Sportive: The Haute Route Pyrénées will take place from July 6 to 10

250 amateur cyclists are expected between Girona and Pau on the most beautiful passes of the Pyrenees.

This new edition of the event will introduce a brand new 5-stage race format. The itinerary will take amateurs over the most legendary passes of the Pyrenees, such as the Creueta, the Col de Pailhères, and the Tourmalet, a few days before the Tour de France peloton.

By Olivier Dulaurent – Photos: Haute Route

A new race format for a cross-border event

Until now, the Haute Route offered 3- or 7-day events. Born from a desire to vary the pleasures and offer a complementary intermediate option, the 5-stage race format will be inaugurated on the Haute Route Pyrénées.

With 5 stages, the possibilities for exploring the magnificent playground that is the Pyrenean roads are numerous. The itinerant event will cross the French-Spanish border, offering the opportunity to explore – for once – both sides of the massif.

642 km and 14700 m of elevation gain

The Haute Route Pyrénées brings together more than ever the ingredients that have shaped the success of the circuit, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in August. 17 climbs will stand in the riders’ way, who will have to show endurance, determination and solidarity to meet the challenge. In total, they will cover 642 km and climb 14700 m of elevation, the equivalent of 3 times Mont-Blanc. Some Pyrenean giants will be on the program, including three in a row during stage 4, which includes the climbs of the Cols de Peyresourde, Hourquette d’Ancizan and Tourmalet.

“The Pyrenees have so many mythical passes that it was a delight to design the routes. We have planned a gradual increase in difficulty with a queen stage on the penultimate day. The wild and magnificent landscapes, typical of the Pyrenees, will offer welcome delights for the riders who will have to manage their efforts to conserve energy until Pau,” explains Jean-François Alcan, the race director.

Riders will also be able to rely on a level of service worthy of professional races, a hallmark of Haute Route events. 5 mechanics, 30 masseurs, 30 safety motorcycles and 8 race cars will accompany them to help them meet the challenge.

The stages

Stage 1: Ripoll – Bolquère Pyrénées 2000 (104 km, 2400 m elevation gain)

Stage 2: Bolquère Pyrénées 2000 – Col du Chioula (114 km, 2800 m elevation gain)

Stage 3: Ax-les-Thermes – Bagnères-de-Luchon (174 km, 3500 m elevation gain)

Stage 4: Bagnères-de-Luchon – Argelès-Gazost (120 km, 3300 m elevation gain)

Stage 5: Argelès-Gazost – Pau (130 km, 2700 m elevation gain)

More information on Haute Route

About Haute Route:

With 3, 5 and 7-day events organized in the heart of iconic cycling destinations around the world, the Haute Route is the world’s leading circuit of prestigious stage races for amateur cyclists. The objective of the Haute Route is to provide premium assistance and services. This includes not only high-standard hospitality and organization, but also all the ingredients and attention to detail that guarantee an experience worthy of a professional race. The Haute Route has gradually developed since 2011 to include 7 races, the first of which, the Haute Route Alps, will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year.