent [ ride profile ]

Day 2: Ax-les-Thermes to Saint-Lizier

Today we climb up to the Route des Corniches which undulates along the south facing side of the valley of Ax. Enjoy beautiful views and rural villages all the way to the market town of Tarascon where we pause for lunch. Alternatively, those wanting a big challenge this morning can take on the tough Plateau de Beille (1800m) stage ending.

After lunch we all head over the Col de Port (1250m) , a lovely climb with a couple of cheeky sections, before descending (almost) all the way to your hotel in Saint-Lizier. Spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring St Lizier’s art galleries, or take on the mighty Col d’Agnes (1570m) !

Easier route: ( Lift to Lordat) 85km with 920m ascent Classic route: 103km with 1470m ascent [ ride profile ] Harder route: 136km with 2430m ascent [ ride profile ] Challenge route: 152km with 3100m ascent [ ride profile ]

Day 3: Saint-Lizier to Luchon

Climbing gently through ancient farmsteads, you barely notice the incline to the Col de Portet d’Aspet (1075m) . A short descent through mixed forest (past the memorial to Fabio Casartelli) prepares you for the never-ending Col de Menté (1345m) , or there is the option of missing it out and instead taking on the beautiful and gentle climbs of the Col de Buret (599m) and the Col des Ares (797m) .

After a pleasant, winding descent you can stretch your legs with a very gentle (almost flat) finale into the bustling spa town of Luchon. There are two optional extras today, the Col de la Core (1395m)  in the morning, or at the end of the day an excursion to Spain via the climb of the  Col du Portillon (1293m) .

Easier route: 84km with 1300m ascent [ ride profile ] Classic route: 79km with 1600m ascent [ ride profile ] Harder route: 97km with 2270m ascent [ ride profile ] Challenge route: 134km with 3200m ascent [ ride profile ]

Day 4: Day rides from Luchon or rest day!

Today you have the option of a day off the bike to enjoy what else Luchon has to offer – from its spa facilities to paragliding or mountain biking!

Luchon is sourrounded by legendary Tour de France climbs, so those of you wanting to ride today have a number of options. You can take on the stage finish of   Superbagnères (1804m) or the ever changing gradients of the Port de Balès (1755m) , where Schleck and Contador had the famous chain incident! Another option is to nip up to the Spanish border on the Port du Portillon (1293m) , a short but punchy ride.

Easier route: 22 km with 670m ascent Superbagnères: 39km with 1200m ascent Classic route: 70km with 1300m ascent [ ride profile ] Challenge route: 109km with 2500m ascent [ ride profile ]

Day 5: Luchon to Bagnères-de-Bigorre

You start today with the rather steep but very beautiful Col de Peyresourde (1565m) . You will be rewarded at the top by fabulous crêpes from the café! Those who really want to push themselves can take on one or two optional extras – the Col d’Azet (1580m) and the mountain hugging Pla d’Adet (1680m) .

Next on the Classic route is the beautiful Col d’Aspin (1490m) , used more often by the Tour de France than any other Pyrenean climb. A spectacular downhill takes us through the small and quaintly bizarre town of Campan and on to our hotel in Bagnères-de-Bigorre (another thermal spa town!).

Classic route: 70km with 1750m ascent [ ride profile ] Harder route: 90km with 2315m ascent [ ride profile ] Challenge route: 114km with 3215m ascent [ ride profile ]

Day 6: Bagnères-de-Bigorre to Argelès-Gazost

Today is all about the mighty  Col du Tourmalet (2115m) – the highest road col in the Pyrenees! Make sure you get your photo taken at the top – this climb is a real achievement. From here you can enjoy a 35km descent, all the way to the picturesque thermal spa town of Argelès-Gazost.

An afternoon of relaxation is well deserved. The tempting optional extra climbs on offer include the Tour de France stage finishes of Luz Ardiden (1720m) and Hautacam (1534m) or a nice detour up the valley to the village of Gavarnie for a glimpse of the world famous Cirque.

Classic route: 65km with 1515m ascent [ ride profile ] Easy optional extra: adds 39km and 665m ascent [ ride profile ] Harder route: 93km with 2700m ascent [ ride profile ] Challenge route: 123km with 3670m ascent [ ride profile ]

Day 7: Departure day

We offer included transfers from Argelès-Gazost to Toulouse airport.

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Dream of one day taking on the biggest, toughest, most iconic climbs that each year shape the spectacular Tour de France ?

Our Pyrenees and Alps TDF experiences are all about making Tour de France dreams a reality and conquering epic mountains along the way. Led by ace ride guides and designed to allow you to experience the best of the bergs, with a healthy dose of Tour de France madness in between!

Here, we’ve created a Cols of the Tour de France ‘must-do’ bucket list.

Hautacam: 15.8km - 6.8%

Lengthy at 15.8km, and an average gradient of 6.8%, but with several pinches at 10% - it will be no easy feat, but will certainly get the climbing legs into gear! Be sure to take in the exceptional panoramic views of the Argeles Valley and the Val d’Azun as you make your way to the summit of the ‘Hors Categorie’ climb. Make it a day to remember by completing the famous 'Hautacam loop' that includes 1499m of climbing.

Col du Soulor: 19.4km - 5.2%

This one is a real Tour de France classic and one of the famous ‘Circle of Death’ climbs. Relentless in length, however a leg-friendly steady gradient for most of the journey up to its peak at 1474m.

Col d’Aubisque: 16.6km - 7.2%

At just over 16km in length, averaging 7.2% and rising to 1,709m – you'll have some weary, yet satisfied legs at the summit! The pain and suffering will be rewarded superbly atop with its sensational peak views.

Col d’Aspin: 12.8 km - 5%

Another Hautes Pyrenees favourite and a very prominent ascent in Tour de France history, having appeared in the race a significant 70+ times since 1910. Usually considered the ‘warm up’ climb ahead of it’s giant neighbour - the Col du Tourmalet. 

Col de Spandelles: 16.2km - 5.9%

Col de Spandelles is a stunning, quiet road shaded by trees allowing a blissful climb away from the scorching heat during the thick of the Tour de France. This Cat 1 ascent is challenging, but manageable and oh so enjoyable.

Luz Ardiden : 13.4km - 7.6%

The Luz Ardiden is famous for its incredible 25 hairpin bends and spectacular views of the Haute Pyrenees grand peaks. You’ll be able to glide up here with its steady gradient and long stretches between bends, before taking in the views atop and catching a glimpse of your next daring summit - The Col du Tourmalet.

Col du Tourmalet: 18.6km - 7.5%

At 2115m in elevation, it is officially the highest paved mountain pass in the French Pyrenees. The challenging ascent has made a frequent appearance throughout Tour de France history. In 2021, the climb featured for the 88th time. 

At the year's race, our guest had the opportunity to ride up the Tourmalet in the thick of the Tour de France atmosphere ahead of the pro’s, before kicking back at hospitality to watch the action unfold right before us. Truly epic and a climb we love to continuously revisit every July.

Mont Ventoux: 21.4km - 7.6%

Mont Ventoux literally means ‘Windy Mountain’ and the name speaks for itself. To add – it has been nicknamed by many as ‘The Bald Mountain’ due to its interesting, barren Provencal landscape once above the tree line.  

The lengthy climb travels up to 1912m and is widely known throughout the cycling world as being an immense physical challenge. If you reach breaking point, just think back to that one time Chris Froome had to jog to the summit finish line…

Tough, yes but the elation and incredible feeling atop will certainly make It all the more worth it.

Col du Lautaret (to Col du Galibier):10.5km - 5%

The scenic, steady Col du Lautaret is for many 'the warm-up' for the Galibier to follow. The perfect chance to soak up some incredible glacial views and liven up for the real challenge beyond!

Col du Galibier (from Col du Lautaret): 8.5km - 7%

Here’s your chance to conquer one of cycling’s greatest, the Col du Galibier - where many-a legend has treaded and suffered to its summit. Brutal in nature and not just for its steady 7% gradients, but its ever-changing, often harsh conditions. The superb surroundings and amazing views at the summit, alongside that sweet taste of conquering an ‘epic’ certainly make up for the time spent In the pain cave to get there.

Alpe d’Huez: 15.2km - 8.1%

The legendary Alpe d’Huez has to be the most iconic of Tour de France climbs and has appeared many times throughout its history. Most famous for its unique 21 hairpins and sensational views along the way. At 15.2km in length (to the official TdF summit finish line) and rising up to 1860m – this climb is unreal.

For any cycling bucket list - it is an absolute MUST do.

Col de la Madeleine: 26.3km - 6.2%

Daunting in distance and climbing up to 2,000 metres in elevation, the Col de la Madeleine is no easy ride. It’s incredible green, scenic journey to the summit, however will make the time fly on by and you’ll be rewarded atop with views of not one, but three famous French Alps peaks; The Glandon, Croix de Fer and Galibier. Take it all in!

Col du Glandon: 21.3km - 6.9%

The Col du Glandon is a beast of a climb and oh so bucket list worthy. Challenging, lengthy and just under 2000m, yet stunningly beautiful. So much so, you may even stop hearing your legs scream and focus on your gorgeous surroundings.

The 2022 Tour de France route is soon to be revealed in October. Shortly after we will be revealing our trip line-up and complete itineraries for next year's race around France. What climbs would you like to see included along the route? And are you game to conquer them! To secure your spot on the tour of your choice and to ensure you receive all tour details prior to public launch, you can place a fully refundable Pre-Release Guarantee NOW.

At Mummu Cycling we’ve combined life’s two greatest pleasures: travelling and cycling. There’s no experience more unique than going on a cycling tour. Nothing else gives you the blissful joy of feeling the wind on your skin while breathing in the fresh air of the countryside — something that definitely cannot be said of sitting on a stuffy tour bus. If this sounds like what you’re looking for, then you’ve come to the right place.

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Tour overview.

