Haute Route - Pyrenees 2024 : Bookings Open

5 Day Races : 8 Day Packages

• Top Level Accommodation

• Fully Catered Tour

• Airport, Train Station or Hotel Transfers on tour days 

• Luggage logistics 

• Breakfast, lunch and dinners plus drinks

• Masseur on the twowheeltours staff

• Mechanic on the twowheeltours staff

• Staff on course at rest stops

• Laundry

• Single Occupancy

• More details listed in the Haute Route FAQ Tab

Pricing

• 8 Days €4,869 Single Supplement : INCLUDES HR Race Entry

• 8 Days €4,449 Twin Share : INCLUDES HR Race Entry

Payment dates:

€2,000 to confirm your place

Final payment due 20 April

All payment details are outlined on your statement 

Prices subject to change due to Haute Route pricing

Contact info@twowheeltours.com.au for more information

2023 to be updated once route is confimred

Pyrenees Hotels

twowheeltours prides ourselves on starting and ending our fully catered tours in the best possible accommodation.

Further information on the hotels where twowheeltours stays during the event is available to our clients. If you would like details on those hotels please send us an email.

Hotel Villa Navarre : Finish

It is with great excitement that we start and finish in the same city makes for the 2018 HR Pyrenees Event. The beautiful 5 Star Villa Navarre is set on its own mature parkland of over two hectares.  The 30 bedroom hotel has views towards the Pyrénées and is one of the most historically important buildings in Pau.

Built between 1865 and 1870 by Auguste Guillemin, the Villa Navarre epitomises the golden era when the English nobility flocked to Pau and is one of the most important ‘pleasure-domes’ dating from this period. A stay at the Villa Navarre provides all the charm of a country retreat whilst allowing you to make the most of the city centre location.

During the Event: 

We pride ourselves on starting and ending our fully catered tours in the best possible accommodation. Information on the hotels where twowheeltours stays during the event is available to our clients. If you would like details on those hotels please send us an email at info@twowheeltours.com.au  

twowheeltours has been lucky enough to have been involved with events such as the Haute Route (since 2011) and the Ride Across Portugal (since 2017) - both of their inception years. Since then, we have had hundreds of riders from +20 countries join us on cyclo-sportive tours.  

Some of the most important factors to remember:

Events like the Haute Route and Ride Across Portugal have been around for years and if this is your first multi-day, welcome to the family.  

The stages are not ALL about climbs, remember, what goes up must come down and then there are all those rolling hills plus flat sections where teamwork is an advantage! 

Make sure you have done some bunch riding.

Also, make sure you have done some riding in the rain. Nobody likes getting wet but there is always the chance that a stage may be a damp one.   

At the end of each tour, we ask our clients for advice for those who are attempting a multi-day cycling event:

If you're into the technology, Garmin climbpro, plus a power meter and knowing your numbers makes the climbing a lot less stressful and much easier to manage. If you're not into the technology you should reconsider. GPS routing and climbpro really lets you relax and enjoy the ride, wherever you are. Also, bring all your gear. Southern Australia is not like Northern Australia. The weather can actually change a lot from day to day. If you are planning on extending your stay, I would do that after the riding, not before.

Tim - Australia

Use a Tour Operator, twowheeltours.

Paolo - Italy  

For newcomers, what lies ahead can be intimidating and all the more so with a group of super strong riders. Do not be afraid to ask an experienced/repeat rider (who is on tour) to talk about their experiences and what they found helpful. 

Pete - Canada

As much as possible, try to train on climbs equivalent to those on the Haute Route. For Aussies, that might need to be the Snowies… or near Bright.

James - Australia

Start easy, that one day at a time, 1 climb at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself.

Greg - USA

Cannot over stress the rushed nature of everything. The mornings come fast and furious.

Mike - USA

Get the training in beforehand as you will enjoy the experience more AND eat before the ride and during the ride at a minimum 50 grams of carbs per hour and after the ride. You do these things and will have energy during the ride and for everything else you want to do (outside of riding) on the trip to make the most of the place you are visiting.

