OVERVIEW
This years 2009 Tour de France route in the Pyrenees lends itself
beautifully to a unique, custom made mountain biking holiday offering the
perfect mix of unmissable trails, unforgettable landscapes and the
opportunity to be part of the epic experience that is the Tour de France.
Experienced in planning and running mountain biking holidays in
the Ariege and worldwide, James Thompson, director of Marmot Tours,
has put together this trip with care and attention to detail to
ensure that you not only get the best riding routes, but maximise
your exposure to the Tour.
Our holiday starts with 4 exhilarating days of cross-country single
track across varied landscapes in the valley of Ax, which will
excite and challenge you. You will come across every
class of terrain you can hope for, pastures, forest trails and rocky
descents, to test and develop your skills. The trails we use
have been fashioned naturally over many years by animals wandering
the hillsides or by the nomadic farmers practicing transhumance.
James knows the area like the back of his hand and lets you know
what to expect ahead of you, whether it be switchbacks, fast
descents or some cross country meadows with stunning views.
Not wishing to lose sight of our focus with the Tour, we time our
days so that we can be in a bar by about 1630, to allow us to keep up to speed with the daily events of the approaching
peleton. On day 5 of the holiday the Tour reaches the valley
of Ax, having passed through Spain and Andorra. The pros are still
in their first week of cycling and will be giving it their all with
the climbers having an opportunity to prove themselves on the first
summit finish of the tour, Arcalis. This mountain lies in the
principality of Andorra, only a few km to the South of the valley of
Ax, and is surrounded by a horseshoe of high peaks with only one
road in and out. With the traffic heading in both directions
to support the Tour, off road is the only place to be. We
don't miss out on any of the action however as we follow an epic
mountian biking ascent over one of the ancient smugglers routes
(the Port de Rat, 2540m) to then drop in on the pros as they reach
the giddy heights of the Arcalis finish.
Our TDF exposure does not stop there as the next day we again maximise on
the network of off road paths and ride ahead of the peleton to the Col D'Agnes where Marmot Tours have pre-reserved an
excellent viewing spot. After a barbeque lunch we will then watch the
approaching riders on our Satellite TV system with the benefits of
an English commentary - It does
not get better than this!
Please see the special
photo album which will give you an idea of the scenery and
trails that you will encounter on this trip.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
This week is aimed at experienced mountain bikers who are in a good
shape. You will need to be happy with single track and enjoy trails with a
fair amount of technical challenges (equivalent to UK trail centre red
routes). There are naturally more demanding sections, but these are short
and there is the option of walking. If you enjoy riding a bike in
beautiful surroundings and have an interest in the Tour, then this is the
trip for you. Please note that it is not aimed at people who only enjoy
going at speeds that require full body armour! Most
of the riding is on unmade forest tracks or single-track although we
do climb on some roads.
This trip is fairly demanding as most days we will be riding 45
to 60km of dirt trails with 1000 to 1600m of up over 7-9 hours.
Because of our daily transfer, we will have over 2000m of
exhilarating descent single track to look forward to. However, most days there
are options for people who want to take it slightly easier and there
is always the support vehicle if a lift is needed.
It is important to us that people book the correct trip. Please do
not hesitate to contact us if you
have have any doubts.
DATES
Sunday 5th to Sunday 12th July (Trip Code MFT
I27)
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The Trip costs £699, starting at Toulouse Airport.
Flights can be picked up very cheaply if booked in advance. Expect to
pay £40 return - see the Transport
section.
Allow about £50 for drinks and the meals not included (outlined below).
There are no other local payments or hidden costs. Please note that we
offer a 5% discount if you book more than 3 months before the departure
date. We also offer group and loyalty discounts. More
Info >>
WHAT DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE?
6 days guided rides. Airport Transfers (at specified times). Vehicle
uplift at the start of most days. