On the summit of the Toumalet is a bigger than life-size statue of Lapize Octave (known as la Géant), the first person during the Tour de France in 1910 to cycle over this col. It is spared the winter months, stored at the bottom in the former Laurent Fignon Centre but each Spring hundreds of cyclists are invited to join in the procession that takes la Géant to the summit.

The centenary TDF coincides with the centenary of the famous episode when Eugène Christophe broke his fork descending the Tourmalet then repaired it in a forge in Sainte-Marie de Campan. To commemorate this historic event which became a great legend of the Tour, the General Council of Hautes-Pyrénées is organising a reconstruction on Saturday 8th June which starts at 8:30am at Pierrefitte Nestalas with old bikes and cars of the time. It will be followed by the traditional "Montée du Géant du Tourmalet," at 9:30am - open to all cyclists and is free, without registration.

Participants are also invited to wear a moustache for the ascent, an appearance that makes Chirstophe stand out. At 14h a totem will be unveiled by Christian Prudhomme exactly where the break occurred in the fork. At 15:30, a faithful reconstruction of the event in Ste Marie de Campan takes place, especially focusing on the repair of the fork. At 17h 30, opening of an exhibition at the Relais des Pyrenees (former Laurent Fignon Centre) at Gerde / Bagneres de Bigorre;

"1913-2013 - Eugène Christophe: when history forged the legend of the Tour de France."

The exhibition runs from June 8th to July 21st (Wednesday to Sunday 15h-19H, free entry).

The 37th edition of the Route du Sud takes place from 13th to 16th June 2013. There are plenty of options to watch the race on the penultimate and final stages.

Izaourt (3km from us) is once again a ville depart for the third and toughest stage of the race on 15th June. The riders face a challenging 175km, climbing the Azet, Peyresourde and our local HC climb of Port de Bales before finishing in Luchon. See the riders sign on and then watch the closing stages of the race on Port de Bales or see the finish in Luchon. It is likely that the race will be decided in the Pyrenean mountains and the victor will be known on Saturday night as the final stage presents little difficulty.

On 16th June, Saint Gaudens hosts the final stage depart. See the riders sign on and watch the stage start.

The local press and sponsors of the race, La Depeche du Midi, report that whilst Chris Froome and Richie Porte will be otherwise engaged elsewhere, Sir Bradley Wiggins is likely to make a return visit to the Pyrenees to race on the very cols that won him the 2012 Tour de France.

The new Garmin Edge 800 is revolutionising bike navigation units. It appears that for the first time cyclists can benefit from a GPS unit that works similar to a car Sat Nav with full colour and 3D with turn by turn prompts.

With the new technology you can 'ride like a local' with confidence; avoid those anxious moments when you wonder if you are on the right road. Or even in the right direction and there's no need to stop to check maps which all helps for a more flowing and enjoyable ride.

As a new service, we can supply you with a Garmin Edge 800, pre-charged, pre-installed on your bike and loaded with your routes based on discussions about what you want to do over the previous evening dinner. The Edge 800 is also compatible with +ANT components - if you have your own heart rate belt or power meter sensors that support this common standard, it will display the information alongside the navigation.

Runners and hikers do not have to feel left out either as there is the Garmin Forerunner, providing GPS navigation and the typical data such as elevation, distance, speed and heart rate.

Of course, if you have your own GPS unit, we are happy to help you get the most out of your trip by making the appropriate files available during your stay with us.

If you would like more information about borrowing one of our devices, please do not hesitate to contact us or ask upon your arrival.

It is clear that the Pyrenees mountains are respected and worshipped by not only the Tour but also the Vuelta. 2013 is a unique year as the Vuelta has chosen to explore far into the French Pyrenees mountains.

It is in the heart of the Pyrenees that the peloton will face the longest stage of the Tour. Stage 15 is more than 230 kilometres, joining Andorra with Peyragudes in France. The Peyragudes is the same mountain finish where Bradley Wiggins won the 2012 Tour de France. A summit finish in France is the Vuelta's way of paying tribute to the 100th Tour de France.

40km into the stage, the riders face the first of four mountain passes, the Coll del Canto. 50km later, the peloton will reach the foot of the Port de la Bonaigua at 2,070m. From the summit, it's all downhill through the Val d'Aran and the border crossing at Fos. A gentle climb at Siradan brings the riders to Mauleon Barousse (4km from us) and the foot of Port de Bales. After a fast and technical descent the riders reach the Peyresourde, the final sting in the tail of a tough day in the saddle.

The organisers have stated that this will be a difficult stage and will probably be the deciding factor as to who is strong (and who is not) enough to win the Vuelta.

Ride the final part of the stage from Velo Pyrenees ahead of the Pro's!

For further information, visit the Vuelta a España website.

Could you ride 300km on just 20 bananas and water? Did you know that Fausto Coppi won the Tour de France and Giro in the same year whilst following a raw diet? A feat never repeated.

Julie at Velo Pyrenees has written 'Raw Performance' published in Cycling Fitness magazine which explores the pros and cons of following a raw diet.

At Velo Pyrenees, we are focused on catering for individual diets and always source the best quality local organic ingredients.

