Let me introduce you all to a great cycling trip in the Catalan Pyrenees. The idea comes from a local club in a little french village near the coast named Bompas. It includes the eastern part of the Pyrenees, getting to the Mediterranean sea. In fact, the trip includes an amazing coastal road in the Spanish-french border, and then a stunning climb to the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery overviewing the coast. It is 676 km long and includes all 3 Catalan-speaking countries: Spain, France, and Andorra. The route includes many important climbs in the area such as Coll d'Ares, La Quillane, Puymorens, Envalira, Collada de Toses, or Monestir de Sant Pere de Rodes. The highest point is Coll d'Envalira, at 2407 mts height, in fact, the highest pass in the whole Pyrenees range of mountains. The total elevation of the trip is over 9700 mts. Possible start at Ripoll, we climb Coll d’Ares then to Prats de Mollo, towards Pertús, La Jonquera to Roses and then heading north to France until Collioure and Bompàs (home of the club who suggested the tour). Then to Rivesaltes, Sournia, Prades, Sant Miquel de Cuixa, Sant Marti del Canigo, Vilafranca de Conflent. Climb to Coll de la Quillane. Mont Louis, Llac de las Bouillouses. then you have to climb to Puymorens and Port d’Envalira. Descent to Andorra and back to Catalonia then Collada de Toses and back to Ripoll. Nevertheless, there is also some additional climb that should be mentioned and included if you have time enough on a trip like this. Let me suggest one of my favorite climbs in the whole Pyrenees, which is Port de Pailheres. When to do the trip This trip is possible in summer, and also late spring or early autumn. It is also possible to do
Let me introduce you all to a great cycling trip in the Catalan Pyrenees. The idea comes from a local club in a little french village near the coast named Bompas. It includes the eastern part of the Pyrenees, getting to the Mediterranean sea. In fact, the trip includes an amazing coastal road in the
Pierre St Martin is nowadays one of the trendy climbs of the Pyrenees Atlantiques. And cycling up there is a must for any climber. With its inclusion in TdF 2015, Pierre Saint-Martin became one of those pilgrimage destinations for keen cyclists. It has everything a climb should have: scenery, steepness, other climbs nearby... Pierre Saint Martin has 7 possible approaches. They are the following: - Belagua side: maybe the easiest side, from the southern Spanish approach, starting at Isaba. It is worth to mention a helicoidal curve (270 degrees) and an amazing viewpoint called Larra-Belagua. Worth a stop. - Arette side: The steepest side and the one Tour de France climbed on the 2015 edition (victory for Froome). - Col d'Issarbe side: climbing through the ski station of Issarbe, later Col de Souscousse and Col de Soudet. - Sainte Engrace side: this side climbs through Col de Souscousse and afterward Col de Soudet. - Lourdios-Ichere side: beginning in Lourdios-Ichere, this side crosses Foret d'Issaux, and afterward gets Col de Labays and Col de Soudet - Col de Hourataté: Beginning in Osse-en-Aspe, Hourataté, Bouezou, Labays, and Soudet are the cols crossed on this side. - Col de Bouezou: Beginning in Lees-Athas, climbs directly to Col de Bouezou following to Labays and Soudet, as the former side. Nevertheless, maybe the map you can see on the left will clarify better all the options you have when climbing Pierre St Martin. La Pierre St Martin is not often included in a Transpyrenees coast to coast cycling tour, but it is absolutely worth to consider doing it. A possibility would be climbing Pierre St Martin and returning to Spain through Port de Larrau, another very demanding col (on the French side), made famous when included in Tour de France 1996. There is a sportive
Pierre St Martin is nowadays one of the trendy climbs of the Pyrenees Atlantiques. And cycling up there is a must for any climber. With its inclusion in TdF 2015, Pierre Saint-Martin became one of those pilgrimage destinations for keen cyclists. It has everything a climb should have: scenery, steepness, other climbs nearby… Pierre Saint