Simon - Australia

Your enjoyment of the trip will be directly proportional to the training you put in. With the training. I would also emphasise the importance of including plenty of low cadence/high force training to replicate what happens on the road in the long and steep climbs. I would also advise people renting a bike to consider a 34 if they are at all concerned about being over-powered/worn out by steep gradients. 

Andrew - Australia

If travelling with twowheeltours, you don't need to think of, or stress over, any details. Everything is taken care of.

Steve - Wales 

Be Tassie weather prepared.

Matt - Australia

You will meet some great characters and you don’t have to be a competitive rider to enjoy these tours [Gravel Tasmania]. 

Dave - Australia

Have a ride plan each day. Pacing is crucial from the first climb to the last each day and each stage. Keep the efforts to a minimum. You will be passing people on the last climb every day doing it this way versus being the person being passed. Ride to power and HR ceilings. Any higher and you will burn out. Perhaps not today, but one day. 

Richard - Australia

Train beforehand! Seriously train.

Terry - USA

Always pack cold and wet weather gear for destinations that may have '4 seasons in one day', and take up the offer of the van carrying extra gear in your musette.

Roslyn - Australia

Train, train and train.

Eimear - Ireland

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip (in Tasmania) but there were moments when I was on my limit on some of the short climbs. So check your riding level and capability.

Keith - Australia

On the bike > breathe ... eat ... drink ... enjoy!

Owen - Australia

Train and know it will not be enough.

David - USA

Embrace the experience! Rain, punctures, cramp, bone-chilling cold, transfers - they are all part of what makes the Haute Route such a challenge. And talk to your fellow riders - everyone has a story to tell.

Adrian - Australia

Have the utmost confidence in the professionalism of twowheeltours and Will's staff.

Sergio - Italy

Preparation. Most important is consistent training and lots of it. Work on strength and endurance. Focus on getting the body to recover from a long day and be ready for the next. Lots of riding required, never underestimate back to back riding in Europe.

Grant - Australia

Preparation and attention to detail. Put in the kms of training. This is not something that can be finished without true training preparation in the legs. Also, invest in a really good "butt butter" type product that works for you and figure out how to minimize saddle sore discomfort.

Paul - USA

Buy a Castelli Gabba!! [Prepare for all weather conditions]

Mark - Australia

Train - simulate actual event. Make sure you have the right clothes - bring what is on the Packing List and prepare for cold weather riding.

Stan - USA

Train a lot. Prepare for all weather conditions. Eat a lot on the bike. Take in the scenery.

Dave - Australia

Train, train and train to be able to enjoy the HR and not suffer every day.

Mike - Netherlands 

Install a climbing cassette before you leave.

Stephen - Australia

This is an open door: the Haute Route is harder than you think it is - try to keep your body weight as low as possible before the event. You will not regret it.

Paul - Netherlands

For first time riders (in Tasmania) be warned that it is not for the faint hearted.

Tom - Australia 

Haute Route is a long event - bad days could be followed by good days...so take it easy the first two days and always pay attention to good nutrition. Put up serious training before any Haute Route event. You will appreciate much more the event with trained legs

Stefan - Brazil

Train for a solid three months including a significant amount of hill climbing. You must have a high dgree of fitness otherwise you are wasting your time. Also put on a 32 cassette. 

Noel - Australia

Don't allow the physical and psychological challenge of the HR to get in the way of enjoying the wonders associated with riding a bike through some of the most beautiful natural scenery one can find anywhere.

Paul - Switzerland 

Arrive fit with experience of 10km climbs.

Geoff - Australia

Manage your efforts on the first few days, particularly on any long drags up a valley when it is easy to burn matches.

Keith - UK

Make sure you have appropriate fitness.

Dave - Australia 

Train, train and then train more. If your goal is too complete a seven day event, make sure you pace yourself on the first few days and then if you feel good you can increase your effort on the later stages. If your goal is to position as high as possible I now know that you need to push yourself hard from day 1! But no matter what your goal is just try and take it all in and enjoy the moment. 

Will - UK

Trust Will’s advice and descend within your abilities.

