If you ever cycled the classical Transpyrenees, maybe you will be interested in the Spanish Transpyrenees. In this coast to coast cycling trip on the south side of the Pyrenees, there are three main advantages over the northern French side: better weather always on the southern Spanish side, milder gradients of the mountains, often no-so-steep as the french climbs, better quality of hotels and food in Spain compared to the French side (and better pricing at the same time!) Spanish Transpyrenees trip in 8 stages Stage 1 Hondarribia-Sant Jean de Pied de Port 108 km (1956 m elevation) with Aritxulegi, Agiña, and Izpegi. Even if there are three climbs in this stage, the starting stage is a doable warm-up stage. Fantastic Izpegi, as you all probably know. Stage 2 Sant Jean de Pied de Port - Isaba 87Km (2600 m elevation) with Burdinkurutxeta, Bagargi, and Port de Larrau. This stage is mainly on French territory, but at the top of Larrau is the border with Spain. Very interesting and demanding stage including the unpronounceable Burdinkurutxeta (which means iron cross in the Basque language), with very steep sections. Then the beautiful Bagargui (connected to the close-up Chalets de Iraty). In that part, the road goes through the fabulous Bosque de Iraty. After the steep descent the third climb of the day is Port de Larrau, one of the steepest in all of the Pyrenees. This climb was the battleground on Tour de France 1996 in a stage that ended in Pamplona. Stage 3 Isaba-Sabiñánigo 129 km (2257 m elevation) with Pierre St Martin (HC), Puerto de Somport (1C) This is a very interesting stage as both climbs included are not usual at all in any Transpyrenees coast to coast trip. At the top of both climbs it is the french-Spanish border.
If you ever cycled the classical Transpyrenees, maybe you will be interested in the Spanish Transpyrenees. In this coast to coast cycling trip on the south side of the Pyrenees, there are three main advantages over the northern French side: better weather always on the southern Spanish side, milder gradients of the mountains, often no-so-steep
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
When you think you knew the most beautiful climbs in the Pyrenees, then you still can discover another climb that is even better than your favorites. I already had climbed Cirque du Troumouse, the amazing views of Gavarnie heading to Col du Boucharo, not to mention the stunning Cirque du Litor on your way to Aubisque. And then you know Port de Bales and it speeds up to first position. Port de Bales was included in Tour de France 2007 for the first time. It was not possible before because the Mauleon side was still not asphalted. In 2010 Tour de France at Port de Bales took place the most important fact of the whole tour, when Andy Schleck had a problem shifting gears and then Contador attacked and finally won the Tour de France. In 2012, 2014 and 2017 the Tour de France took again this big climb. Then Vuelta a España 2013 got again this amazing climb in a very tough stage with 232 km and some very long and steep climbs. Both sides are similar but if I have to choose one I take the Mauleon side (see elevation profile attached). The whole climb is beautiful in a narrow 3 m wide road, without any painting. No traffic at all. Cycling paradise. But the best is from about 3 km to the top. After a bend to the right you get an amazing view of green grass over a huge mountain with just the road in grey in the distance. Spectacular. In Mauleon they know how lucky they are. Watch the picture above "Port de Bales, 19 km de bonheur" (Port de Bales, 19 km of happiness). That's all.
When you think you knew the most beautiful climbs in the Pyrenees, then you still can discover another climb that is even better than your favorites. I already had climbed Cirque du Troumouse, the amazing views of Gavarnie heading to Col du Boucharo, not to mention the stunning Cirque du Litor on your way to
This picture was taken at Mirador de Jaizkibel. We just ended a Transpyrenees cycling trip from the Mediterranean sea to the Atlantic ocean across the Pyrenees in 8 stages, 987 km, and 18 major mountain passes. Even if there are many different ways to do the Coast to Coast Transpyrenees trip, this group wanted a demanding tour in 8 stages. And they had it! Then, instead of the classical Hendaye-Cerbere tour (720 km long), we designed a little longer one, including more kilometers but also more climbs. Moreover, the start of the trip was at the Barcelona northern coast (in Calella), then the transportation to starting point was much easier than other Transpyrenees trips. The stages Calella-Pantà de Sau (including Santa Fe del Montseny and Coll Formic) Pantà de Sau-Puigcerdà (including Coll de la Creueta) Puigcerdà-València d'Aneu (including Coll de Cantó) València d'Aneu-Bagneres de Luchon (including Port de la Bonaigua, Portillon, and Superbagneres) Bagneres de Luchon-Campan (including Port de bales, Peyresourde, and Aspin) Campan-Bielle (including Tourmalet, and Aubisque) Bielle-Saint Jean de Pied de Port (including Pierre St Martin and Chalets de Iraty) St Jean de Pied de Port-San Sebastián (including Izpegi, Otsondo, and Jaizkibel). Many highlights for a Transpyrenees cycling trip like this, but if I have to choose 3 cycling moments, they would be: Col du Tourmalet. The king, the best, the beast, and the picture at the top with Giant is an icon. Port de Bales, one of the most scenic climbs in all the Pyrenees Jaizkibel. On the arrival stage to San Sebastián we included the iconic Jaizkibel. It was a demanding bike trip, but it was not just about cycling. The 3 best non-cyclist moments were: Fantastic hotel close to Pantà de Sau (historical building by the dam) Walk at Saint Jean de Pied de Port,
This picture was taken at Mirador de Jaizkibel. We just ended a Transpyrenees cycling trip from the Mediterranean sea to the Atlantic ocean across the Pyrenees in 8 stages, 987 km, and 18 major mountain passes. Even if there are many different ways to do the Coast to Coast Transpyrenees trip, this group wanted a
