Photographs of the Pyrenees

Photography

In a period of hype during the build-up to the Tour de France, it's easy to forget that there are plenty of other interesting things happening this summer. The worlds best are currently in the mountains: Saxo Bank and Radio Shack amongst others have been spotted by guests and then we were spoilt with entertainment as the Route du Sud Pro Tour passed through the Pyrenees.

There were two stages we chose to watch with guests - the first passed our front door during a short 83km undulating route through and around the smaller mountains. The next stage, a 16km individual mountain time trial, held later the same day, challenged the riders as they left Loudenvielle at minute intervals on their way to Peyragudes ski station via the Col de Peyresourde.

The weather was un seasonally bad after several days of light rain and cooler temperatures, but the competition was hot. Pictured here is Tassilio Fricke from Germany riding for team Netapp. His technique was superb as he passed in front of us tackling a 180 degree bend going downhill with an off camber, keeping his body weight lower than most to enable a faster racing line and sprinting out of the exit as shown.

Archive

Picture Gallery

Our photograph collection offers a small selection of local scenery within our area, the central Pyrenees.
Please click on the thumbnails to view a larger image - you may also then flick though the collection as a slideshow.

above left: 'La Route du Sud' on the final climb to Superbagneres - 1800m
above right: The Barousse valley - village of Bramevaque

above left: A local trail passing the ruined chateau of Bramevaque
above right: Col d'Aubisque during the Tour de France

above left: The route of mystic and legend
above right: Climbing Superbagneres in Spring

The brilliant turquoise colour of a frozen lake in June

above left: One of the many spectacular lakes dotted amidst the granite peaks of the Pyrenees
above right: The brilliant turquoise colour of a frozen lake in June

above left: Great high altitude running terrain at the head of the Barousse valley
above right: The varied terrain of the Pyrenees mountains

above left: Walking on the GR10 from Luchon
above right: Lac dera Yunco reflecting the mountains of the Col du Tourmalet

above left: The Col d'Aspin summit at 1,489m altitude
above right: 'La Route du Sud' cresting Port du Bales at 1,755m in the Barousse valley

above left: Stunted pines forming part of the highest pine forest in Europe
above right: Expansive views of snow capped peaks

above: View of the Barousse valley including the villages of Aveux, Crechets and Anla

above left: Gascony cows at Pic de Douly, Barousse valley
above right: The Col de Madamete at 2,509m altitude

above left: St-Bertrand-de-Comminges seen from a local running and mountain biking trail
above right: Pic du Gar

above left: X-country mountain biking in the Barousse valley
above right: The remote lakes of the Pyrenees provide unrivalled solitude

above left: Early morning cloud over the frontier mountains
above right: Views of rolling mountains on the Col de Port

above left: The TDF battling it out on the Col de Peyresourde
above right: The only way to appreciate the Pyrenees National Park is on foot

above left: Cycling the Col d'Aspin over looking the Louron valley
above right: Lac de Genos - Loudenvielle in the Louron valley

The main peleton of the TDF climbing the Tourmalet on Bastille day 2008

above left: Mountain pasture land at the head of the Barousse valley
above right: The main peleton of the TDF climbing the Tourmalet on Bastille day 2008

above left: The impressive rocky peaks of Pic du Gar
above right: Descending from Pic du Gar through beech forests

above left: Cascades abound in the Val d'Aran
above right: The lure of the mountains seen from lush green pasture lands

above left: A remote tarn in the Val d'Aran
above right: Boums du Port en-route to the border crossing at Port de Venasque

above: Looking into Spain with the Maladeta Massif directly across the valley

above left: From sunshine to fog on the final section of the Col d'Aspin
above right: Autumn colours in the mountains

above left: Hiking the GR10 through the Pyrenees National Park
above right: The medieval town of St-Bertrand-de-Comminges

Mountain biking on a technical singletrack carved out of the mountainside by Napoleon

above left: Hiking on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees
above right: Mountain biking on a technical single track carved out of the mountainside by Napoleon

above left: Hikers converge at the summit for lunch

back to the top

For further information or booking enquiries, please email info@velopyrenees.com or call +33 (0)5 62 39 68 44.
Copyright © 2005 - 10 Vélo Pyrénées. All material and images are the property of Vélo Pyrénées.