You can read the full article here on Raw Performance.

 

 

Held on the 21st - 25th August 2013, this sixth edition of this challenging Ultra distance event passes through some of the most beautiful and spectacular wilder reaches of the central Pyrenees. There is the choice of two courses for individuals: the Ultra and the Grand Trail. There is also a 240km Raid for teams of three or four runners. All trails start and finish at Vielle Aure which is a 50km drive from our base.

The Ultra Trail is 160km with 10,000m of ascending including 10 mountain passes above 2,000m altitude. The majority of the fairly technical course follows the popular GR10 walking route.

There is a cut-off time of 50 hours. Entry limit is 850 and cost is €130. Entries open 13th January and close 30th June unless race limit is reached beforehand.

The Grand Trail is 80km with 5,000m of ascending, including 6 mountain passes above 2,000m altitude.

There is a cut-off time of 25 hours. Entry limit is 850 and cost is €90. Entries open 13th January and close 30th June unless race limit is reached beforehand.

It is compulsory to carry at least 1.5 litres of water, two lamps with spare batteries, survival blanket, waterproofs and food reserves for either race.

The Raid is 240km with 15,000m of ascending. The Raid is open to teams of three or four runners - the team captain must have completed three or more mountain races of 150km or longer. This course is unmarked. Entry is limited to 30 teams.

Further information can be found on the Grand Raid Pyrenees race website.
www.grandraidpyrenees.com

The 100th Tour de France route has been announced. The route remains exclusively within French borders for this special year, billed by the organisers as 'le Tour 100: 100% French'.

The Pyrenees will host two big stages this year. Of particular interest is stage 9 on 7th July, starting in St Girons and finishing in Bagneres de Bigorre over 165km. It includes climbs recently incorporated into the list of Tour de France's 'elite' passes such as Hourquette d'Ancizan. The Hourquette d'Ancizan is only the final challenge, preceded by the Col de Portet d'Aspet, Col de Mente, Col de Peyresourde and Col d'Azet during stage 9.

The 2013 Tour favours the likes of Contador and other climbers as the total distance to time trial has been reduced. Arriving in the Pyrenees on the first weekend of the tour, with 'fresh legs' the climbers will have a grand opportunity to show off and establish their campaign.

 

 

The Tour de France has officially announced the finer details for Stage 17 on 19th July: Luchon to Peyragudes (145km) - the route is set to pass our house, Velo Pyrenees.

The actual route departs Luchon, passes over the Col de Mente (featured in the Tour since 1971), Col du Buret, Col des Ares, Cote de Burs, passing our front door before climbing Port de Bales, Col de Peyresourde to finish at the ski station Peyragudes. The stage is just 4 days from the finish in Paris and is likely to decide the race unless someone has built a big enough margin to safely hold onto the yellow jersey.

Lee has produced route maps and GPS files to share with guests so that they too can ride the same route as the pros. As pictured on the right, our charismatic cockerel, Tiger, is excited by the news and is preparing for the Tour, getting in some time on the bike.

 

 

'Ride with a smile', published in Cycling Fitness (summer 2012) was inspired by Lesley Turner Hall, a Canadian turned Kiwi professional dental hygienist who stayed with us. Oral hygiene is often overlooked by sports people who put a greater demand on their bodies. Read the article to find out how oral hygiene can impact your sporting performance.

'Feed a fever', published in Cycling Weekly is based on our own experiences of cycling with hayfever and how we overcame it.

To read either of the articles in full, click on the image to maximize its size.

The SkyGames® and the Skyrunning World Championships, are held every 4 years. This year the Games will be held from June 29 to July 8 in the Ribagorza Románica, an area on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees but still accessible by car from Velo Pyrenees.

The SkyGames® were previously held in Italy (twice) and Andorra and is an event promoted by the International Federation of Skyrunning (ISF). This requires that the competitions must be held in a mountain scenery located at a minimum of 2,000 metres altitude.

During this week of competition, there will be a total of 6 tests: SkyMarathon, a 42km endurance race; SkyRace, 21km mountain race; SkyBike, a high mountain duathlon (14km run, 10km mtb and 10km run); KmVertical, a rapidly ascending race of 1,000m of elevation gain; SkySpeed, screening test gear in just 200 meters, and SkyRaid, a multi-disciplinary test designed only for athletes of national teams.

The competition will bring together the world leading specialists in each discipline. More than one hundred thousand athletes and elite athletes representing a total of 25 nations will gather in this competition which is a reflection of the spectacle of mountain sports in height.

www.ocisport.net/skygames

The 12th edition of the Transpyrenees (XC mountain bike race) takes place on 2nd September 2012 and will be a very special one for Lee's club, Cap Vert VTT. The FFC (Federation Francaise de Cyclisme) has awarded the race the title Rando d'Or (Rando of gold), making it one of only 14 MTB events with such a label in the whole of France.

The Rando d'Or is only granted to the most beautiful events in France with high quality off-road circuits which have been consistently improved every year and are excellently organised.

Organised by local club Cap Vert VTT, its members are deservedly proud with the news. President of the club Lucien Nicholas stated:

"We are rewarded for our efforts since the early days, with the volunteers and the support of local communities. Our territory of the Pyrenean foothills, the Comminges area, will provide a beautiful exhibition at the national level."