Our Grand Cols week is for those that are inspired to conquer the greatest cols in the French Pyrénées. Ride the most famous peaks and add your legend to the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, Hautacam, Luz Ardiden and many more.

With full support from The Col Collective, ride with and learn from Mike Cotty and the team on the bike each day and recover and relax après velo back at our period guest house.

This is our signature week and is all about escaping to the biggest peaks, helping you become a more accomplished mountain rider and creating memories with The Col Collective that will live with you forever.

WHO’S IT FOR?

This week is designed for intermediate level riders, guiding you around the greatest climbs made famous by the Tour de France. We’re blessed with having so many options from the door to stretch your limits and keep you hungry for more. If you’ve ridden in the mountains before and are comfortable riding 4-5 hours per day then this is the week for you. We won’t be racing up any climbs so you can set your own pace and we’ll be there to support you all the way to the summit. Typically days consist of 2 climbs, are around 100km in length with between 2,000m to 2,500m of ascending, giving yourself time to challenge yourself but (most importantly) enjoy this beautiful region.

2021 Dates & Prices

Our Grand Cols week is limited to just 8 riders to keep the group small and personal, so we’ll be able to really support you in true Col Collective style all the way to the summit (and down)!

Sat 24th - Fri 30th July 2021 (6 nights) - Sold Out. Please contact [email protected] for reserve availability.

Wed 18th - Tue 24th August (6 nights) - Limited Availibility.

€2,895 per person - based on twin share. Includes our ‘ all inclusive’ meal package.

€495 - single supplement. As we have limited rooms in our guest house please contact us in advance to confirm availability.

Your stay with us includes

A relaxing environment where we take care of you from start to finish:

• 6 nights boutique style accommodation at The Col Collective HQ based on a twin share basis. We are a small but beautifully formed guest house therefore single supplement rooms are limited. Please enquire and we will do our best to accommodate. See more about the house in “accommodation” .
• Personal airport collection and transfers from Toulouse (1 hour 35 transfer to the house). Arrangements can be made for collection from Lourdes train station or airport (10-20 minutes transfer time respectively). For those transiting in Paris a ”direct TGV rail service is available to Lourdes train station” .
• The Col Collective limited edition cycling jersey.

Tasty and nutritious food, locally sourced and lovingly prepared to satisfy your palate and hunger:

• Hearty “cyclist” breakfast to get the day started (our local bakery is the stuff of legend).
• Home cooked healthy evening meals, heartfully prepared using fresh local produce - including beer, house wine and soft drinks.
• One evening meal out at our award winning local Pyrenean restaurant.

On the bike fully supported experience:

• Fully guided rides with Mike and The Col Collective team.
• Support vehicle on every ride.
• TORQ nutrition energy products with guidance on fuelling on and off the bike.
• Numerous and diverse on the road snacks, tailored to your preference.
• Daily photos capturing the core spirit of your time and achievements with The Col Collective.

A thorough recovery to keep you going longer and stronger:

• TORQ recovery shake after each ride, plus post ride snacks and hydration.
• Unlimited daily use of NormaTec recovery “moon” boots.
• Fresh water swimming pool to cool off and relax your muscles.

Keeping it simple for you:

• Daily kit wash.
• Bike valeting service.
• Workshop, in house mechanic, bike tools and secure storage.
• Words of wisdom, help, advice and education throughout the week from Mike and The Col Collective team.

What makes The Col Collective Cycling Tours experience unique?

More than just a cycling tour, an authentic experience

• Hosting you in our 16th century Pyrenean farm house creates a truly unique and homely environment for you to take a week of relaxation, self-care and incredible mountain challenges. We’re here to share all of our experience with you.
• Group sizes are kept to a maximum of just 8 riders. This creates a truly personal experience with a 2:1 guest to staff ratio, ensuring that we can offer the absolute highest level of support and service in every area of your week.
• While the bike riding is an obvious highlight, it’s the before and after that really makes The Col Collective experience unique. From breakfast in our dining room to evening chats in the open air as the sun sets over the mountains, and the scent of our stone baked pizza oven fills the air, we are here as a large family.

More than just a riding event, the experience of riding like a pro without the stress

• From his childhood, Mike Cotty has lived for the mountains, slowly evolving his passion to become an expert and to be able to share and support you in your own journey to the summit both on and off the bike.
• Based on his experiences at professional team camps, his connections in the cycling world and with the support of the brands that he’s worked with for many years, we are proud to be able to take care of you like a pro just without the stress of racing. Quite the opposite in fact, we encourage riders to take their time, to savour the moment and let the essence of the mountains run deep inside your soul.
• Our team will offer you professional advice and guidance on bike skills, techniques, training, nutrition and mental preparation, all tools used by the pros and an increasing part of every day life.

More than just a moment, a lifetime experience to remember forever

• The Col Collective’s values are deep and simple. We care about health, wellbeing, mindfulness and nature. We believe that by sharing these with you, we support our guests to become better versions of themselves.
• Sharing our mountain passion and creating the most personal and well supported experience is our number one goal.
• Join us to simply share the gift of nature and the great outdoors with each other. We will create this uttermost personal experience for and with you.
• This is what we believe in. This is who we are. This is what we wish to bring to you.

What’s new in 2021?

• All inclusive meals. Package price includes all main meals at the house and when we eat out one evening at our local restaurant, meaning you have more for souvenirs!
• The Col Collective Coaching > Personal training plans to support you in the lead up to your week in the mountains. (Additional fee applies, contact us for details when booking)

What’s not included

• Your flights and travel arrangements
• Bike hire. Please contact us to arrange if required
• Travel and personal insurance
• Additional sustenance outside of what’s listed above

THE WEEK IN BRIEF > 10 Cols / 535km / 11,000 m elevation

Day 1 - Collection from Toulouse airport at midday, bike build and light spin to loosen the legs and get ready for the week Day 2 - Col du Soulor and Col d’Aubisque including Cirque du Litor > 105km / 2,000m elevation Day 3 - Hourquette d’Ancizan and Col d’Aspin from Campan > 110km 2,000m elevation Day 4 - Luz Ardiden and Hautacam > 110km / 2,500m elevation Day 5 - Transfer to Bagnères de Luchon: Peyresourde, Azet & Aspin > 110km / 2,500m elevation Day 6 - Col du Tourmalet from Luz Saint Sauveur > 100km / 2,000m elevation Day 7 - Final big breakfast, high fives, bike packing and transfer back to Toulouse airport for 12pm noon drop off

Learn more about some of the climbs you’ll conquer throughout the week here .

Arriving in Toulouse we’ll collect you and your bike at midday. Snacks and light refreshments will be available on arrival at The Col Collective HQ where we’ll have time to get the bikes built and prepped before a gentle leg loosener ride (the Tourmalet will have to wait another day!). Relaxing by the pool or catching up on recovery after travelling is also an option. Today is an easy day to get you ready for the week ahead. Over dinner Mike will chat you through the schedule for the coming days and no doubt a few tall tales will be told along the way.

The Cirque du Litor is one of the most picturesque roads in the world, joining the famous Col d’Aubisque and beautiful Col du Soulor along what appears to be no more than a craggy cliff edge. Steeped in Tour de France history, it first featured in the 1910 Tour during an unfathomable 326km stage from Bagnères de Luchon to the Atlantic coast. A gentle start will allow the legs to come around after yesterday’s travelling as we head into the hills. From the north the Soulor is a hidden gem that always leaves us in awe and serenity as we start to ascend deep into the mountains. Ride in awe at the Cirque du Litor before taking a breather for coffee and Gâteau Basque at the summit of the Aubisque. Now awaits the first big descent of the week and what an absolute stunner it is.

Although Hourquette d’Ancizan may be a less familiar ascent it’s one that caught me by surprise with its unbelievable serenity the first time I rode it. Memories of that day always put me in a good place so I wanted to share that same experience with you all. We’ll start the day by rolling out through the Campan valley where we’ll tackle the first 6,5km of the Col d’Aspin. An unassuming right hand turn takes us away from the main road and into a world of cycling magnificence as the road meanders for 8km to its 1,564m high summit. Breath deep, the mountain air is so pure it’s invigorating. We’ll pick up the Aspin once again from where we left it to ride its last 5km to the 1,489m summit, where the road opens up and you’re gifted with sensational views of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877m) and the Louron and Aure valleys.

Climbing up to 1,715m at an average gradient just shy of 8% Luz Ardiden has been the scene of much drama over the years as the pros battle their way to the ski station summit. With a prestigious list of winners including Delgado, Indurain, Virenque, Jalabert, Armstrong and more, its close proximity to Spain means it’s one of the rare climbs that has featured in the Vuelta a España as well as the Tour de France. In fact, it was in the 2003 Tour when Armstrong had a falling out with a spectator’s musette, bringing him to the ground on the early slopes, leading to a frantic chase and eventual stage win…..fairytale stuff indeed. Known as the Alpe d’Huez of the Pyrenees for its similar stats in terms of length and elevation gain (OK, LA has 30 bends as opposed to ADH’s 21 but who’s counting?) it’s with 4km to go when the summit comes into view and the switchbacks start to flow. This is what we’ve come for! Take a deep breath and let the wonders of Luz Ardiden soothe your soul.

After some well deserved refreshments and a blast back down the Gorge de Luz we’re soon onto the early slopes of Hautacam, with its fluctuating gradient and cheeky pitches, this is a climb that needs careful pacing to get the most from it, allowing you to enjoy the big valley views. We’ll meet at the top for a Col Collective team selfie before allowing gravity to be our best friend on a descent of pure exhilaration straight back to our HQ!

