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If you don't climb the mountain...

You can't enjoy the view!

Cycle the Pyrénées -

Awe-inspiring, epic proportions.

The Pyrénées...

The mountains for Climbing Connoisseurs!

Road Cycling at its most iconic.

Enjoy the natural beauty of the French Pyrénées.

Views forever

A ride to remember

Challenge yourself

Live the dream ...

Iconic Climbs Pyrénées Challenge

AUD $7200 Full package price
10 days / 9 nights Duration
Level

1 Roo:
I’m relatively fit and comfortable on the bike and happiest on mild gradients or the flat.

2 Roo’s:
Fitness and health is my life. I ride regularly on a weekly basis with mates and am comfortable with rides of around 4 hours at a relatively strong pace.

3 Roo’s:
Riding is my life! I’m not interested in racing, I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. I love the challenge and the idea of where my legs and bike can take me. My friends and I are always looking for the next cycling adventure.

Want to know more about the VéloRoo Roo levels?

Tour Statistics

60 km / 37 Miles Av. daily distance
475 km / 295 Miles Total distance
1958 m / 6425 feet Av. daily elevation
Full Tour ItineraryGet In Touch
2 3 4

  • VéloRoo’s Pyrénées Iconic Climbs Challenge is about experiencing magnificent moments with incredible bike riding amidst the Haute Pyrenees. Discover two magnificent areas rich with cycling monuments, hidden local favourites and World Heritage listed areas of outstanding natural beauty.

    Tour Highlights

    • Bucket list Pyrenees climbs,
    • Col d’Aspin, Col de Peyresourde, Col du Portet , plus more, then change locations ….
    • Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aubisque, Col de Soulor, Luz Ardiden,
    • PLUS the climbs the locals favour,
    • late May / early June Tour – Montée du Géant festival,
    • late September Tour – local transhumance festival,
    • Avoid the peak tourist season.

    Our Spring Pyrénées Challenge marks the official opening of the Pyrénées in early June for the summer cycling season.

    The “Montée du Géant” festival is a celebration of cycling, endeavour and history, as you take part in the procession that returns Le Géant to his summer home, the summit of the Col du Tourmalet.

    Our Autumn Pyrénées Challenge in late September takes you on a cycling tour of the stunning Pyrénéan autumn colours. The tour culminates with the local festival of Transhumance. The age old tradition of bring livestock down from the high pastures into the valley to shelter for winter. The inspiring landscapes are highlighted with the incredible clarity that the autumn light offers during this romantic season. With an invigorating chill to the air, riding the Pyrénées in autumn is pure bliss.

    Avoid the busy traffic by holidaying in the Pyrénées during early June and late September. Imagine quiet roads, punctuated by the occasional cow bell or local sheep herders and their flocks, allowing you to soak up the idyllic French serenity. You can be sure that after your VéloRoo Pyrénées Challenge, you will have stories and memories of a lifetime.

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    Cycling Holidays

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    • Small group specialists
    • approx group size of 9 riders so you get premium support
    • Fully supported rides
    • Vehicle support by owner / operator Julia
    • Ride guiding by owner / operator Steve,
    • Performance Road Bike Hire included
    • Accommodation – 9 nights twin share (single supplement available)
    • only change locations once!
    • All breakfasts,
    • All lunches,
    • All dinners,
    • pick up from Tarbes train station or airport
    • drop off at Lourdes train station
    • European made VeloRoo Cycling Jersey,
    • Cycling kits washed daily (and not by you in your bathroom sink!)
    • You just turn up and ride, EVERYTHING is taken care of,
    • Non-Cyclists – options available!
    • Live, Laugh, Ride…

  • Pyrénées Iconic Climbs Cycling Tour – Day by Day

    Experience the best the Pyrénées has to offer on our Iconics Climbs Tour. Not just the monuments but also the special places the locals love. A guaranteed unique experience in the mystical Pyrénées with VéloRoo – Live, Laugh, Ride … Cycling Holidays.