Bruce - Australia 

Train in a peloton/group to understand the group dynamics on the road - also helps to have plenty of miles in the legs before you turn up. Finally, train for hills and the flat roads will take care of themselves.

Paul - Australia

Relax and let the team handle all the logistics! I was swamped with everything prior to get to Bormio, but then I realised the team had everything under control and I could rely on them completely. Doing that really helped me enjoy the week.

Adria - Spain

First time rider, work on some bike handing skills and in your training do some simple single track (for those doing a Gravel Tour)

John - Australia

As far as racing, race your own race. Don't get too caught up in others excitement. As far as the twowheeltours part, stop and smell the roses. Enjoy yourself and your teammates and just relax. 

Ned - USA 

Pack well, have the right gears on the bike and plenty of riding in your legs. if you do not have a coach then find one. Their guidance on endurance riding, interval training and recovery is well worth the cost.

Ian - Australia

You can relax knowing that Will and his team will have designed a tour to suit your aspirations, budget and needs. You can also relax knowing that if your circumstances change that Will knows how to adapt the tour.

Kymbal - Australia

Don't worry about going hard to stay in a group as the twowheeltours guys will be there to support the first and last rider.  

Richard - Australia

Do the necessary hill training and endurance work. Use hill repeats if no long hills available.

Aidan - Ireland

Train, Prepare mentally, get use to eating a lot of food with heavy training. Learn the in’s and out’s of your bike, you will pick up early if something isn’t right.

Mitch - Australia

Don't pack too much cycling gear, there are wash days.

Graham - Australia

Train well, get a a couple of back to back days in ideally in mountain terrain.

Kieran - Ireland 

Talk to as many of the group as you can - all great people with different experiences as riders and otherwise. Don't stress about the weather- you cannot change it. 

JR - Australia

Train to do the length of rides that are planned so you can enjoy them.

Mark - Australia 

Train hard. Seek advice from others. Understand you will be grinding / spinning up a slope for what main be two or more hours. Hopefully you are confident with that.

David - Australia

Keep riding, let Will tell you stories, use his energy, if everyone else is doing it you can too (in terms of fitness), relax and have fun. For Ride Across Portugal, it’s not a race it’s a ride, you literally have nothing else to do all day other than ride your bike.

Kristin - USA

Go steady at the start, but not too steady. Be ok to push yourself, and trust in your training. The sooner you get to the end, the more recovery time you’ll have.

Stuart - Australia

Have enough training hours in your legs.

Michael - Australia

Good gearing, avoid deep dish wheels up high in the wind, and do not chase on day one. 

Stephen - Australia

It's worth getting fit for the trip rather than hoping you'll ride into it. If you're fitter and therefore don't struggle as much on the climbs you can enjoy the scenery.

Adrian - Australia

It's a 7 day race. Pace the 7 stages, save something for the end of each day and the last couple of days. For a HR 3 day event, it is lot different from HR 7 day. 3 day with add-on tourism package means you can really enjoy it. I guess only advice would be to train right ahead of time. Make sure you are ready for climbing.

Brent - USA

Relax, enjoy every day. Put as much time into road miles as you can based on the time you have available pre trip. Don’t feel intimidated as in my experience there will always be a broad cross section of riders and you will be looked after by twowheeltours.

Greg - Australia

I want to say do it with an organised group like twowheeltours but in hindsight, I appreciate that my first HR was done with friends only, doing all the extra bits myself. It made me really appreciate the luxury of Will & crew and how much easier it made the stages. So my real advice to a first timer is to ask advice, from people that you know that have done it before. Even regarding travel and best routes etc. Understand all the logistically elements before you arrive, so that you can have fun in the race and don't have to sweat the small stuff either side of the stages. It makes the whole event more relaxed and enjoyable.

Jocelyn - Australia

Go easy on day one! Don't burn all your matches on that first day.

