La Voie Fignon, climbing Tourmalet from Luz St Sauveur

This is the crossroad where the old road begins

La Voie Fignon is the old road of the Tourmalet climb, on the Luz St Sauveur side, connecting the small village Bareges with almost the top of the mythic climb. This road, with a total length of 4190 mts, is much nicer and narrower that the big road you take today, has been kept just for cyclists, and other vehicles cannot get in. It has become a pilgrimage destination for cyclists all over the world. It was named after Laurent Fignon, the great french cyclist, a little after his death in 2010.

As cars don't get in, the maintenance of the road may be scarce. It is recommended to take this road on the way up to Col du Tourmalet, and then descending to Luz St Sauveur in the much wider new road, or you can also descend to Sta Marie de Campan following the main road.

The new road was built to improve the access to the Bareges ski station.

Great painting of Laurent Fignon

Laurent Fignon was one of the best french cyclists in the '80 and he won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984. Also, he lost Tour de France by just 8 seconds in 1989 in front of Greg Lemond (the tightest difference in Tour de France history). Another significant victory was the Giro d'Italia year 1989. He passed away in 2010 at the youg age of 53 after a cancer.

The top of Col du Tourmalet

Transpyrenees cycling trip, a different trip for everyone

Steep road leading to Burdinkurutxeta!

One of the nicest things about the Transpyrenees cycling trip is that you can fully customize the trip depending on your needs. The only mandatory thing ig getting from the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean sea, or opposite, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Of course Tourmalet is one of the highlights of thr trip!

The classical Hendaye Cerbere trip is organised by the french Cyclo Club Bearnais, based in Pau. It is a fixed route with 720 km that must be done in less than 100 hours. Such a challenge!
The route includes some of the very big climbs such as Aubisque and Tourmalet. Unfortunately it includes also some busy roads as Col de Puymorens which is not exactly the type of experience a cyclist would like when riding in the Pyrenees.

The classical Hendaye Cerbere Transpyrenees card!

As said before, there are many different ways to plan this trip. First, let's say that the right direction to lead is going back home. Then, for a catalan rider, it should be west to east from Atlantic to Mediterranean. For a basque cyclist the opposite, from Mediterranean to the Atlantic. For a foreigner similar thing, if you are flying back home from Barcelona you should make weat to east, ending in the Mediterranean. Simple answer to this: once you ended the trip you don't want to get a train or a car for 700 km more!

Port de Bales, amazing!

Planning the trip is part of the same trip. You can make the trip as long as your vacation is, and you can also include as many famous climbs you want. If you are travelling along the Pyrenees you don't want to skip those famous mountains as Col du Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, Peyresourde... Those are the classical ascents! But during the years just by watching the Tour de France stages you see that you have a lot of possibilities. Let me suggest a couple climbs which are between the nicest in the Pyrenees and should be included in every Transpyrenees trip: Port de Bales and Port de Pailheres.
A very good choice is doing the trip in 7-8 stages about 100 km long.

Coll de la Creueta, solitaire unknown road

The Hendaye Cerbere and most of the usual Transpyrenees trips go along french roads, but the spanish side is also plenty of nice choices. Just let me point amazing and beautiful ascents as Port de la Bonaigua, Coll de la Creueta or Coll de Cantó. Also, some of the ascents which are just on the border between Spain and France: Pierre St Martin and Port de Larrau (terribly steep!).

More things: There are basically 2 ways of doing the Transpyrenees trip: supported (with a sag van) or selfsupported (with a rack and panniers). First one is about lightness, safety, being confortable, riding faster, having suport in case of bad weather. Second one is about adventure, adventure and adventure. You choose!!

The toughest cycling climbs in the Pyrenees

Port d'Envalira, the highest asphalted climb in the Pyrenees!!

It is very difficult to make a ranking of the most demanding cycling climbs in the Pyrenees. Some days ago was unveiled the Tour de France 2018 route and one of the new climbs included is Col du Portet, said to be the new Tourmalet by the TdF director, not a joke... Still to be asphalted the last part (so far it is just asphalted to Pla d'Adet, at 1680 mts) this new climb will have real big numbers, and will deserve to be among the king climbs in the Pyrenees.

Col de Portet, the novelty for Tdf 2018

If you are interested to know the best climbs all over the Pyrenees there are a couple of lists you should know.

Col de Tourmalet, the king

Highest cycling climbs in the Pyrenees (asfalted):
Port d'Envalira (Andorra/France): 2407 mts height
Port de Cabus (Andorra, just one side) 2300 mts height
Gavarnie-Boucharo (Luz St Sauveur-France) 2270 mts height
Col de Portet (St Lary Soulan-France) 2215 mts height
Cim de Coma Morera (Bourg Madame) 2205 mts height

Pierre St Martin, such a climb!