    For full climb profiles and a detailed itinerary complete your email below and we will send you the PDF.

    • Day 1: Welcome to the Pyrenees!

      Welcome to your base for the next 4 nights in Saint Lary Soulan. Your bikes will be set up and ready for the exciting week ahead, and over welcome drinks and dinner, you will have the time to get to know your fellow cyclists in the group and talk about the adventure ahead.

    • Day 2: Col d'Azet & Col de Peyresourde

      62km / 39 Miles – 1851m / 6070 feet Elevation Gain

      Today’s ride is the introduction and showcases what the Pyrénées is all about. The wild nature, dramatic landscapes and spellbinding scenery are waiting for you from the start till the end of the ride.

    • Day 3: Pla d'Adet & Col de Portet

      43km / 27 Miles – 1828m / 6000 feet Elevation Gain

      This is for the fans! or anyone who has a passing interest in the Tour will be familiar with the stage finish of Pla d’Adet, less familiar is Col de Portet. It is a beast, it’ll become an icon, it’s contentious but we think that it’s better than the Alpe d’Huez. After today you can be the judge!

    • Day 4: La Route des Lacs

      60km / 37 Miles – 2378m / 7800 feet Elevation Gain

      We leave St Lary heading deep into the mountains via a valley that goes all the way to the Spanish border. The ancient road has been a traveller route for eons. We will wind our way up the valley where you can’t help but be awestruck by the surrounding mountains, whose peaks are all well above 2,500 meters above sea level. It is an incredible feeling.

    • Day 5: Col d'Aspin, La Hourquette d'Ancizan & Col du Tourmalet

      65km / 40 Miles – 2908m / 9540 feet Elevation Gain

      Today we say goodbye to St Lary Soulan and head to Luz St Saveur. Starting with Col d’Aspin, our little known route is one of the hidden back road gems that the Pyrenees are loved for. Finishing the day with the Tourmalet, will make you feel on top of the world as you reach probably the most respected summit in French cycling.

    • Day 6: Luz Ardiden

      45km / 28 Miles – 1367m / 4485 feet Elevation Gain

      Shorter distance and shorter climbing, but with 9 more hairpins than alpe d’huez. You will experience uniquely beautiful scenery at every turn, with a million dollar view waiting for you at the top.

    • Day 7: Col du Soulor & Col d'Aubisque

      100km / 62 Miles – 2694m / 8838 feet Elevation Gain

      Todays ride will pass through delightful grey stone villages surrounded by open fields and spectacular mountain backdrops as we will celebrate the day by ascending the two wonderful climbs the Col du Solour and Col d’Aubisque. Where a surprise is waiting for you along the way.

    • Day 8: Col du Tourmalet

      40km / 25 Miles – 1820m / 5971 feet Elevation Gain

      The Iconic of all Iconic TDF climbs. So many stories have been written about the “grand daddy” of climbs, and today it is your turn to scribe your own story into the history pages of the Tourmalet’s slopes.

    • Day 9: Col de Tentes

      60km / 37 Miles – 1837 / 6027 feet Elevation Gain

      Todays ride is in the direction of the Spanish border and a region listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The steady climbing route takes us along the gorge, river full of massive rocks, a reminder of the harsh reality of the beautiful scenery surrounding us. Simply the most incredible climb you have never heard of but will never forget.

    • Day 10: Au Revoir

      Au revoir! And now you continue your travels, taking with you all the memories from your epic adventure in the Pyrenees.

Full Itinerary for Pyrénées Iconic Climbs Challenge

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France Upcoming Tour Dates

Pyrénées Iconic Climbs Challenge

Ready to ride? VeloRoo can make your dream escape a reality

AUD $7200

per person twin share

Single supplement additional $565

Pyrénées Iconic Climbs Challenge

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Live, laugh, ride…@veloroo

A word from our clients

Don’t take our word for it - here's some comments from happy VeloRoovians

More testimonials
Pyrenees Autumn Challenge
Just came back from the dream vacation with VeloRoo doing the October Pyreness Challenge 2019, and it still feels like a dream! A great friend of mine did the July Pyreness/South of France, and spoke highly of the experience and had no doubt that I would love the route and the VeloRoo experience knowing me and my riding attitude.