Simon - Australia

Do it with twowheeltours. Find an experienced coach and ask him to make a training plan for Haute Route. If the coach has done a Haute Route or done stage racing that would be better. Spend time on training as much as you can so that you will not regret. You need to do some 6+ hour days as part of your training.
Don't care about other riders who pass you. 
Keep your pace - the Haute Route is long.
Never work too hard especially on the first day.
Don't think about the upcoming passes and stages which remain, just concentrate on the climb or descend you are facing.

Kenji - Japan

If you want to challenge yourself and have an amazing time with like minded people, then just do it.  You get heaps of support during the ride from twowheeltours. Plus if you find you are struggling on a particular day, you will have a great network of riders, both other participants and support crew to provide encouragement and help. If it's all still to much, then there is a support van to jump into and then have another go the next day. Although there is some challenging riding for a newbie (in Tasmania for the gravel tour), with the right attitude and guidance from those you are riding with you can achieve new skills and take your riding to a new level.
For non riders, come along to support your loved ones, or friends, eat at some fantastic restaurants, enjoy first class accommodation and get to see some new sights and meet new people. Plus it beats going to work.

Bryce - Australia

Mix with all the people on the tour to get the most out of the experience.

Garren - Australia

Pace yourself - don't go full gas on day 1 or at the start of any stage unless you are an experienced stage racer.

David - Australia

Get a good training program that focuses on hill climbing and endurance - do the prep, ride to your ability, pace your efforts to enjoy each day. 

Michelle - Australia

We also offer a NON RIDING partner program - imagine your own multi-lingual tour guide, taking you to cultural and architectural highlights of the region then meeting up with the riders after each stage at the best local restaurants

In conjunction with and supporting the fully catered rider’s tours to all our events, twowheeltours offers partners a very special travel experience. Our Non-Riding Partner Program is led by a multilingual guide who will take you on a cultural journey covering the following highlights:

• All lunches and morning/afternoon teas

• Visits to unique historical landmarks

• Walks through National Parks

• Cooking classes at exceptional restaurants

• Casual riding on electric bikes through picturesque villages and landscapes

• Wine tasting and vineyard tours 

• Opportunity to customise the Program to your own interests

 Pricing

• 10 Days €3,200 : HR Alps

• 8 Days €2,800 : HR Pyrenees

We also offer Non Rider Packages WITHOUT activities, where you spend days on-course. These packages are lower in price.

Please contact twowheeltours for more information and to register your interest for this unique and exciting program

Information from 2022 Haute Route Pyrenees : 2023 TBC by HR

Tuesday 5 July 2022

Saint-Jean Pied de Port – Col du Pourtalet 

152km/3700 m+

INTO THE WILD

The Pyrenees is all about narrow roads, untouched landscapes, and wild rides into the unknown. So we’re kicking off stage one of the 2022 event with a route that epitomises everything that makes the Pyrenees world-renowned. After a transfer from Biarritz, the peloton will set out from Saint-Jean Pied de Port and ride head-first into the wild roads of the Basque Country. Stage One brings together an unforgettable collection of hidden gems including Col de Landerre and Col de Bagargui. After culminating at stunning finish on Col du Pourtalet, riders will descend into Spain to spend the night in charming Formigal.

Wednesday 6 July 2022

Formigal – Pau

151km/3000 m+

LIKE A DREAM

Climbing into the high mountains of the Pyrenees, the 151km ride from Formigal to Pau will be one to remember. After climbing back over Pourtalet, all eyes will turn to the legendary Col d’Aubisque. Weaving past the famous horses and cattle that call the col home and heading into the breathtaking traverse to Col du Soulor, this ride is the Pyrenees dream. The final col on the menu will be the wild Col de Spandelles, which is set to make its Tour de France debut just two weeks later. From here, riders will enjoy a long descent into the stunning city of Pau.

Thursday 7 July 2022

Pau – Tarbes

161km/3300 m+

THE LEGEND

Since it first featured in the Tour de France in 1910, the Col du Tourmalet has earned a sacred status as one of the most important climbs in cycling history. That’s why it had to feature in the 2022 edition of the Haute Route Pyrenees. Setting out from Pau in the longest stage of the 2022 race, the peloton will take on the stunning ascent to Col du Soulor before heading into the legendary climb to Col du Tourmalet from Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Reaching the summit at 2115m, riders will have the chance to admire the spectacular view and grab a photo with the iconic statue of Octave Lapize before a long, beautiful descent to Tarbes.