Cycling climbs with more elevation in the Pyrenees:
Port d'Envalira 1687 mts elevation (from Ax les Thermes)
Col de Pailheres 1601 mts elevation (from Axat)
Gavarnie-Boucharo 1560 mts elevation (from Luz St Sauveur)
Pierre St Martin 1510 mts elevation (from Arette)
Col du Tourmalet 1405 mts elevation (from Luz St Sauveur)
Col de Portet 1400 mts elevation (from St Lary Soulan)

Great climb to Col de Burdinkurutxeta!

Cycling climbs with the highest average gradient in the Pyrenees:
Erroymendi (from Laugibar) 9,58% for 10,2 km
Burdinkurutxeta (from Bassaburua) 8,76% for 9,3 km
Col de Mente (from St Beat) 8,70% km for 9,7 km
Artzamendi (from Itxassou) 8,61% for 10,3 km

Vallter 2000, a not-so-known climb in the Pyrenees

At the top of the climb, where there is a Ski resort

Vallter 2000 is one of the gems of the spanish Pyrenees.

Reaching 2114 mts height, the total length of the climb is 11,2 km from Setcases with 7% average gradient and some full kilometers at 10%. Steep, very steep!

Great views while climbing (Picture by Sergi Ros de Mora)

This climb has just one side, then when included in a race it has to be stage ending. This has been the case in Volta a Catalunya years 1986 (winner Juan Fernández), 1992 (winner Tony Rominger, ahead of A.Martin and a certain Indurain...), 2013 (Nairo Quintana), 2014 (winner T. Van Garderen) and 2019 (Adam Yates).

Here you can see the Strava segment for this climb. There is a certain Steven Kruiswijk as KOM... A real climber, no doubt.

From Barcelona city to Col du Tourmalet

Mythical Tourmalet

This is a very special trip. An experience you will enjoy just once in your life.
You will be able to put together one of the most touristic cities in the world, Barcelona, with the most known cycling climb all over the world. Cycling history has been written in Col de Tourmalet, and also in other cols you will climb in this adventure.

We will make you to enjoy this trip. Do not worry about any other thing but cycling.
Our guide will lead you to the nicest roads, and your goal is reaching Col du Tourmalet 7 days and 13 cols after we began in Barcelona. Our van will transport your luggage, and you will have it at the end of every stage.

If you are a cycling club or some friends wanting to do the same tour selfguided, or in other dates, just let us know. We can even customize stages. Do noy hesitate, and join us in this adventure.


Stage 1: Barcelona-Viladrau. About 100 km to get out of Barcelona taking the bike lane beside river Besos, and afterwards leading to Montseny area, where you will climb the nicest col in the area: Coll Formic. Solitaire road, great views, ideal for cycling.

Coll Formic, unknown but fantastic!

Stage 2: Viladrau-Ripoll. After crossing Les Guilleries range of mountains, you will lead to Coll de Condreu, leaving behind one of the nicest villages in Catalunya: Rupit. Afterwards you will get the vulcanic area of La Garrotxa and its capital Olot. In Olot begins the second important climb of the day: Coll de Canes.

Stage 3: Ripoll-Puigcerdà. Today you will climb a precious col, not very known, although Volta a Catalunya pro race has been there several times. Coll de la Creueta, an espectacular mountain road with great views. Afterwards we will get to Collada de Toses, a long, beautiful and not very steep climb. Arrival to Puigcerdà, capital of Cerdanya area. We are already in the Pyrenees.

Stage 4: Puigcerdà-La Seu d'Urgell. This is not a very long stage, but it is really challenging. The goal is reaching Port d'Envalira, 2407 mts, the  highest asphalted pass of whole Pyrenees (understanding pass as a climb between two valleys, not a "cul de sac" climb). Long and fast descent to Andorra, the buyers paradise, and arrival at La Seu d'Urgell.

Coll de Cantó, long, steep, ... spectacular

Stage 5: La Seu d'Urgell-Esterri d'Aneu. It is not definitely a rest stage, although just one first category climb could be a kind of. Coll de Cantó is a tough climb, but once at the top, the main difficulties are done. Once in the valley you will cross Sort town (translation: "Luck"). Maybe it is worth stopping to buy some lottery?

Port de la Bonaigua, Pyrenees...

Stage 6: Esterri d'Aneu-Bagneres de Luchon. Two very different but both demanding climbs: La Bonaigua is a long ascent, over 2000 mts high, long but steep. Portillon is the pass connecting Spain to France, short and very steep. Arrival to France. We are getting closer the final challenge.

Stage 7: Bagneres de Luchon-Tourmalet. Just 77 km, but such an epic stage. History of Tour de France was written here. The trilogy Peyresourde-Aspin-Tourmalet has been a classic in Tour de France. Tourmalet is the final destination of our trip, the final challenge. After reaching the summit you can descend by bike or in the van, as you already got the end of the trip. This night you will sleep again in Bagneres de Luchon where you can have a relaxing bath in the thermal baths of the town. Deserved.

Last Day. Come back to Barcelona. About 5 hours drive to Barcelona.