A short transfer in The Col Collective team cars to the spa town of Bagnères de Luchon starts the day where a trio of cols await. Starting with the classic Col de Peyresourde, a climb that needs little introduction with its long and illustrious history with the Tour de France, taking us from the Haute-Garonne back to the Hautes-Pyrénées. After a well deserved crêpe stop at the summit we’ll turn our attention towards the Col de Val Louron Azet, with switchbacks aplenty up to its 1,580m summit and a 360 degree view of the 3,000m high peaks of the Pyrénées to savour, it’s one of my favourite spots in the whole region and one that gives you a real perspective of your mountain journey. Finishing off with the eastern side of the Aspin from the pretty village of Arreau this is going to be a big and beautiful day in the saddle and a real col conquering adventure from Luchon back to base.

The final big one and to be honest there’s no other way to finish the week than with the legendary Col du Tourmalet from Luz Saint Sauveur. At 19km in length the early slopes can often be a harder battle mentally than physically until mid distance when we’ll hook a right and join the Voie Laurent Fignon (old Tourmalet road) that’s reserved as a gem for cyclists with its faded road markings from past Tour de France battles and an array of wildlife both great and small to keep us company. Keep the faith (and your composure), soak up the Tourmalet, bask in its history, be proud of yourself for a magical week in the mountains as the Pic du Midi comes into view: it’s time for one last victory salute. Vive le Tourmalet!

Following a well earned mountain breakfast bonanza it’s time to pack and prepare for a transfer back to Toulouse airport for a midday drop off.

This is a general itinerary to give you a good idea of what to expect. We may make some adjustments if we think we can further improve the week or if we need to dodge Mother Nature at any time. There’ll be options throughout the week to make days longer by adding a climb or two, or shorter (with transfers to or from climbs) depending on how you’re feeling so rest assured we’re here to look after you.

About the house

Located in the heart of the Hautes Pyrénées with views towards the 2,877m Pic du Midi de Bigorre, The Col Collective guest house is a perfect base for cyclists looking to tackle the most prestigious Hors Catégorie climbs, gentle rolling roads or even flatter farmlands that give this area so much charm and character.

We have 5 beautifully appointed en-suite guest bedrooms which can hold a total of 12 people. All of our rooms are named after local peaks or cols and each bring their own unique feel of the Hautes Pyrénées to life.

4 rooms are located in the Grange and 1 room is located in the Maison de Maître. All are warmly appointed and allow for peaceful relaxation and recovery after a great day of cycling. Each room is private and spacious and offers flexible accommodation with the choice of either two single beds or one super king size bed. Complimentary services available in each room include:

• Stretch mats and foam roller
• NormaTec recovery system
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Hairdryer…..gotta look good off the bike
• Safe for valuables
• Soap and shampoo

Après vélo we welcome you to enjoy our pool, also known as ’the recovery zone’, cultivate your tan lines in our generously sized courtyard or take a spin into town for a coffee and culture.

Booking Terms

Please complete the below booking request form so that we can start working with you to confirm your Col Collective cycling adventure. We’ll give you a call or send you an email with more details, also prior to booking we can answer any questions that you may have. Once you’re happy and have confirmed the booking we ask for a 30% deposit of the full price of the tour at this time, with the remaining balance paid in full 12 weeks before the tour. Changes and cancellations are detailed in our terms and conditions.

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to welcoming you to our mountains!

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE OCCASIONALLY ENCOUNTER AN ISSUE WITH OUR BOOKING FORM. IF YOU DON’T HEAR FROM US WITHIN 48 HOURS PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO [email protected]

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Pyrenean Classic Cols

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  Tour Operator   Marmot Tours

  8   days   (Bike: 6 days)

  Big climbs

This road cycling holiday has been carefully crafted to allow you to cycle the best cols and stage endings that the Pyrenees has to offer as well experience its quiet roads and unassuming ambiance.

It is a point to point journey traversing the region from East to West, taking in the infamous climbs that the professional Tour de France cyclists head up every year.

The joy of this holiday, and our other Classic Cols itineraries is in its flexibility. Using our in-depth knowledge of the Pyrenees, we have devised a Classic route which warms us up gently getting progressively tougher in preparation for your final ascent of the infamous Col du Tourmalet. Taken at a steady pace this route is manageable and enjoyable for healthy cyclists regardless of experience in the mountains, with the toughest day involving 1700m of ascent. It is route to open up the Pyrenees to you. However, this holiday also offers a fantastic challenge to those wanting to push themselves further and for longer: each day there are 'optional extras' increasing the possible daily ascent to over 3000m, making this holiday also suitable for those very fit cyclists who are regular cyclosportive entrants, and who would consider a Raid.Climb the legendary Tour de France Pyrenean cols & stage endings: Tourmalet, Portet d'Aspet, PeyresourdeOptional Classic Cols challenge: up to 4000m ascent per day!

Tour Information

Ax les Thermes

Argeles Gazost

Guided     £   920

Excellent support from 2 customised support vans and 2 experienced, proactive guides focused on making your holiday the best it can be. transfers from/to Toulouse airport

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While great care has been taken to show full and correct tour details, unfortunately transcription errors do occur and, although we continually seek to eliminate these, we apologise for any mistakes. Plans or bookings should not be made exclusively based on information shown on this website but must be confirmed with the tour operator.

The most epic and legendary climbs of the Tour de France.

Climb list: legendary climbs of the tour de france (sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more), statistics: view tutorial, total climbs: 116, top 100 world: 0, avg. fiets (top 5) : 12.8, sort by attribute:, zoom/pan map to discover additional climbs., pjamm trips adventure starter bundles, member comments.

TOP 10 MOST FREQUENT CLIMBS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE

10 FAMOUS TOUR DE FRANCE CLIMBS

See bottom of this page for list of all climbs included on this Legendary TdF Page.

©  PJAMMCycing.com

HISTORICAL TOUR DE FRANCE FACTS OF INTEREST

• Climb Most Often Featured in the Tour: Tourmalet - 84 times as of 2021

From Campan:  16.9 km gaining 1267m at 7.5% average grade.

From Luz Saint Sauveur:  18.7 km gaining 1319m at 7.1%.

• Highest Point Ever Reached in the Tour de France: Cime de la Bonette

Cime de la Bonette is 2,802 meters.

Stage 18 1962 (passed again in 1964, 1993 and 2008).

Top 5 high points of the Tour de France

Also see Top 10 Highest Points of the TdF

• Highest point of first TdF (1903):   Col de la République (1,161m).
• First Mountain Stage and climbs in the Tour de France:
• Stage 10 July 21, 1910 - Luchon to Bayonne
• 326 kilometers
• Circle of Death:  Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aubisque
• On arriving at the top of Col d’Aubisque Octave Lapize (TdF 1910 winner) yelled to tour organizers what is variously reported as “murderers,” “assasins,” or “criminals.”  He also said he would quit the tour after descending to Laruns, but he rallied to complete the stage and go on to win the 1910 Tour de France.

Circle of Death

Tourmalet was the highest point the tour had ever reached as of 1910 (2115m)

Previous high point had been Col de Porte (1326m).

•  First mountain-top stage finish :  Alpe d’Huez (Dutch Mountain / The Alpe) was the first mountain-top finish in the history of the Tour de France in 1952, Stage 10.  
• Most TdF Wins:
• 5 Jacques Anquetil  (1957, 1961-1964)
• 5 Eddy Merckx  (1969-1972, 1974)
• Merckx has the most Grand Tour wins of anyone (11 - 5 TdF, 5 Giro, 1 Vuelta)
• 5 Bernard Hinault   (1978-1979, 1981-1982, 1985)
• Has the second most Grand Tour wins (10 - 5 TdF, 3 Giro, 2 Vuelta)
• 5 Miguel Indurain  (1991-1995)
• 4 Chris Froome :  (2013, 2015-2017)
• Most Days Wearing the Yellow Jersey:  
• 111 (Eddy Merckx)
• 79 (Bernard Hinault)
• 60 (Miguel Indurain)
• Most Stage Wins:  
• 34 (Eddy Merckx)
• 30 ( Mark Cavendish )
• 28 (Bernard Hinault)
• Most Stage Wins in a Single Tour:  
• 8 ( Charles Pélissier , 1930)
• 8 ( Merckx 1970, 1971)
• 8 (Freddy Maertens 1975)
• Most Times Atop the Podium   (top three TdF finish):  
• Raymond Poulidor  (8)
• Country Wearing the Yellow Jersey Most:  
• France (709)
• Belgium (434)

Frenchmen have been in the maillot jaune far more than any other country.  

• Winning TdF in First Appearance:
• 11 between 1903 - 1983 but none since Laurent Fignon  (1983), until 2020 and Tadej Pogačar  
• Youngest Winner of the Tour:  
• Henri Cornet (France, age 19) 1904
• Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, age 21) 2020
• Oldest TdF Winner:
• Firmin Lambot  (Belgium, age 36) 1922
• Most TdF Appearances:
• 18 Sylvain Chavenel (2001-2018 age 42; top finish 19 2009)
• King of the Mountains :  Mountain Classification victories (first recognized in 1933; jersey introduced 1975)

“Symbol of the mountains, of a rider pushing beyond their limits and of courage, the red polka dot jersey, which is sponsored by Carrefour, is awarded to the Tour de France’s leader of the best climber classification. Although this classification was introduced in 1933, its symbol, the polka dot jersey, appeared in 1975, which was also the year the Tour first finished on the Champs-Élysées and was won by Bernard Thévenet. It owes its appearance to track racing specialist Henri Lemoine, who competed between the 1930s and 1950s, and that Félix Lévitan, co-director of the Tour with Jacques Goddetwhich, had particularly noticed. While Belgium’s Lucien Van Impe was its first winner and claimed the mountains classification six times, just like his illustrious predecessor, Spain’s Federico Bahamontes, the so-called “Eagle of Toledo”, Frenchman Richard Virenque holds the record for victories with seven titles” ( Tour de France: Polka Dot Jersey ).  

