10 Days - Two Countries · Endless Climbs · July 3 – July 12, 2024
There are cycling tours… and then there are Pyrenees epics. Over 10 extraordinary days, our group crossed deep valleys, rode through ancient mountain villages, conquered Tour de France legends, and pedalled across the border between France and Spain. With bases in Argelès-Gazost and Bagnères-de-Luchon, riders experienced both sides of the Pyrenean divide — a land of soaring cols, green pastures, wild horses, and cloud-brushed ridgelines.
Across nine ride days, the group climbed icons such as Tourmalet, Aubisque, Soulor, Peyresourde, Hautacam, Luz Ardiden, Superbagnères and more — covering thousands of metres of elevation on some of the most beautiful roads in Europe. Here’s how the adventure unfolded.
📊 TOTAL TOUR STATS
Distance: 848 km
Elevation: 19,800 m
Countries: France + Spain
📍 Our Two Cycling Bases
1️⃣ Argelès-Gazost — Gateway to the Giants
A perfect base nestled between deep valleys and towering cols. Fast access to the Tour de France’s most iconic climbs — Tourmalet, Aubisque, Soulor, Hautacam, Luz Ardiden, and the dramatic natural amphitheatres of Gavarnie & Troumouse. A lively cycling town with great cafés, local markets, and hearty Pyrenean cuisine.
2️⃣ Bagnères-de-Luchon — The Heart of the Haute-Garonne Mountains
Nicknamed “The Queen of the Pyrenees”, Luchon sits at the corner of France and Spain, surrounded by steep and spectacular climbs. From Peyresourde to Superbagnères, Portillon, Bonaigua, Portet d’Aspet, and Menté, this base delivered huge mountain days and cross-border adventure — all wrapped in a charming spa-town atmosphere.
🏔️ Mountains & Major Climbs Conquered
Argelès-Gazost Base (Western & Central Pyrenees)
- Col du Soulor
- Col d’Aubisque
- Col de Spandelles
- Col du Tourmalet (climbed twice during tour)
- Hourquette d’Ancizan
- Col d’Aspin
- Luz Ardiden
- Pont d’Espagne / Cambasque
- Col de Tentes
- Cirque de Troumouse
- Hautacam
Bagnères-de-Luchon Base (French–Spanish Border Region)
- Col du Peyresourde
- Superbagnères
- Hospice de France
- Col du Portillon (France–Spain border)
- Port de la Bonaigua (optional extended summit in Spain)
- Col d’Ares
- Col de Buret
- Col de Portet d’Aspet
- Col de Menté
Tour Highlights
The Ride the Divide: Pyrenees Tour delivered a breathtaking journey through one of the most dramatic and storied mountain ranges in the world. From our base in Argelès-Gazost, riders immediately plunged into the deep valleys and legendary climbs that have shaped the Tour de France for over a century. Within the first few days, the group conquered icons like Col du Soulor, Aubisque, Spandelles, Luz Ardiden, and the mighty Tourmalet, riding through green pastures, cliff-lined balcony roads, and mist-draped summits. Café stops at mountain chalets and hearty dinners in the heart of Argelès set the perfect rhythm for our early Pyrenean adventures. As one client said at the summit of Aubisque, “This place feels alive — every climb has a soul.”
Midway through the tour, the challenge intensified with the rugged beauty of Cirque de Troumouse, the dramatic ascent to Col de Tentes, and the brutally honest slopes of Hautacam — a climb that demanded everything from the legs and gave everything back in views. These were big mountain days in their purest form: soaring altitude, raw nature, quiet roads and the satisfying exhaustion that only real climbing delivers. One guest laughed as they rolled back into Argelès, saying, “My legs are cooked, but my heart is absolutely full.”
The tour then shifted to Bagnères-de-Luchon, opening access to the eastern Pyrenees and the French–Spanish divide. Riders climbed the elegant switchbacks of Peyresourde, the balcony road to Superbagnères, the peaceful valley of Hospice de France, and the cross-border ascent of Col du Portillon into Spain. Some pushed further to the majestic Port de la Bonaigua, adding even more kilometres and elevation to an already heroic week. The tour’s finale delivered a perfect crescendo: Ares, Buret, Portet d’Aspet, Menté — four cols stitched into one unforgettable loop of forest climbs, fast descents and flowing ridgelines. A client summed up the Luchon block perfectly: “Different mountains, same magic — the Pyrenees just keep giving.”
In total, riders covered 848 km and climbed nearly 20,000 metres, crossing valleys, borders, and cycling milestones. But the real story was the camaraderie, the shared triumphs on summit signs, the laughter over dinner, and the feeling of riding through landscapes that seemed painted for cyclists. The Pyrenees are raw, emotional, beautiful and endlessly rewarding. The final word goes to a smiling guest on the last night in Luchon: “This wasn’t just a cycling tour — it was a journey through legendary TDF moments.”
