Climbs of the Pyrenees
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Itinerary
Day 1 - 40km
Pick up in Pau and transfer to our
Pick-up at the Pau airport. The pick-up time will be determined once we have everyone's travel arrangements (probably mid-day).
We will be picking up in Pau and transfer to our hotel located in the heart of the Pyrenees at the base of the climb to the col du Tourmalet!
We will setup bikes and go for a short ride to make sure everything is working properly. This hotel will be home for the next 6 nights, so we won't be living out of our suitcase!
Day 2 / 80km
We'll start with a fairly easy ride. The hardest part of the ride will come early on with the climb up the col d'Aspin.
Day 3 - 100km
Today's ride will feature the Col du Tourmalet from its western side (Luz)
Day 4 - 125km
Another great ride will take us over the col d'Aubisque from the West and come down going by the col du Soulor down to Argeles.
Day 5 - 120km
Up the Tourmalet again, but from the East and La Mongie, before heading down to Luz to tackle the climb to Luz-St-Sauveur
Day 6 / 160 km
An epic ride is on tap for today as we will go over a new road which was poured for the 2007 Tour de France. Our ride will start flat to rolling for the first 55km or so. That is when the climb to the Port de Bales start. The downhill on the South side is the new road which we will take down to meet the climb to the col de Peyresourde in it's final 10km, down to Arreau and finally the climb to the col d'Aspin and back to the hotel!
Day 7
Departure. We will take you back to Pau where you can either, catch a Bullet train, a plane or rent a car if you plan on extending your vacation.
- Transfer from/to Pau airport
- 6 nights hotel, based on double occupancy (singles available for extra fee)
- 5 dinners
- 6 breakfasts
- Support Vehicle with water and snacks.
- All breakfasts and Dinners with wine - throughout the trip
- Bike Mechanic/guide
- 5 day unlimited access to "Aquensis"
- Cue-Cards, directions, maps, profiles of stages, etc...
- Luggage transfer
- Other "goodies"
MORE ABOUT THE THERMAL SPRINGS
We will have unlimited access to this terrific and relaxing environment.
The history of Bagne`res-de Bigorre is summarized by its former name, "VICUS AQUENSIS", given by the Romans who already knew how to appreciate the virtues of the town's warm waters.
The history of the city was written around the natural ressources in thermal waters :
Famous personalities like Jeanne D'Albret or de Montaigne during the course of the 16 and 17th centuries, knew how to take advantage of the town's warm waters.
Bagne`res-de-Bigorre's resources in thermal waters are particularly plentiful. Two drillings, "la Reine" and "Re´gina", realized in 1992, collect waters of natural springs at a depth of 200 meters, where the waters are protected from land-based pollution.
Bagne`res-de-Bigorre's waters are extracted at a tempe´rature of 50°C. They are rich in trace minerals and are naturally loaded with calcium, sulfate and magnesium.
Since 1998, Bagne`res-de-Bigorre's thermal establishment is equipped with a water analysis and quality control laboratory. Its main missions are the microbiological analysis and the bacteriological monitoring in order to get a qualitative follow-up of the resource in thermal waters. Part of its activity allows a monitoring of the cleanup and disinfection activities.
The thermal waters are under strict control all year long (both by the Ministry of Public Health and by the thermal establishment's laboratory), in order to bring maximum benefits to the patient taking a thermal cure.
"Aquensis, la cite´ des Eaux" offers 3,000 m2 completely dedicated to well-being and to the various pleasures of thermal springs.
In the spectacular environment of a vast clear wood arch, a 20 m long swimming pool with 4 lateral spa rooms, water curtain, movement, counter-currents, hydromassage apparatus...
These animations are distributed within 4 cells skirting a central, 20 meters long swimming lane.
5 distinct Areas:
GREAT BASIN
In the spectacular environment of a vast clear wood arch, a 20 m long swimming pool with 4 lateral spa rooms, water curtain, movement, counter-currents, hydromassage apparatus, skirting a central, 20 meters long swimming lane.
RECREATION SWIMMING POOL
The recreation swimming pool is equipped with 14 hydromassages apparatus and subaqueous music, offering pleasant moments of musical relaxation.
HAMMAM
Is composed of: several rooms at progressive temperatures, hot marble benches, basins of cold and water and room for massages.
SAUNAS
Two saunas and their refreshing shower.
JACUZZIS, the SOLARIUM and the VIEW-POINT
The large outside terraces, made of wood grating are equipped with jacuzzis.
This place is dedicated to rest and sun baths, within a protected and timbered environment.
The view-point, offers a 360° panoramic view on the Pyre´ne´es, the thermal city and the forest of Be´dat.