• Richard Virenque : 7 - 1994-1997, 1999, 2003, 2004 (best tour finish #2 1997)
• Frederico Bahamontes  (six: 1954, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964; nine in Grand Tours)  
• Triples (none ever in the same year):   Frederico Bahamontes  and Louis Herrera .
• Doubles same year (TdF+Giro):   Fausto Coppi , Charly Gaul , Lucien Van Impe , Claudio Chaippucci

King of the Mountains is designated by the red polka dot jersey.

• Most Green Jerseys  (total points):
•  7 ( Peter Sagan )
• Most White Jerseys  (best young rider):
• 3 - Jan Ullrich  (1996-1998),
• 3 Andy Schleck  (2008-2010)
• Least Finishers:  
• Shortest Margin of Victory:  
• 8 seconds - Greg Lemond  over Laurent Fignon in 1989 (Lemond overcame 50 seconds in the final time trial using aero bars for the first time in the TdF).
• Greatest Margin of Victory:
• 2h49’21” in 1903 between Maurice Garin and Lucien Pothier .
• Country With Most Wins:
• France (36)
• Belgium (18)
• Britain (6)
• Luxembourg (5)

THE 5 MOST LEGENDARY CLIMBS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE

#1:   ALPE D’HUEZ

Alpe d’Huez Elevation Profile .

77.5% of the entire climb is at 5-10% average grade.

Steepest kilometer is 10.7%.

Alpe d’Huez is the most famous bike climb in the world and has been included in the Tour de France 30 times between 1952 and the 2022 TdF.

Ride 14 km gaining 1081m at 7.7% to 1801m

Photo clockwise from top left:

Start; Turn 21 (first turn); Turn 1 (last turn); finish; Turn 1 (center).

21 most famous hairpins in the world - 11.4 km at 8.4%.

Turn seven is the most famous of the Alpe d’Huez hairpins: Dutch Corner.

Dutch Corner is where cycling fans from the Netherlands congregate on the day the Tour de France comes to Alpe d’Huez for its inevitable exciting mountain top finish.  On this day and at this hairpin, the air is filled with loud European music, the smell of barbeque, and sounds of some of the greatest cycling fans in the world.  The tradition originates with Joop Zoetemeik who in 1976 became the first Dutchman to win the Alpe d’Huez stage.  Thereafter, Dutch riders won the next seven of twelve Alpe d’Huez finishes, but have not done so since Gert-Jan Theunisse in 1989 (Joop Zoetemelk 1976, 1979; Hennie Kuiper 1977, 1978; Peter Winnen 1981, 1983; Steven Rooks 1988 and Gert-Jan Theunisse 1989).

Bernard Hinault sealed his 5th Tour victory on Alpe d’Huez 1985

Photo: Bloomsburysports.com

Alpe d’Huez has become “the summit of the modern era,” and no other stage of the Tour de France has such presence.  With its 21 bends, steep ramps, and massive crowds, it has become the “Hollywood climb,” according to the ride’s official historian, Jacques Augendre.  Each year that this climb is included in the TdF, thousands of spectators flock to the area.  The massive crowds create what some participants in the ride have described as a feeling of both fear and exhilaration, and as French journalist Philippe Brunel described the look of the road during Marco Pantani’s victorious ascent in the 1995 race, “that thin ribbon of burning asphalt, covered in graffiti, between two deafening walls of spectators, which threaded between his wheels.” Alpe d’Huez has been included in the Tour de France 29 times between its first appearance in 1952 (including two appearances in 1979 and 2013).  Each of the 21 hairpins of this climb has been named after one or more of the winners of the 29 Tour de France stages to finish here.  Of note, the first stage up this exceptional climb was fittingly won by the incomparable climber Fausto Coppi .  Only three cyclists have won the Alpe d’Huez stage more than once: Marco Pantani  (1995, 1997), Gianni Bugno  (1990, 1991), and Hennie Kuiper  (1977, 1978).  

Fausto Coppi became the first stage winner of Alpe d’Huez - stage 10 1952 TdF.

YouTube video of Coppi win  

Photo: dw.com  - 10 most memorable moments on Alpe d’Huez

Likely the most famous and widely remembered and retold stories of Alpe d’Huez is from 1985 when, after two weeks battling each other, it appeared that Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault had reached a truce and that Hinault would achieve the glory of his fifth TdF without further challenge by Lemond. As the two rode up Alpe d’Huez, the Frenchman led and Lemond followed directly on his wheel.  The two passed through throngs of ecstatic French fans and the path grew more narrow as the two neared the climb finish.  In the end, the two embraced and Hinault moved slightly ahead of Lemond for his 26th Stage win, at the time placing him second all-time behind Eddy Merckx (34).  Hinault went on to win two more stages in his glorious career and is now third with 28 wins, behind Merckx and Mark Cavendish (30).

The exceptional Italian climber, Marco Pantani, holds three of the five fastest times up Alpe d’Huez, the fastest time is 37’35”.  

Marco Pantani near the finish on Alpe d’Huez

photo:   Hein Ciere

Alpe d’Huez was the stage for one of the most famous (infamous?) cycling moments of all time.  Alpe d’Huez was the final  climb of three on Stage 10 July 17, 2001 (Col dd Madeleine, Col du Glandon, Alpe d’Huez).  Lance Armstrong had dropped from 5:56 back after stage 7 to 35:43 back after a disastrous stage 8 which saw a freak breakaway won by Erik Dekker (s.t. Alto Gonzalez and Servais Knaven). Armstrong was 20:07 back after Stage 9 and his main rival that year, Jan Ullrich, was at 22:41 going into Stage 10.

Armstrong appeared weak on Col de Madeleine which led Uhllrich and his Team Telekom begin an insane sprint up Col du Glandon, leaving Armstrong barely(?) hanging on to the rear of this lead group.  However, just a couple kilometers up Alpe d’Huez and with 11 kilometers remaining, Armstrong surged to the front of the group, passed Uhlrich and then, in a moment of Tour lore, looked back (“ The Look ”) at Uhlrich, fixed his gaze on him momentarily, then put the hammer down and sprinted away (uphill) to victory and his 3rd Tour de France victory of 7. [1]  

The Look, Alpe d’Huez Stage 10: 2001 Tour de France

Photo from J Barber and F Ruggeri as published in Masculine Heart  

#2: COL DU TOURMALET

From Luz Saint-Sauveur - 18.7 km gaining 1319m at 7.1% average grade.

Col du Tourmalet from Luz Saint-Sauveur

PJAMM Gradient Profile  

With Alpe d’Huez, Col du Tourmalet is a TdF and world legend.  This is the highest pass in the Pyrenees and has been included in the Tour de France a record 84 times between its first appearance in 1910 and 2021. From 1919 to 1939, Tourmalet was included in the TdF every year except 1922, and then only because the tour rerouted due to heavy snow.

2019 featured comments on the official website for the Tour de France:

“It’ll be the third time that a finish is set at the top of the Pyrenean mountain after 1974 (victory of Jean-Pierre Danguillaume) and 2010 (victory of Andy Schleck). The Tourmalet is also to date the mountain that has been climbed the most in the history of the Tour: 82 times” ( Tour de France 2019 ).

Although no other climb has appeared more times in the Tour, Tourmalet has only been the finish three times.

Jean-Pierre Danguillaume won the first stage to finish on Col du Tourmalet (1974).

Photo:   deskgram.net

Tourmalet has a rich TdF history that began with its very first appearance in The Tour.  The legendary TdF organizer, Henri Desgrance had decided to include Tourmalet in the 1910 tour in what became known as the Circle of Death (Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aubisque). The first rider over Col du Tourmalet on July 21, 1910 was eventual 1910 tour winner Frenchman Octave Lapize.  Lapize was overtaken on the next climb (Col d’Aubisque).  At this time Lapize unleashed on tour organizers as he reached the pass - this is not disputed -- what he said, however, is variously reported as either some or all of the following:  “murderers,” “assassins,” and/or “criminals.”  Sadly, Lapize was to die seven years later from injuries sustained when his fighter plane was shot down during WWI.  

Octave Lapize -- the first rider (hiker?) over Tourmalet, 1910.

Photo:   Cycling Passion, Octave Lapize walks over the Col du Tourmalet

The tour was not held from 1940-46 due to WWII.  When The Grand Tour reappeared in 1947, so to did Tourmalet. From 1947 to 1955 Tourmalet was featured in the TdF.  It wasn’t until 1956 that Tourmalet was left off the Tour’s agenda without excuse; from 1919 to 1957 Tourmalet was included in the Tour every year that it occurred.

One of the most famous stories of Col du Tourmalet and the Tour de France is from 1913.  Descending Tourmalet towards Campan, French cyclist Eugène Christophe crashed and broke his front fork.  Showing the resilience and spirit of those times (and, lacking any support staff), Christophe walked down the east side of Tourmalet to Campan where he found a forge and amazingly repaired his bike sufficient to ride to the stage finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon.  To add insult to injury, on top of already having lost three hours due to the crash, the race organizers penalized him for the “assistance” he was given by a seven year old boy who had pumped the bellows for him while he repaired his bike a blacksmith’s shop in Campan.

Eugène Christophe repairing his bike in Campan, 1913 (Image from Jean Durry ).

YouTube summary  of Christophe’s 1913 bad luck.

In 1919, Eugène Christophe became the first man to wear the yellow jersey.  

In 2010 Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck battled up the Col du Tourmalet from Luz-Saint-Sauveur for a mountain top finish (the second straight day Tourmalet was featured in the tour and only its second mountain top finish ever).  With ten kilometers to go, Schleck and Contador broke from the group and were alone on a fog shrouded ascent to the Col du Tourmalet.  With two kilometers to go, the two raced up the mountain side by side in heavy fog and light rain, having tried to break each other multiple times over the past eight kilometers.  Schleck led the entire final kilometer and there was no sprint at the finish, Contador conceding the stage to Schleck, but keeping the yellow jersey, both riders finishing with the same 5:03:29.

Andy Schleck edged Alberto Contador TdF 2010 stage 17.

Photo by filip bossuyt .

YouTube segment  of Schleck and Contador on Tourmalet.

