Roy and the Raid Pyreneen
The Raid Pyreneen is a 720km (440 mile) course spanning the French Pyrenees from Hendaye on the Atlantic coast to Cerbere on the Mediterranean coast. The course includes 18 cols (mountain passes) including some of the most famous passes tackled by the Tour de France each year -- such as Tourmalet, Aspin and Aubisque -- for a total of 11,000 meters (36,000 ft.) of climbing. The course must be completed in 100 consecutive hours which includes riding and resting/sleeping.
Anyone can do the raid at any time in either direction. First you need to contact the Cyclo Club Beamais to enroll and to indicate the exact date you will start. The club then provides the rider with the course, a tag with your number, which you must attach to your bike, and an official Carnet de Route which will be stamped at the control stations. When you start the ride you must get your carnet stamped with the date, start time and time you need to finish - 100 hours later. Your carnet will be stamped at eight places along the route. These are hotels, cafes or tabacs officially authorized by the club and occasionally by the "Secret Controller" who drives around the course checking carnets.
The Raid Pyreneen was dreamt up by Maurice Bugard around 1912. Between 1912 and 1939, when the war broke out and put a stop to his plans, Bugard drew the itinerary, assessed the mileage and figured the differences in elevation. But, no one including, Bugard, succeeded in riding the entire course. In 1950 the first successful traverse was accomplished from Cerbere to Hendaye and the basis for a standardized Raid was established. In 1951 three further traverses were successfully finished. During the winter of 1951 - 52 the organization of the Raid Pyereen was put in place under the administration of the Cyclo Club Bearnais who consolidated the regulations and controls for this challenge.
Through 2004, about 4,650 people had attempted the ride. Of those, about 2,325 have finished. The Raid is not a race; it is a challenge. There are no placements, only a medal and the satisfaction of knowing you are one of the relatively few who have accomplished it.
Itinerary from Pyrenean Pursuits:
Friday - Take a ride with the group over two local cols Saraille and Latrape discover who you'll enjoy climbing with during the raid. This day has always been especially appreciated as a chance to forge new acquaintance and to check any problems with the bike. Spokes take an extra pounding, brakes may need adjusting and, unless you have the chance to train regularly in mountains, you may find you’ll need to change your cassette – not something you want to do when you are riding day by day against the clock. We have a good relationship with several bike shops in the area, they will try to help out with supplies in a crisis .
Saturday - Take a ride down to St Girons ( several times stage start for the Tour de France) to see the large and impressive local craft and provision market, listen to some street musicians, the best time to pick up souvenirs and presents for the family and friends. several alternative choices of routes back which your host Nick will discuss with you.
Sunday - 10.30am departure, we transfer you to Hendaye to your first stage hotel and ideally situated for beginning along the corniche Basque . The journey is four hours and is agreeably broken by a picnic lunch at a rest stop dedicated to the Tour de France.
Monday - 9.00am start - Your first stage takes in the basque cols and finishes at Arudy in the centre of the Bearn region.
Tuesday - 8.00am - Two big cols of the Raid, the Aubisque and Soulor, leading to one of the monsters of the Pyrenean Circle of Death, the Tourmalet. Always either too hot or too cold on its slopes, the Tourmalet is always ever too long and has been one of the great battlegrounds of the Tour de France since its first inclusion in 1910.
Wednesday - 8.00 am - The third day is long and hard but you'll be making your way back to an area you'll know from your explorations of Friday and Saturday staying the night again in Massat, so it feels like coming home. Col D'Aspin,Col de Peyresourde,Col d'Ares, Col de Buret,Col de Portet D'Aspet,
Thursday - Maybe the hardest day so an early breakfast and a 7.45am start. Col de Port, Col de Puymorens, 30km of sapping ups and downs and a glorious 39km descent into Prades - nearly there.
Friday - 8.00 am start - Midday and you will have finished, fast undulating riding through coastal villages, the legs can be dipped in the Mediterranean and you have completed the most respected Raid of them all. Congratulations. All that remains is to box up your bike, relax and enjoy a slap-up celebration meal in the restaurant/hotel which we have chosen for you.
Saturday - Departure from Cerbere to Toulouse or Carcassonne airports at 10.00 am ,4 hour journey so earliest check in time at airports 2.00pm
Course Profile
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