I spent a few days in the Pyrenees with 3 friends a week or so ago. The main aim was to do the Tourmalet so we could tick off another iconic climb. We stayed with a wonderful, friendly English couple in their large property with great food, good prices and unlimited amounts of beer and wine. We normally try to do the 'big' climb on day 1 before the beer drains all our resolve but the weather was very misty so we warmed up with a lumpy 45 miler instead. Day 2 was a a complete contrast of 30 deg and cloudless skies - a bit too hot but better than not being able to see the views.
From our lodgings we had a 10 mile slog to Arreau and then a 6 mile climb up the Col d'Aspin just so we could descend all the way down again to the base of the Tourmalet at St Marie de Campan. It starts off quite gently and then ramps up to 10% for most of the last 7 miles out of 10.
Great ascent in searing heat in 1h 30 and a couple beers later we hammered down, back up the Aspin and then 16 miles downhill to home, food and red wine.
From our lodgings we had a 10 mile slog to Arreau and then a 6 mile climb up the Col d'Aspin just so we could descend all the way down again to the base of the Tourmalet at St Marie de Campan. It starts off quite gently and then ramps up to 10% for most of the last 7 miles out of 10.
Great ascent in searing heat in 1h 30 and a couple beers later we hammered down, back up the Aspin and then 16 miles downhill to home, food and red wine.