WHAT’S ON TOP?

  “Géant au Col du Tourmalet”  -- Paying homage to the “Giants” of the road.  

Velopeloton.com  writes of the Géant:

“Géant au Col du Tourmalet is an iron sculpture first erected in 2000. It was created by the artist Jean-Bernard Métais, as part of the Tour de France sculpture on the A64 autoroute between Tarbes and Pau. This sculpture features 8 cyclists, Le Géant is the 9th person of the work. Le Géant is installed at the summit on the first Saturday of June each summer. It is a great occasion known as “Montée du Géant” – “Rise of the Giant” and attracts approx 1000 cyclists, who ride up the mountain with Le Géant. Le Géant travels on the back of a truck, accompanied by a brass band. There is a celebrity cyclist each year, with Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain among those who have honoured the Giant with their effort. Le Geant is removed at the beginning of October each year for safekeeping from the harsh winter. It is mostly on display in Bagneres de Bigorre, but has spent a couple of winters in Tarbes.”

Géant au Col du Tourmale

Photo:   Velopeloton.com

#3: MONT VENTOUX

After Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux is the second most famous of TdF legendary climbs.

Featured 17 times between 1951-2021 (10 summit finishes).

Mont Ventoux Elevation Profile

46% (9.8 km) of the climb is at 5-10% and 21% (4.5 km) at 10-15%.

From Bedoin, the traditional route, ride 21.2 km gaining 1593m to 1909m.

This is the third hardest bike climbs in France and a top world 150.

One of the features of cycling Mont Ventoux that separates it from many of the other exceptional climbs of Europe is that its unique radio tower at the top is visible throughout the climb.  At times it seems this tower just refuses to grow any bigger no matter how fast we pedal!   SportActive.net  explains that this distinctive red and white building, resembling a lighthouse, was built in 1968 and is used as a meteorological station as well as to broadcast television signals.  

MONT VENTOUX HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON TdF RIDERS LIKE NO OTHER

This climb first appeared in the Tour de France in 1951 when the race crossed, but did not finish, on its summit.  The first serious blow the mountain inflicted on riders was in 1955 when Swiss rider Ferdi Küble   (winner 1950 TdF) attacked 10 km from the summit and paid for it dearly. Ignoring the searing heat and steep grade, Kübler raced up the mountain only to seize up and have to dismount his bike well before the summit.  He eventually made it over the top, but had lost his lead and was a demoralizing 20 minutes behind the leaders. On the descent, Kübler crashed three times but ultimately made it to Avignon where he was observed entering a bar close to the stage finish and pounding down beer after beer.  After replenishing in the bar, Kübler mounted his bike and headed out in the opposite direction from the finish. That evening, Kübler called a press conference and retired on the spot - Ventoux had vanquished him ( Fotheringham, William,  put me back on my Bike, in Search of Tom Simpson , Yellow Jersey Press, 2007, p. 199).

Ferdi Kübler on Mont Ventoux 1955

Photo: Cycling Passion, Ferdi Kübler climbing Mont Ventoux, Tour de France 1955

Another great rider had been crushed by Venoux on on the 1955 stage - Frenchman Jean Malléjac  (second in 1953 and ninth overall on this day) keeled over on Ventoux, semi comatose and turning one pedal as he lay on the ground - he was never to race again.  Half a dozen other riders collapsed in the Ventoux furnace that day (Fotheringham, p. 199-200).

Jean Malléjac on Ventoux 1955;

Photo Rouleur, Tour de France 21 Stories: Vicious Venoux

And then there was 1967 and one of the greatest tragedies to occur during the Grand Tour. On July 13, 1967, during the tenth stage of the Tour de France, Tom Simpson, known as the charming “Mister Tom” and leader of the British team, had become ill (later his illness was traced to the substances of the day) but he pressed on, ultimately weaving desperately and collapsing on Ventoux.  The team mechanic, Harry Hall, pressed Simpson to stop, but he insisted on continuing, famously stating, “Me straps, Harry, me straps!" and his manager Alec Taylor acquiesced (Fotheringham, 2007, pp. 34-35).  He did not utter the more famous phrase, “put me back on my bike” - those were invented by an overzealous journalist.  Sadly, Mister Tom’s final turns of the pedal were over the next 500 meters and he soon collapsed and could not be resuscitated by Tour doctor Pierre Dumas, the same physician who had tended to Jean Malléjac on Mont Ventoux 12 years earlier.

Tom Simpson, Mont Ventoux, July 13, 1967

Photo:   Sport Vintage

There is a memorial honoring the great British rider Tom Simpson  0.7 miles from the summit of Mont Ventoux -- this is the location where he perished at age 29 during the thirteenth stage of the 1967 Tour de France.

Tom Simpson Memorial

First erected 1969 and re-erected 2014

The Tour de France included Mont Ventoux in 16 stages between 1951 and 2016, and it has been the finish on 10 of those, most recently in 2016 (as of 2020). “Mont Ventoux has become legendary as the scene of one of the most grueling climbs in the Tour de France bicycle race, which has ascended the mountain fifteen times since 1951. The followed trail mostly passes through Bédoin. Its fame as a scene of great Tour dramas has made it a magnet for cyclists around the world”  ( Wikipedia ).

Charly Gaul Stage 18 1958

Photo: Cycling Passion - Charly Gaul on Mont Ventoux Tour de France 1958  

The “Angel of the Mountains,” diminutive Charly Gaul  raced up crushed the Stage 18 Mont Ventoux time trial in 1958, sealing his only Tour de France victory.  His record time of 1:02:09 over poor roads and in the hot sun stood for 31 years until taken by American Jonathan Vaughters of the US Postal team.  The current record is 55:51 set in 2004 by Spain's Iban Mayo

#4: COL DU GALIBIER

Col du Galibier

From Valloire:  Ride 17.4 km gaining 1199m at 6.9% average grade.

From Col du Lautaret:  8.6 km gaining 569m at 6.7%.

PJAMM Cycling’s Col du Galibier from Valloire Gradient Profile

72% (12.5 km) of the climb is at 5-10%.

Col du Galibier was the highest point ever reached by the Tour when featured in 1911 (2556m)

The Tour did not go higher until Col de l'Iseran in 1939 (2770m).

Finish and Tour markings at the Col du Galibier

Bartali handing Coppi a water bottle on the Galibier in the 1952 TdF,

Or Coppi sending it back to Bartali -- the debate rages . . .  

Photo:   iconicphotos.com

Included in the Tour 63 times from 1911 through 2022  Galibier was passed as the highest point in the Tour each year from 1911-1914 (suspended 1915-1918 WWI) and 1919-1937.  In all Col du Galibier has been the highest point in any individual TdF significantly more times than any other climb (50;  Col de L’Iseran is second with 8).

Haute Route quotes Henri Desgrange in his praise of this climb:

The Galibier became a legend at the very first time it was used by the Tour de France, in 1911. This is how Henri Desgrange, creator of the Tour de France, introduced it to his readers: “Oh! Sappey! Oh! Laffrey! Oh! Col Bayard! Oh! Tourmalet! I will not fail in my duty in proclaiming that next to the Galibier you are as weak as dishwater: before this giant there’s nothing one can do but doff one’s hat and bow down low” (translation by Marvin Faure) ( Hauteroute.org - Col du Galibier ).

When first crossed in 1911 by the Tour de France, no tour rider had ever ridden higher.  Although the Galibier route until 1976 tools the tunnel at 2,556 meters.  From 1976, the Tour has gone over the pass at the top which is 2,642 meters.

Andy Schleck, Stage 18 of the 2011 Tour de France.

Col du Galibier -- highest mountain top finish ever.

Photo: roadbikereview.com

As with many of the challenging and beautiful climbs of France, Galibier is fabulously famous because it has been justifiably blessed by the Tour de France on many occasions (35 times since its first post WWII appearance in 1947, which was the first TdF since 1940).  Most recently (as of 2020) Galibier was featured in The Tour in 2019 ( Nairo Quintana  won the stage from Embrun to Valloire).  In 2017 debutante Primoz Roglic  became the first Slovenian to win a TdF stage when he came out on top in Stage 17 from La Mure to Serre-Chevalier.

Primoz Roglic, Stage 17 Tour de France.

First Slovenian to win a TdF stage.

Photo:   Cyclingtips.com

Of Galibier and the Tour de France, Wikipedia  writes:

The Col du Galibier was first used in the Tour de France in 1911; the first rider over the summit was Emile Georget, who, with Paul Duboc and Gustave Garrigou were the only riders not to walk.

Emile Georget, Col du Galibier, 1911

Photo: Emile Georget  

The original summit was at 2556 m; while the tunnel was closed from 1976 until 2002, the tour route went only over the pass closer to the mountain peak at 2645 m. In 2011, the Tour de France went through the tunnel for the first time during the 19th stage from Modane Valfréjus to L'Alpe d'Huez. At the south portal of the tunnel, at the edge of the road, there is a monument to Henri Desgrange, instigator and first director of the Tour de France. The memorial was inaugurated when the tour passed on 19 July 1949. Whenever the tour crosses the Col du Galibier, a wreath is laid on the memorial. The "Souvenir Henri Desgrange" is awarded to the first rider across the summit of the highest mountain in each year's tour. In 2006, the prize of 5,000 euros was claimed on the Col du Galibier by Michael Rasmussen.

Since 1947, the Col de Galibier has been crossed 31 times by the Tour de France. It was scheduled to be used in 1996, but was left out at the last minute due to bad weather. As a result of snow on both the Col de l'Iseran and the Col du Galibier, the scheduled 190 km stage from Val-d'Isère to Sestriere in Italy was reduced to a 46 km sprint from Le-Monetier-les-Bains which was claimed by Bjarne Riis, resulting in him taking the yellow jersey which he retained to the finish in Paris. In the 2008 Tour, the Col du Galibier had been crossed on 23 July in the 210 km stage 17 from Embrun to Alpe d'Huez. The 2011 Tour climbed the Col du Galibier twice to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first appearance of the pass in the Tour de France, including the first ever summit finish, won by Andy Schleck after a 60 km solo breakaway. This was the highest ever stage finish in the Tour de France. It was scheduled to be used again in stage 20 of the 2015 Tour, but was left out nine days before the race start due to landslides in the Chambon Tunnel, situated towards the bottom of the descent of the climb.”