It turned out to be better than what I could have asked for. Pre-trip, Julia was super responsive and helpful in providing all the trip information. She also went above and beyond to help find travel logistics on transporting from different parts of Europe to the meeting point of the Pyreness ride. It’s like a Genie helping you find alternatives and solutions on making a trip work! It is really good to be assisted and informed.

We had an intimate group like CyclingStealth11 pointed out, riders from quite a few countries and two non riders. Everyone was a bit anxious about the toughness and possibly other riders being super competitive. It was a relief that with Captain Steve and Neil’s lead, we really focused on “enjoying the climb and view”. The views around Pyreness was just amazing! Every climb is scenic, but scenic in a different way! Steve would pointed out the spots not to miss, I was so thankful when other riders would just stop, and take pictures of the spectacular view! We sing, we laughed, we made jokes, and we climbed (oh and we coffee break, too). We followed Neil like little fans asking of stories. Great hearing everyone’s stories along the way as well! These are special friendships made, that I would like to keep! : ) I already want to go back already while typing these out.

The food and accomodation was great, too! It was nice getting to taste the local specialty. I love being able to try and learn of the local, and embrace the friendliness of the local people from Pyreness area. It is a very unique experience. My mom joined us from Taiwan as a non-rider. She got to see the sights we rode, stopped at great viewing point, and also had a special hike with aforager. This was a special experience to mom at Pyreness even off the bike! Thank you, Julia and Steve for making this work for mom!

Who should consider VeloRoo?
- If you are looking for a great cycling vacation experience that is a little bit more budget friendly
- If you are cool with fully enjoying the view, letting go the baggage, speed, and stats
- If you like an awesome guide, who is more like your family (brother) rather than a scripted tour guide
- If you are not a good planner like me, and can get some help from the amazing Julia
- If you want to have the down to earth local experience, not fancy masseuse/racing crews or personal chef following you

There are also options of routes to consider! So find a route that suits you, and don’t be shy to send the email for more information. It will be an amazing experience whichever VeloRoo tours you decided! Speaking from my earnest experience. : )
Dale, California, USAOct 2019
A sixth (or seventh, you stop counting once you feel like adopted 'family') return to VeloRoo. Previous hirer of bike and the odd riding session - this time a first experience of their residential tours of the Pyrenees.

Completely wonderful experience and exactly as Steve and Julia had been describing for years: sold as seen! Both experienced in doing the grafting - and making it look effortless. Super little group of matched riders, all local knowledge deployed, kit washing and venue stops perfect. Great kit supplied and nil expenditure once on the road.

What particularly impressed me is that my fellow riders came from the US and Aus for this - I flew 90mins from 'down the road' (UK) - that's how special something of this scale and personality level is.

Refreshes the parts other big-name tours can't reach: a secret gem with a characterful, friendly VeloRoo family experience.
Robin, UKOct 2019
Recently returned from attending the October ’19 Pyrenees Challenge cycling trip with VeloRoo. The entire experience far exceeded my expectations and turned out to be the trip of lifetime.

The scheduled rides (Tourmalet, D’Espagne, Aubisque, Solour, Tentes, Luz Ardiden) were well planned, well supported and unbelievably picturesque. Steve and Neil were great, safety-conscious guides who knew the terrain and local coffee shops/restaurants very well allowing us to focus on the climbing and taking in the beautiful landscape along the routes. Steve’s friendly and funny disposition, along with his underrated singing talents 😊, kept the tone of each ride refreshingly light and non-competitive as did the occasional picture and refueling stop.