Friday 8 July 2022

Tarbes – Cap de Long

94km/2900 m+ 

IT’S ONLY NATURAL

In the penultimate stage of the race, we’re going deep into the wilds of the Hautes-Pyrénées. Starting with the ascent to the breathtaking Hourquette d’Ancizan at 1564m, riders will be greeted with magnificent views at the summit of the iconic pass. But it’s the mesmerising climb towards the Néouvielle massif that will take riders into the true wilderness of the region. The climb from Saint-Lary-Soulan towards the Lac de Cap-de-Long truly epitomises what riding in the Pyrenees is all about. The narrow road through dense pine forests opens into a wild, untouched landscape that must be seen to be believed.

Saturday 9 July 2022

Saint-Lary-Soulan – Col du Portet

69km/2800 m+

FINISH ON TOP

In a stunning finale to the 2022 edition of the Haute Route Pyrenees the fifth stage climbs to the highest point of the entire race for an epic finish line on the legendary Col du Portet. Finding new fame in its Tour de France debut in 2018, Col du Portet has quickly become a bucket list climb in the Pyrenees. At 2215m, the summit offers sweeping views across the region and makes the perfect finish line for this epic edition of the Haute Route Pyrenees. 

Highlights for the 2022 event:

• 3 Cols of over 2000 metres (Tourmalet, Cap de Long, Col du Portet) 

• 627km of riding

• 16 cols/climbs

• 15700m+ of vertical

Below is information from the 2021 Event

Village Grand Depart: Girona / Monday 5th July 2021

Stage 1: Ripoll > Bolquère Pyrénées 2000 / Tuesday 6th July 2021

104.5km / 2,561m

The first day is not quite “fácil” but can be seen as an aperitivo to the main event with “only” 104km and 2400m of positive. 

From the get-go, riders will find themselves cycling along flowing open roads, surrounded by the Serra de Montgrony as they head towards the first climb of the day at Coll de Merolla. At just 6km long and with an average gradient of 4%, this climb can be deemed the warm-up before the upcoming and more tasking climb of Coll de la Crueta. 

After enjoying the fun descent, riders will head through the medieval town of La Pobla de Lillet before picking up the road towards their first climb above 2,000m. At 21km long, the Coll de la Creueta is a climb to settle into, with an average gradient of 5.2%. This is an unforgettable climb through the forest, over the cascading Longbreat river and to the summit with incredible panoramic views. 

Riders can then pick up the pace as they head through Puigcerda and onto their first summit finish at Bolquère Pyrénées 2000. 

Stage 2: Bolquère Pyrénées 2000 > Ax-Les-Thermes / Wednesday 7th July 2021

131.4km / 2,951m

As the peloton heads out of the ski resort of Bolquère, they have over 30 kilometres to warm up the legs before working up and over both the Col des Moulis (1,099m) and Col du Garavel (1,256m). 

Up next is the Port de Pailhères which has quickly earned its place as a bucket-list climb, despite first featuring in the Tour de France in 2003. The gradient rises to 8% early on, with little let-up until the summit. Riders will be glad to see the hairpins 6.5 kilometres in, if only for a welcome distraction from the unforgiving gradient as they make their way up to 2,000m. Enjoy the descent, followed by a final climb over Col du Chioula (1,431m) on heavier legs before descending into Ax-les-thermes. Here, alongside the unmissable Haute Route sports massage, riders might be tempted by the beautiful thermal baths this spa town has to offer.
Stage 3: Ax-Les-Thermes > Bagnères De Luchon / Thursday 8th July 2021

173.9km / 3,631m

Riders will cover some distance on this stage and whilst they will be summiting the likes of Col de Port, Col de la Core, Col de Portet d’Aspet and Col de Menté, they can take some respite in knowing that none of these climbs rise above 1,500m. Even more exciting and fascinating for our Haute Route riders is the fact that the Tour de France 2021 riders will be taking on these very climbs; Col de Port, Col de la Core and Col du Portet d’Aspet in the same order for Stage 16 of the Tour. So now it’s your chance to set your best times and see if the professional cyclists can keep up! 