The Telegraphe, and Galibier, are the scene of the greatest racing day in the life of Marco Pantani .  It was here and in this Stage 15 of the 1998 TdF that Pantini attacked on the Galibier and ultimately turned a three minute deficit into an 11 minute lead against Jan Ullrich.  Pantini went on to win the Tour de France that year.  

Pantani attacks 4.2 km from Galibier summit.

Photo:   Cycling-passion.com

#5: COL D'AUBISQUE

CLIMB 1 (CAT __) - COL D'AUBISQUE  

PJAMM CYCLING INTERACTIVE PROFILE TOOL

16.7 km, 1193m at 7.1%

The incomparable Col d’Aubisque - included in the first ever mountain stage of the Tour de France in 1910 - Stage 10’s four mountain climbs over the 326 kilometer course (Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and, finally Col d’Aubisque) were coined The Circle of Death.  It was also on the Aubisque that eventual 1910 TdF winner Octave Lapize uttered his famous comments to tour organizers - variously reported at “murderers,” “assassins,” or “criminals.”

Col d’Aubisque (and Col d’Aspin)  has appeared in the Tour de France 73 times between 1910 and 2022, more than any other climb other than Col du Tourmalet with 88 appearances.

Stage 10 TdF 1911 [2]

Photo:   bikeraceinfo.com  (an exceptional resource for all Grand Tours).

We rode this route in 2011 and 2018 . . . guess what . . . still the same. 👍

Same cliff, same mountain, same tunnel (as pictured above) over 100 years later.

Aubisque is our choice for Top TdF Nostalgic Climb.

The descent from Eaux Bonnes (western approach) towards Col du Soulor was and is a dangerous route - it’s a narrow road with sheer cliffs. On Stage 13, July 17, 1951, this hazardous stretch of road was the scene of one of the most horrific and famous crashes in Tour history.  The unlikely leader on this day was the pleasant and good natured Dutchman Wim van Est .  This Tour included pure and true cycling legends Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, and Louison Bobet, and, while an accomplished pursuit racer, van Est was never expected to compete for the overall classification in the greatest of the Grand Tours.  Nonetheless,  on July 26, during Stage 12, van Est, who started the day over nine minutes behind leader Roger Levêque, broke away and won the stage, finding himself in the yellow jersey by :02:29.

A deadly road.

However, winning the flat Stage 12 by using his specialty sprint to gain time on the peloton is one thing, but a sprinter holding a slim lead over the Aubisque would be quite another.  And so it was that Van Est had lost his lead as he summited the mighty Aubisque and set about to regain some of what he had lost.  However, the narrow and windy road descending from Col d’Aubisque towards Col du Soulor is a poor choice for downhill heroics.  And so it was that fell and tumbled 70 meters down and nearly sheer mountainside. It was not just the fall that remains in our memories from this day, but the way Van Est was extricated from his predicament and that he was still alive and  able to climb up the mountain back to the road under his own power.

Photo:   Edwin Seldenthus as published in velopeloton.com .

Here is  amazing YouTube footage  of the rescue of Wim van Est.  He was helped up the mountainside by a chain of tires strung together by spectators and his support team.  Still alive and unbelievably without major injury, Van Est insisted on continuing the race, but was convinced by wiser authority to go to the hospital.

Making lemonade out of lemons (or money out of near death?) -- when he flew off the Aubisque cliff, Van Est fortuitously (in hindsight anyway) was wearing a team issued Pontiac wrist watch which became the launching point for Van Est focused advertising campaign with this slogan: “Seventy meters deep I dropped, my heart stood still but my Pontiac never stopped.”

All the greats have raced on the Aubisque

Louison Bobet, Stage 11 1954 TdF (champion 1953-1955)

 Photo:   bikeraceinfo.com

Full list of every climb ever included in the Tour de France

[1]  We all know, but it is necessary to mention here, that Lance Armstrong’s seven tour victories were all stripped due to the use of PEDs.

[2]  Note:  The cliff and tunnel approach to Col d’Aubisque is from the Argeles Gazost/Arrens side, not Laruns.

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COL EXPERIENCE 

Make memories and friends that last a lifetime.

 "Experience of a Lifetime"

         , n2 raid portugal 2023 registration open.

Ready to have the time of your life in one of the most beautiful places on Earth? Then welcome to Cols Cycle Tours, unique Mountain Cycling Challenges where Riders can explore the quite roads of Europe while enjoying a fun-filled experience. If you are ready for an unforgettable adventure, consider spending it here with us.

TOUR CHALLENGES

We can offer most european cycle tours & specialise in bespoke group holidays......., [email protected].

The Raid 'N 2 ' Portugal 20th May - 26th May 2023 Registration Open  - Low Deposit for early booking to secure place -

Cycle The famous N2 Road North to South

Welcome to our exciting New Cycle tour, which takes us on one of the most famous roads in Portugal the N2, whilst staying in fabulous 4/5* Hotels along the way.

The baby of the raid tour routes, still challenging & no less spectacular, runs from saturday to friday with 5 days of cycling which will take you down the backbone of portugal, from north to south, providing the opportunity to ride on the longest continuous road the n2, crossing 4 mountain ranges, 11 rivers and 29 municipalities and 729km.

This tour is aimed at cyclists who like a challenge with an overall distance of 729km and almost 10,000m of climbing needed to reach our end goal of the resort Port of Faro .

R aid Pyrenean 100 Hrs

Ready, set, climb.

Col Experience Cycle Tour

A 'Raid' is a multi day sporting challenge following one of various stunning mountain routes, originally designed by local cycling clubs in the 1950s.

They vary in length and intensity but all follow a similar idea; The route must be completed within a certain period and you must get your 'carnet' stamped en route to show your progress.

Successful Raiders receive a medal and certificate from the Cycling Club organisers. At Col Cycle Tours we support clients on their Raid Challenges and have reached an unsurpassed level of expertise that results in clients coming back to us again and again.

We have a range of Raid routes:`Pyrenees giving some of the best cycling that Europe has to offer and an excellent goal for any regular and fit cyclist. Please have a look at our individual holiday pages for more information and the opportunity to download our detailed trip notes.

Alpine Classic Cols -Poole Wheeler Cycle Club - Bespoke Trip - Confirmed 2023 Dates to Follow Closed Group   

This road cycling itinerary has been carefully crafted so you can cycle the most scenic and challenging cols and stage endings that the Savoie Alps have to offer. Our tantalising circular route takes in all the classic Tour de France climbs: Cormet de Roselend, l’Iseran, Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, Alpe d’Huez, Croix-de-Fer and la Madeleine. Our Classic route starts as gently as the Alps allow, gradually cranking up the daily altitude gain from 1200 to 2100m during the week. Each day there are ‘optional extras’ increasing the possible daily ascent to over 2600m, thus making this holiday suitable for those looking to really push themselves and do the Classic Cols Challenge. It is ideal for mixed ability groups or couples.

I Journeying over the most prestigious peaks and dramatic landscapes that the Stelvio National Park are renowned for, as well as conquering the truly iconic 2,757m high Passo dello Stelvio, if you have a passion for Italy then this is going to be an unbelievable week of cycling, adventure and post ride wellness.

I talian mountains at their very best, we’ll be exploring some of the most prestigious and beautiful climbs that this country has to offer, to tame the mighty Mortirolo, Passo dello Stelvio and the Passo di Gavia.

Steeped in cycling history and mystique this week will give you a truly complete experience of the very best that northern Italy has to offer.

Experience Total Fun

Mallorca bike camp 'new'  2023, col experience cycle tour   our spring camp will be based in puerto pollensa in the north of mallorca dates to be confirmed april 2023 - please enquire -   we have pulled together an experienced team to host you - we understand what's important to you in a cycling holiday and any concerns you might have along the way, and are here to make sure you get the most out of your cycling break.    we will take you on a stunning exploration of this cycling paradise, giving you the opportunity to challenge yourself on the climbs, get some group riding experience, and have plenty of fun along the way ......  more.

Ladies Only Week's - 7 Night 

Mallorca cycle week, t hese can be bespoke to your group or club.

Experience top cycling with a group of great women!

After a string of highly successful (and enjoyable!) women's camps in Mallorca, we are expanding our offering to include two camps aimed at different experience levels in 2020.

We have pulled together an experienced team to host you - we understand what's important to you in a cycling holiday and any concerns you might have along the way, and are here to make sure you get the most out of your cycling break. .

We will take you on a stunning exploration of this cycling paradise, giving you the opportunity to challenge yourself on the climbs, get some group riding experience, and have plenty of fun along the way.

Raid Pyrenean Touriste

This route needs to be completed within 10 days..

What is the Raid Touriste?

T he Raid Pyrenean Touriste is one of the 'must do’ epic rides for any cycling enthusiast. the route across the French Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Med was established in 1950, keeping as close to the Spanish border as possible. It must be done within 10 Days and traverses many Pyrenean Cols made famous by the Tour de France, including the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Col de Portet, d’Aspet and the Aspin.

Interested...Have a Group of Riders...Then get in Touch with Col Experience Tours 

Let Us Plan Your Bespoke Cycle Trip 

Col experience tours can make that dream a reality.

At Col Experience Tours we want to give people exactly what they want from their tour or event, which may not be found ‘off the peg’. There are hundreds of thousands of miles of amazing roads through extraordinary landscapes where you can experience your cycling adventure, so why not ditch the generic and go for something different; a bespoke tour organised for you.