The hired bike was relatively new and well maintained with appropriate gearing and brakes for the steep terrain. Supplied kit and helmet were of high quality also. Our accommodations in Luz St. Sauveur were very comfortable and conveniently located in close proximity to local restaurants, pubs, shopping and of course iconic climbs (Tourmalet Km 0 was a two minute walk from our hotel). Meals at local restaurants were very good-excellent and had several pre-selected menu options that usually featured three courses and included wine.
At our trip’s conclusion Julia and Steve distributed pics and thoughtfully edited videos of each of our cycling days which are awesome keepsakes and memories. These memories, and the friends gained, made this trip exceptionally satisfying. I am already looking forward to my next cycling holiday with Steve, Neil and Julia and highly recommend VeloRoo to any serious cycling enthusiast who is looking for a friendly, well organized and reasonably priced trip.
Lance, USAOct 2019
October Pyrenees/Non-Cylist
What an amazing experience! Celebrating our 25th anniversary, watching my husband climb so many famous Tour de France climbs was a real treat! Steve & Julia were so welcoming upon our arrival at the train station and it just got better from there. We connected quickly with the other cyclists and one other non-cylist, all from different parts of the world. I especially enjoyed our meal times, chatting, laughing and getting to know one another. Riding along with Julia in the support van, each day more beautiful than the last was spectacular. I loved being able to watch my husband conquer his bucket list climbs and was able to get great videos and photos of him accomplishing them. Unfortunately the photos just don't do it justice! The beauty of the mountains, especially during the change of seasons was a sight I won't soon forget. Not knowing too much about cycling, the tour seemed well organized and the cyclists had everything they needed from great bikes & gear, to great guides and great support along the routes each day. The experience left us longing for more and has my husband already looking into a Spain trip that we hear through the grapevine Veloroo might soon be planning. Fingers crossed!! I highly recommend using Veloroo for your next cycling tour!
Gina, USAOct 2019
We did a Pyrenees trip with Veloroo and it was incredible. We did four days of riding at our own pace, climbing seven peaks from the iconic cols to hidden gems with views and riding that were every bit as good, or better, than the climbs we had seen on broadcasts of the Tour.

Luz-Saint-Sauveur is a perfect home base. It is a lovely, pastoral town with all the amenities and a relaxed setting perfect for after-ride beverages while we reviewed all our photos.

We loved riding in late September. Without the huge crowds, we had the roads to ourselves. We could climb at our own pace without worrying about other riders and without having strangers in any of our pictures! Not to mention the fact that we didn’t have to contend with very many vehicles on the roads. In fact, on a few rides, I can’t remember passing a single car on the entire climb, and descent!

Our riding was particularly amazing because the leaves were changing and the Fall colours made the scenery even more incredible. At higher elevations, there was snow, so the mountains looked amazing.

This was our second trip with Steve and Julia. We were nervous before the trip because we weren’t sure that our legs would hold up to these iconic climbs. Steve allowed us to ride at a comfortable pace for us. He is a great motivator and really helps us to relax and enjoy the ride.

While we spent most of our time riding with Steve, Julia’s work in the support vehicle was so appreciated. She has an uncanny way of being in exactly the right place when you need a water bottle refill or to take off a layer of gear. Plus, she also takes some amazing photos when we don’t even know she is photographing us.

The accommodation and meals were also amazing. Steve and Julia have found a great spot in Luz-Saint-Saveur that is comfortable and well-kept. All our meals were excellent and we really enjoyed dining with Steve and Julia after a day in the saddle.

We also love the beautiful Veloroo kit we were given during the trip. Riding in it now that we are back home is a great way to remember our amazing rides in the Pyrenees.
M, CanadaSept 2022
Awesome experience.... opportunity to climb the iconic TDF mountains! Outstanding...The guides, the SAG support and even capturing the experience with photos and videos of the day put together nicely with music provided daily by VELOROO! The tour is operated and run by Steve and Julia (husband and wife) and assisted by Neil Martin, retired professional bicyclist. They are there the entire time to cater to your needs. It was a great opportunity to ride besides Neil and ask / interview him about his vast experiences. All you have to do is show up! They provide the bike, kit ( they laundry your kit every day!). Will definitely sign up for their Italy Tour. Thank you Steve, Julia and Neil!
David, USAOct 2019