Following the river along the valley, riders will ascend Col de Port from Tarascon-sur-Ariège and Col de la Core from Seix. Whilst both climbs have an easier gradient, riders won’t want to be left behind and might find themselves picking up the pace on the cols in order to stay with a good group to help tick off the faster miles through the valley. 

Riders will soon discover if they have gone too hard reaching the Col de Portet d’Aspet. Whilst the average gradient may only be 4.2% and riders may breeze up the first part of the climb, the final four kilometres pack a punch with the gradient rising to 9-10% average. A famous Tour de France climb steeped in history, make sure you also look out for the large memorial of Fabio Casartelli, who sadly lost his life in a cycling tragedy in 1995.

Riders then descend back down to the turning at Pont de l’Oule, before heading straight into the fourth and last col of the day, the Col de Menté. Like the latter climb, this col lures riders into a false sense of security with an easier gradient for the first four kilometres before ramping up to a challenging 9% and offering little let up until the summit,10.9km later. Make sure you look up and appreciate the views on the hairpins, before descending down the other side and towards the finish line at Bagnères-de-Luchon. 

Stage 4: Bagnères De Luchon > Argelès-Gazost / Friday 9th July 2021

119.7km / 3,343m

With three big stages under their belts, Stage Four tests the peloton with 3,300m of climbing over 120 kilometres – including the mighty Col du Tourmalet.

Straight out of Luchon, riders will have little time to warm-up the legs as they find themselves heading straight into the 14.5-kilometre climb of the Col de Peyresourde. With a steadier section in the middle, riders will notice the gradient ramp up again in the latter part of the climb but will be rewarded with dreamy switchbacks and unforgettable panoramic views. 

Featuring in the Tour de France for the first time in 2011, the Hourquette d’Ancizan has been rightfully targeted as a bucket-list climb for many cyclists. With an average gradient of 8%, riders will find themselves having to work hard to get over some steep pitches, whilst the forever changing gradient makes it difficult to find a rhythm. 

The Col du Tourmalet needs no introduction and for Stage Four, riders will be tackling it from the east side of Campan – the side considered the more difficult of the two ascents. As riders pass through Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, they might be tricked into wondering what all the fuss is about, but will soon be reminded why this climb has caused so many cyclists to crack once they reach Gripp. Here the climb starts proper, rising up to 8% before entering double digits and making your lungs and legs burn. Riders will round out the climb with a very steep final hairpin as the famous cast iron statue of Octave Lapize comes into view. 

From here, you can enjoy the descent down the other side and on towards Argelès-Gazost having completed a truly iconic day on the bike.

Stage 5: Argelès-Gazost > Pau / Saturday 10th July 2021

130.2km / 2,850m

Perhaps the second most famous climb after the Tourmalet, riders are in for a treat with an early ascent up the Col d’Aubisque. As the peloton head out of Argelès-Gazost they will first summit the scenic Col du Soulour. From here, the route descends into a false flat and an incredible cliff road – which has been called the circle of death. 

From here, riders will continue the climb up towards Aubisque. Of the eight-kilometre climb, it is only the latter half that sees an increase in gradient to 7% but nothing unmanageable for the peloton, especially when distracted by the beautiful landscape and views for days. 

From here, riders have one more col to tick off for the 2021 edition of the Haute Route Pyrenees - the Col de Marie Blanque. For this climb, riders will be ascending from the easier east side or Belle – with a 5.1% average gradient over 11.4km, giving riders a real chance to soak it all up and really appreciate the beauty of the Pyrenees.

From the summit, riders will enjoy the descent and the final kilometres as they head straight towards the well-deserved finisher medal and Haute Route after party in Pau. The atmosphere will be buzzing, as the Tour de France peloton reaches the Pyrenees the very same day.

We cannot wait for this five day journey across the best climbs along the Spanish and French mountains.