Europe: Any Time..Any Place

Colorado Epic

The spanish peaks + colorado cols, two great cycling tours in one.

Get wild on this audacious two week adventure is the “best of the best” from our Spanish Peaks & Great Sand Dunes tour and our Colorado Cols tour. It weaves its way through the majestic peaks of Colorado’s most mighty 14ers.

• 1st week: Spanish Peaks & Great Sand Dunes
• 2nd week: Colorado Cols
• 2nd week: Colorado Cols *Confirmed

Note: Ride the full 2 weeks, or choose just week-1 or week-2.

Week 1: Spanish Peaks Tour – Meeting & Ending towns: Colorado Springs to Durango Week 2: Colorado Cols Tour – Meeting & Ending towns: Grand Junction or Paonia

Tour Details

• Duration: 13-Days Cycling with 1 Layover Day,  or choose week-1 or week-2
• Ride Type: Road
• Difficulty: Advanced / Expert
• Average Daily Mileage: 40 – 154
• Week 1 – Spanish Peaks: $3,145;
• Week 2 – Colorado Cols: $3,300.

A typical day on tour: From outside Durango, pedal into the high San Juan Mountains past peaks that are the steepest and highest range in the state with more land mass above 10,000′ then anywhere south of Alaska.

The route following the San Juan Skyway north presents three major cols: Coal Bank Pass (10,640’), Molas Pass (10,915’), and finally, Red Mountain Pass (11,018’). The road was resurfaced in 2011 and as a result is in fantastic shape. After conquering the San Juan Skyway, cyclists finish the tour at the Ouray Hot Springs Pools where one can soak and relax after a hard day’s effort. ( 71-miles with approximately 7,700′ of climbing.)

The final day of our 2-week Spanish Peaks/Colorado Cols Epic tour is 46-miles with approximately 9,200′ of climbing.

“Pike’s Peak or Bust” was a common refrain from gold seekers headed west in the 1800’s. It may also be your refrain as you attempt to climb 7,000′ over 18 miles and 162 turns up to 14,110-feet. 10-miles of this climb are at an average grade of 10% grade…and also over 10,000′ in elevation. Pike’s Peak is considered perhaps the most arduous climb in North America. 

This is a big climb: there will be suffering, doubt and elation. Cyclists will have all day to reach the top. Our support vehicle is available for a bump to shorten this day. Cyclists do not have to ride the entire climb, but the views from the top are certainly worth the effort!

Tour Itinerary

All cities & towns listed are in Colorado. DAY 0 – Arrival in Colorado Springs DAY 1 – Florissant to Canon City DAY 2 – Florence to Colorado City DAY 3 – Trinidad to La Veta DAY 4 – La Veta to Great Sand Dunes National Park DAY 5 – Moffat to Gunnison DAY 6 – Gunnison to Creede – The Cannibal Classic! DAY 7 – Creede to Pagosa Springs or Durango DAY 8 – Layover Day in Durango DAY 9 – Durango to Ouray DAY 10 – Ouray to Gateway DAY 11 – Gateway to Paonia DAY 12 – Paonia to Aspen DAY 13 – Aspen to Buena Vista DAY 14 – “Pike’s Peak or Bust!”

* Request the full itinerary via the contact form below.

• Colorado Springs – home to USA Cycling
• 13 mile descent through the Huckleberry Hills
• BBQ at Obie’s Fillin’ Station
• The Highway of the Legends Scenic Byway
• Chucura Pass
• Great Sand Dunes National Park
• Highway 114 
• Slumgullion Pass 
• Rio Grande Watershed – largest wilderness area in Colorado
• Historic downtown Durango
• Coal Bank Pass – Molas Pass – Red Mountain Pass – McClure Pass – Independence Pass
• Ouray Hot Springs
• Gateway Canyons Resort
• Spanish Peaks
• Rio Grand Trail – 23 carfree miles

The Two-Week Epic : 13-nights of lodging, all meals (except for 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts & 1 lunch), energy food, liquid refreshments, a special cycling gift, 1 bottle, forest service fees, shuttles & mechanical support. 

Week #1 Spanish Peaks : 7-nights of lodging (Sunday through Saturday), all meals except for 1 dinner & 1 breakfast, guide service, energy food, liquid refreshments, a special cycling gift, bottles, forest service fees, shuttles & mechanical support. 

Week #2 Colorado Cols : 6-nights of exceptional lodging such as Gateway Canyons Resort (Sunday through Friday), all meals except for 1 dinner & 1 breakfast, guide service, energy food, liquid refreshments, a special cycling gift, bottles, forest service fees, shuttles & mechanical support. 

Spanish Peaks was quite a humbling adventure. That said, it was a fascinating conquest and I am sure that your operation’s attentiveness was key to our overall successful travel over the RIDICULOUSLY LONG AND HIGH mountains of Colorado! I look forward to the next, adventure.

It is about a week we are back home from a fantastic trip to Colorado. We had the best time ever and I am pretty sure I want to come back to North America to ride my bike again. We were lucky to have a great weather day by day, the itinerary was perfectly set up, we enjoyed all kind of landscapes, we had a nice bunch of cyclists and there was always a warm and friendly atmosphere in the group and with the guides. We took home a huge number of beautiful pictures but those most memorable are written deeply into our memories. This trip exceeded my best expectations and my thanks go to all of you organizers.

Interested in learning more? Get in touch here:

• Name * First Last

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PRivate tour “Classic Moscow” – 5 days

Dear guests, here we would like to present you a package tour. But at your request we are ready to customize it according to your wishes – for example, to change the excursion or evening program, to include in the tour various entertainments, to change the hotel or room category or transfer category. So we are ready to live out any of your ideas. Just write us.

This tour is ideal for guests who are visiting Moscow for the first time. You will visit all important sights of Moscow, watch the ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre, dine in the best restaurants in the city, relax in Russian baths and party in the most prestigious nightclubs. Travel with the highest level of service .

• Arrival in Moscow and meeting at the airport with your personal assistant

If a guest wishes, we can arrange a VIP-meeting at the airport 

• VIP transfer to hotel

Our driver will meet you upon your arrival at the airport and will accompany you for the entire period of your Russian trip. We provide you with a car of executive class – Mercedes S class. But if you wish, you can choose any other car from our fleet.

You will stay in Metropole hotel 5* that is located in the very heart of Moscow

• Dinner in one of the best restaurants of the city
• Short night walk

Moscow is really amazing at night, if you wish, after dinner we can take a short walk and see the Red Square, the Kremlin, decorated streets.

•   Breakfast in the hotel restaurant (buffet)
• Meeting with your private guide in the hotel lobby
• Excursion program in Moscow part 1

Here we propose you to go for a city tour and visit the Kremlin and all interesting sights inside it (cathedrals. the Diamond Fund, Armoury) .However other excursions also are available, ask your manager to learn more about them.

• Lunch in one of the best restaurants of the city

Restaurant Beluga is famous for its varieties of caviar and one of the largest vodka list in the world.

• Excursion program in Moscow part 2

After lunch we continue to explore Moscow. You will visit The Red Square, St. Basil Cathedral and all main sights nearby.

• Back to the hotel to have rest and dress-up for the theatre
• Visit the Bolshoi or Operetta theatre

Other cultural events depending on the repertoire of musicals in Moscow and wishes of a guest are available

• Breakfast in the hotel restaurant (buffet)
• Excursion program to The VDNKH and the memorial Museum of cosmonautics

On this day, you will get acquainted with the Soviet era – you will visit the largest complex of Soviet architecture – VDNH and the Museum of cosmonautics. In this museum you will see the first successes and achievements of Soviet cosmonautics: the first spacesuits, the first artificial earth satellites, and spacecraft.

• Lunch at the restaurant “7 Sky”

Which is one of the most fascinating restaurants of Moscow as it is located at an altitude of 320 meters above the Ground and slowly rotates 360 degrees

• Tour of the Ostankino TV tower

You will visit the highest view-point in Europe 

• Back to the hotel
• Russian baths& traditional spa-procedures. Dinner

This evening we offer you to visit the Russian baths. Russian bath traditions are much more than being in a sauna and having  massage. This is a whole culture of pastime, when you gather with your friends in a rented bath complex, enjoy delicious dinner, relax body and soul.

We offer you a choice of two options: traditional wood-burning Russian bath and steam brooms or modern luxury sauna and Spa.

•  Breakfast in the hotel restaurant (buffet)
• Excursion to Novodevishy Cemetery

That is one of most picturesque temple complexes in Moscow

• Excursion Vorobyovy Hills and Skyscrapers

The Moscow state University building is one of the most famous and impressive skyscrapers built by Stalin. After that you will go to the financial center of Moscow – Moscow city that is a ditrict of skyscrapers.

• Lunch in Ruski Restaurant

That is the highest restaurant in Europe and located on the 84 th floor. It serves russian author cuisine.

Soon you will leave Moscow so we offer to spend this part of day as you wish – go for shopping (our shopping-expert will assist you), go for another excursion (ask your manager for it) or just walk around the city center.

Tonight we would like to offer you to go for a party. “Moscow never sleeps” so let’s explore what it actually means. We will book for you VIP-table or VIP-lounge in one (or maybe two or free) of the best night clubs of Moscow.

• Breakfast in the hotel restaurant (buffet)  and check-out
• Tour to the Stalin’s Binker

We are glad to offer you a very unique excursion. The only one declassified military object in Russia, which is located at a depth of 65 meters under the ground in the center of Moscow, as an anti-nuclear bunker.

Perhaps it will be the most unusual lunch of your life, as we suggest to have it in a restaurant in a nuclear bunker.

• Transfer to the airport

Please tell us if you want to extend this tour. We can offer you to spend a few more days in Moscow to explore it deeper or visit St. Petersburg or the cities of the Golden Ring.