The event will now benefit from national media coverage provided by the Federation, the club hopes to gain participants and a large audience from across France. For further information on this event, please go to our events page.

The Tour has been announced and we have news of 4 great stages in the Pyrenees.

On Saturday 30th June, the 99th edition of the Tour will depart from Liège, riding clockwise around France to finish with a potentially decisive 52km time trial the day before Paris. Passing the Alps first, the Pyrenees will be an important point of the race for the climbers and the GC.

Of the 25 mountain passes that feature in this tour, only 6 are in the Alps while 11 are in the Pyrenees. What makes this years Tour distinctive will be the steeper gradients more common in the Vuelta or Giro but previously not seen in the Tour de France. Of particular note, there are gradients of 18% in the Pyrenees (over the Mur de Péguère for the first time) and 20% elsewhere.

The Tour enters the Pyrenees with stage 14, on the 15th July, from the town of Limoux to climb over Col du Portel, Port de Lers and Mur de Péguère to finish in Foix.

Following a rest day, stage 16 departs Pau, climbs the Col d'Aubisque, Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin and finally the Col du Peyresourde to finish nearby in Luchon. Four respectable mountain passes over 197km will make this a tough route and one not to miss.

With no rest the pressure is applied the following day on stage 17 as the Tour leaves Luchon, climbs the Col de Mente, Col des Ares, Port de Bales, Peyresourde to finish at the mountain summit of Peyragudes. This will become two days of back-to-back mountain action and could potentially seal a victory for the yellow jersey. Perhaps this could be Andy Schleck's year if he enters the Pyrenees near the top of the GC and gains enough of a lead to take him through the final time trial?

The Stages in the Pyrenees:

• Stage 14 on 15th July: Limoux > Foix 192km
  
• Stage 15 on 16th July: Samatan > Pau 160km
• Stage 16 on 18th July: Pau > Luchon 197km
• Stage 17 on 19th July: Luchon > Peyragudes 144km

www.letour.fr

Food, cycling and running are subjects that are close to our hearts. Living in France, It would be hard to ignore their renowned food culture, not that we would want to! It is an essential part of our everyday lives and key to a good lifestyle (healthy body, healthy mind) and performance in sport.

Julie is a regular contributor to several magazines on the subjects of gardening, poultry and self-sufficiency.

The Velo Pyrenees chickens have made it into print with a three-page spread about the social behaviours of chickens based on our experience. The article was recently published in a dedicated poultry magazine with accompanying photographs of our boys and girls. The same magazine published an article about the different shades of yellow and orange found in egg yolks. The girls obliged by providing their normal vivid orange yolks for us to photograph, proving that their free-range lives, eating plenty of grass, bugs and worms really does coin the phrase 'you are what you eat.'

There are other articles that are in the publication pipeline, including a health article on hay fever which will be published shortly in a UK national cycling magazine.

For 2011 there are four events making up the Coupe de France VTT cross country. We went along to the first one held in St Raphael on 3rd April. The weather was superb with tempreatures touching 30 degrees, providing the perfect excuse to sample some real italian ice cream whilst enjoying the backdrop of a rugged coastline, sporadically dotted with sandy coves.

The race course was first class, very fast with 90% single tracks, mostly dry with plenty of rocks and regular technical sections. Despite holding regional titles, the organisers considered Lee an 'unknown' and allocated him a position at the rear of the start line. Having to battle through the 250 strong field, Lee took what opportunities he had to overtake on the tight course, with each lap getting closer to the leader. Lee finished 19th overall and 13th in his category - not fully content but hungry for more and looking forward to the next French Cup race in May.

In the pro category, the race was led out by current European Champion Marco Fontana (Italy), closely shadowed by current World Champion Julien Absalon (France). The race was interesting with the two main contenders swapping positions for the first half of the race. Marco is a powerful rider but in the second half Julien began to dominate the lead to a clear victory. It was great to see the Italian give it a go from the very start and challenge the world champion. On the finish line Marco and Julien shook hands and exchanged some comments about the race. In the post race interview Julien declared that Marco pushed him and he enjoyed the battle, whilst Marco was content and said he was happy with the result stating that 2nd is still a respectable positon.

The community of Sarp at the entrance to the Barousse valley has created an exciting new nature trail that is open to everyone. The trail is well signposted with information boards about the flora and fauna it passes. Discover the 'jardin des traces' where there are information points and plaster casts of animal foot prints and a herb garden.

There are several view points along the trail: the romanesque church of St Just; the medieval hill-top town of St-Bertrand-de-Comminges and an impressive view overlooking the Barousse valley, where a 'table d'orientation' with an engraved painting on rock detailing the peaks and villages before you. Picnic areas have been created at the departure point and within the shade of trees along the trail. This is a perfect choice for an easy walk after exploring or training in the higher mountains.

At the start of the trail there is a natural rock climbing wall with information and bolted routes (8 routes of grade 4 to 5C - ideal for young children). It is possible to join in with an organised guide who will provide all the necessary climbing equipment.