Day 1, PauWednesday, July 11th
Meet at the hotel, assemble and test bikes. Orientation meeting and Welcome Dinner together.
Pau is a lively university town with elegant Belle époque architecture and shady parks, located at the edge of the central Pyrenees. Pau will host a start and finish for the 2012 Tour de France. Day 2 , Pau Loop Ride: Cols Aubisque & SoulorThursday, July 12th
Ride: 73 miles/4,500 ft
Start your trip riding 2 classics, the Col d'Aubisque (11 miles/4,500 ft) and Col du Soulor are both included in this years Stage 16. Dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants in Pau. Day 3, Pau to Luz St. Sauveur via Hautacam and Luz ArdidenFriday, July 13th
Ride: 56-68 miles/1,400-5,300 ft.
Start with an easy spin along the Gave de Pau river to Lourdes onward to the base of the Hautacam. Option to climb Hautacam averaging 6.8% over 10.9 miles/3,838ft which was last included in the 2008 Tour de France. After climbing Hautacam, continue up the Gorge de Luz and settle into our Hotel for the next two nights. Dinner together.
Challenging Option: Luz Ardiden (9.5miles/3,283ft)
Luz St-Sauveur is a spa resort set in a quaint mountain town in the Haute Pyrenees at the base of Luz Ardiden and Tourmalet. One of the most beautiful national parks in France, the Cirque de Gavarnie a World Heritage Site (a 4-km wide cirque with a cascading 1,400ft waterfall) is nearby. Day 4, Luz St. Sauveur - Loop Rides: Port de Boucharo and Luz Ardiden Saturday, July 14th---Bastille Day!
Ride: Loop options 0-60 miles/0-7,901 ft.
Today it is your choice to ride as little or as much as you want. Options include riding Port de Boucharo 20.5miles/4,618 ft. and Luz Ardiden 9.5miles/3,283ft or ride 13 miles up-valley to Gavarnie and visit the Cirque de Gavarnie, a World Heritage site , which is a 4-km wide cirque with a cascading 1,400 foot waterfall. Dinner together and watch Bastille day fireworks! Day 5 , Luz St. Sauveur to St. Lary via Col d'Aspin & TourmaletSunday, July 15th
Ride: 45-58 miles/7,200-9,840 ft. ft.
This is the day you have been training for. Test your legs tackling the "leg-burning" Col du Tourmalet (11.4 miles/4,756ft). The Tourmalet was first climbed on the Tour in 1910 on unsealed roads! Stop for a well deserved rest at the café on top to enjoy the fabulous views and marvel at the Tour memorabilia inside the café. Document your climb of Tourmalet with a picture in front of the bigger than life-size sculpture of a cyclist at the Col. Enjoy your well deserved 17km descent to Sainte Marie de Campan before ascending one of the most beautiful cols in the Pyrenees, the Col d’Aspin (7.7 miles/2,129ft). Enjoy one last glorious descent before spinning gently up valley on quiet country roads to our hotel for the next two nights in St. Lary. Dinner together.
Challenging Option: Ride Hourquette d”Ancizan (6.4 miles/1,456 ft.)
Saint Lary is a small mountain town and popular resort in both winter and summer. Located at the head of the Valley d’Aure, Saint Lary offers our group an incredible base for cycling numerous cols nearby or hiking to glacier. Day 6, St.Lary - Loop Rides/Spa/Hike Pla-d'AdetMonday, July 16th
Ride: 0-60 miles/0-7,000 ft.
Spend the day hiking in the high alpine valleys, go to the spa or take one of many great rides. You can do a very scenic, strenuous climb to Lac de Cap de Long (14 miles/4,326 ft) or ride a quiet road to the refuge of Rocamajou (10 miles/2,372 ft), where you can have lunch at the foot of the mountains bordering Spain. Non-riding options include a massage and wellness treatments at the thermal baths. Dinner on your own.
Challenging Option: Ride Pla-d'Adet (7 miles/2,827 ft; finish of 2005 Stage 15) Day 7, St.Lary - Luchon via Col d'Azet Col de PeyresourdeTuesday, July 17th
Ride: 28-40 miles/4,818 ft.
We leave St. Lary continuing on the Stage 16 and 17 course, first ascending the west side of Col d’Azet (8 miles/2,624ft). Next enjoy the wonderful sweeping 8km descent into the stunning glacier-carved Valley de Louron overlooking the beautiful turquoise lake and the quaint village of Loudenvielle (2007 Stage 15 finish). We then continue up the Col de Peyresourde (6 miles/2,194ft) with the ever present sound of cow bells cheering you on up the col (stop for crepes at the café at the top). From the Peyresourde, you will have a chance to preview Stage 17’s mountaintop finish at the Peyragudes Ski area before enjoying our final descent of 16km to our hotel for 3 nights in Luchon. Dinner together.
Luchon, which is hosting the finish of Stage 16 and the Start of Stage 17, is located at the junction of five famous Tour de France mountain passes: Portillon, Peyresourde, Port de Bales, Mente and Portet d’Aspet in a beautiful natural amphitheater and is one of the most popular spa town in France. Day 8 , Luchon Watch TDF Queen Mountain Stage 16Wednesday, July 18
Ride Options: Col de Portillon/ Superbagneres/Port de Bales/ Col de Peyresourde
This morning you can relax in town or take a morning ride up Col de Portillon, Superbagneres or Port de Bales. In the afternoon, enjoy watching the Stage finish as they pass by our Hotel or watch the Stage on the final climb of the day at the Col de Peyresourde. Dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants and cafés in Luchon. Day 9, Luchon - Watch TDF Mountain Stage 17Thursday, July 19
Ride: Col de Peyresourde or join the excitement at the Mountaintop finish at Peyragudes. From our hotel in Luchon, watch the start of Stage 17 in Luchon. Check out the Team buses and watch the riders as they signup before the race begins. After the start of the race, you can ride to watch the Racers as they ascend the Col de Peyresourde/Port de Bales or join the excitement at the Mountaintop finish at Peyragudes. Strong riders can ride the entire 144 km of the stage route in advance of the pros. Dinner together. Day 10, Luchon - PauFriday, July 20
Ride: 75- 93 miles/3,500 ft
We'll ride back to Pau along quiet country roads, stopping in the medieval hill town of Saint Bertrand de Comminges. The town has a beautiful cathedral, famous for its choir and huge renaissance organ. Nearby is the 11th century Romanesque basilica of Saint Just Valcabrere. Today’s final ride following the foothills of the Pyreness includes some long flat sections totaling about 60 miles. Farewell dinner together! Day 11, PauSaturday, July 21
The tour concludes after breakfast. We'll transfer you to the Pau Airport allowing you the option to fly home direct from Pau arriving home the same day or visit Paris and join our Paris Extension Option and watch the grand finale of the Tour on the Champs-Elysees.
ATG's Paris Extension: $350/person (Self-guided, hotel only)
If you're interested in seeing the grand finale of the Tour on the Champs-Elysees and visiting Paris, we've reserved a block of rooms at our favorite Paris hotel for Saturday and Sunday night following our cycling tour. The hotel is near the Eiffel Tower and located on a quaint pedestrian cobbled street in one of the most charming areas of Paris. Enjoy the upscale cafes, galleries, boutiques and restaurants of this lively area. The extension includes the hotel only and excludes meals, etc. We'll be happy to provide tips for watching the race, and recommendations for restaurants and things to see and do in Paris.
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