The price for the tour may be slightly changed to a greater or lesser extent depending on various factors – for example, the number of guests, public holidays in the city or high tourist season, the availability of the desired tickets to the theaters or Opera and more. The final price will be given to you at the individual calculation of the tour.

inclusions:

• Executive car for 5 days (Mercedes S-class)
• Personal driver with 24 hours access
• Accommodation in a 5* hotel in the heart of the city – Metropol
• Personal assistant-interpreter with 24 hours access who will take all arrangements and fulfill your tasks
• Excursion program and all entrance tickets
• Rent of russian bath (3h) and spa-procedures
• Personal guide for the duration of excursions
• Ticket to the Bolshoi theatre or other cultural event

exclusions:

• Flights to Moscow
• Food in restaurants, clubs, baths

We will reserve a table for guests in the best restaurants of the city.

• VIP meeting at the airport
• VIP send-off at the airport
• Model assistance
• Change room category
• Change the class of hotel
• Change the class of the transfer
• Change excursion program
• Change cultural program

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow private customized tour

What would you like to see *.

A symbol of the Russian state and the seat of its President, one of the greatest architectural complexes in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Moscow Kremlin is a real treasure house of magnificent historical relics and cultural monuments.

The word "Kremlin" means a fortress, typically a medieval citadel in the center of an medieval Russian city.

For centuries the Kremlin served as the residence of successive Russian heads of state and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church. During a private tour a guide will provide more information about the significance of each building to the rulers of Russia.

See the marvelous jewelry, fancy carriages and dresses along with arms and weapon in this museum, based on a tzars’ treasury in the Armoury , the best museum of Moscow.

The historical and architectural heart of Moscow, the UNESCO Heritage site, Red Square with its St. Basil’s cathedral, Lenin’s tomb and GUM shopping centre is the touristic “must”.

Moscow metro is not only another city transport, it is a real palace, faced with marble. Put into operation in the 1935 during Stalin’s ruling, it became the symbol of the new, workers’ country, where palaces were not only for riches, but for all. Your guide will show you several the most beautiful stations.

The Tretyakov Art Gallery is the largest and the most valuable collection of Russian art, starting from 12th century icons to early 20th century painting.

The elegant 19th century building (it is depicted on the Russian 100-rubles banknote), is a venue for world-class ballets and operas. The Theatre is just in 10 minutes walk from Red Square.

This breathtaking convent, located in a green area out of the city centre, used to be a place, where women from the royal family used to take on monastic vows.

This impressive, atmospheric cemetery, which is just next to Novodevichy convent, is the most prestigious one in the country. Visiting it gives a chance to learn more about the most prominent Russian people of the last century including Anton Chekhov, Stalin's wife Nadezhda Allilueva, Andrey Goromyko, Nikita Khrushev, Raisa Gorbacheva, Boris Yeltzin and many others.

This beautiful Estate used to be the favorite summer residence of the Russian tzars in the 16 th to 17th Centuries. Ancient apple orchards, walls and gates, Kazan Church and the UNESCO protected Church of the Ascension have all survived from this period. Your private guide will show you the wooden palace of Tzar Alexis has been recently rebuilt using the blueprints of the original Palace and give a real taste of how this Russian Tzar’s family lived.

This was a real shelter for the Soviet top commanders built soon after the WW2. In case of the beginning of a nuclear war, they could stay there, 60 meters below the ground level, for months. Ten years ago the bunker was turned into a museum, but a visitor can still feel scary thinking of how close we were to a nuclear catastrophe in the med 20th century.

VDNKh Exhibition Centre (now - The All Russia Exhibition Center) – This architectural ensemble was created by leading soviet architects, sculptors and other talented artists as the All-Union Exhibition of People's Economic Achievements. It represented every branch of industry and agriculture in the USSR. Today this exhibition centre with its magnificent buildings, huge open spaces and unique fountains can be deservedly described as a museum of socialist classic architecture (often referred to as Stalin’s Empire style).

The main cathedral of the country with an intricate destiny which vividly reflects the history of the whole country. Consecrated in the end of the 19th century, blown up in 1930ies and resurrected in 1990ies it will not leave you indifferent.

The Tsaritsino Estate is one of the significant monuments of 18 th century Imperial Russia. Empress Catherine the Great chose this site on the outskirts of Moscow for her summer residence during a visit to Moscow in 1775. The palace, built by the best Russian architects, has been recently restored.

The first satellite, the first animal flight into space, the first manned spaceflight, the first spacewalk… All these achievements were celebrated in the USSR as the private achievement of every Soviet. In the Space museum you can see the preserved remains of pioneer canine cosmonauts Belka and Strelka, Yuri Gagarin’s space suit, and a full-size replica of the Mir space station to pop into and learn about the challenges Russian cosmonauts faced during their early expeditions into space.

The largest fair of decorative and applied arts, handicrafts, souvenirs and antiques. The best place to buy nesting dolls – Russian matryoshka, shawls with traditional Russian pattern, fur hats, various items with soviet symbolics. Your guide will make you familiar with Russian traditions and help you to bargain.

Enjoy the traditional Russian black tea accompanied by bliny, caviar, pastries served in an exquisite interior of the historical Metropol Hotel. 

Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Catherine... To put in order all this names from Russian history in your head, to learn about how Russians lived during their more than 1000 years history, you are welcome to this museum, which is just on the Red Square. Please check our museums page for more details.

The Jewish museum continues telling stories of Russian Jews. You will have a chance to learn about the “attitude of Tsars to Jews and Jews to Tsars” in Russian Empire. The exposition shows why the Pale of Settlement appeared and how ideas of Zionism and Assimilation developed in late 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum describes the active role of Jews in the Soviet revolution and in life of the USSR at its early stage; the heroism of Jews in the Red Army in WW2 and Holocaust on the territory of the USSR; life of Soviet Jews after creation of the state of Israel; repressions against Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee led by the popular actor Solomon Mikhoels and Jewish Doctors’ Plot; movement of Refuseniks and dissidents, when Zionism was called a risk to security of the Soviet state. And many other interesting stories!

The Jewish museum has a unique design. It has a lot of documentary movies on display, interviews with prominent personalities and eyewitnesses of different historic events.  

A tour of this popular museum will take you on a journey exploring the fascinating and, at times, controversial history of Russia over the past 150 years. You will leave with a real understanding of Russia's political development and of the impact it has had on its citizens.

What lead to the Russian Revolution? What caused the  Romanov tzar to abdicate the throne? How did the Soviets manage to build up their industry to such an extent in just ten years, and how did they defeat Nazi Germany? Beside this, you can also learn more about the Cold War, Perestoika, Gorbachev and the collapse of the USSR.

The branch of the Tretyakov gallery displayed Russian art of the 20th century. The collection represent three main trends of the era: vivid and wild Avant-garde, official Sovialistic Realism and underground Nonconformism.

A world-famous museum boasts a collection of ancient rarities and Western Europe painting - from Egyptian sculptures to canvases of Rembrandt, Rubens, Bouche, etc. Please check our museums page for more details.

See canvases of Monet, Degas, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Picasso and other great artists. The splendid art collection, one of the best in the world, was gathered by two Russian art-lovers and contemporaries of these prominent impressionists and post-impressionists.

A place, where one must go, if admires jewelry. The Diamond Fund is a collection of precious stones, naturals nuggets and jewelry, exhibited in the Kremlin. Purest diamonds and largest nuggets of gold are on display, along with the breathtaking crowns of Russian emperors, covered with hundreds of sparkling gems.

What life did people live in Moscow 400 years ago? Learn about everyday life of Moscow nobles in the XVII century. The building, where the museum is, belonged to Romanov family, which became a last ruling family in Russia. According to the legend the first Romanov tsar, Mikhail Romanov, was born here.

Arbat street , which used to be one of the most prestigious residential areas in the XIX century Moscow, is a lively pedestrian zone now, packed with souvenir shops, street musicians and artists.

Moscow dwelling of the world-famous author of War and Peace.

A home for one of the gloriest monasteries in Russia and the nearest Golden Ring city. The Russians made pilgrimages there for centuries. Now you have a chance to make your own one, with a private guide and a driver. This trip takes about six hours.

This small town used to be one of major ones in old Russia 800 years ago. Now Suzdal is protected by UNESCO as an example of a medieval Russian town. Suzdal is 220 km away from Moscow, it takes about 4 hours to get there by car. This tour can be organized as an overnight one.

A open air museum 40 km from Moscow extremely popular among aircraft enthusiasts.

A former aristocrats' estate near Moscow, where Vladmir Lenin lived last years of his life. This is the right place to learn more about Lenin's personality and the cult of his personality in the USSR. Besides, there is a picturesque park. Interiors of the main house feature art-noveau style and were designed by the leading Russian architect Shechtel. It takes just about an hour to get there from Moscow by car.

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We are here to navigate you through Moscow and beyond. We specialize in private and customer-tailored tours for individuals and groups.

Tour options include:

• Moscow tours in 1 day/2days/3days (Red Square tour, Kremlin tour, metro tour, panoramic city tour, etc);
• Moscow panoramic city tour / night Moscow by legendary retro cars ;
• Layover tours in Moscow;
• Moscow cultural heritage tours, Moscow themed tours;
• Russian home hosted visits (visit to the Russian dacha);
• Russian culinary classes;
• Moscow-St.Peterburg tour package. Two Russian capitals in one week;
• Moscow-St.Petersburg educational tours for students and children;
• Russian towns of the Golden Ring (Sergiev Posad, Suzdal, Vladimir); Trips out of Moscow
• Shore excursions (Moscow/St.Petersburg)
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• Moscow tours for children
• Christmas time in Moscow;
• AK-47 shooting tour, tank T-34 ride, segway tour, fishing in Moscow region.
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We love our city and are ready to share with you our in-depth knowledge of Moscow, this old but very dynamic and amazing city. We will be glad to provide context and fun in equal measure opening up your eyes to Russian history, culture and art.

We know how to make the most of your time while you are here and will be delighted to turn your stay in Moscow into a life experience.

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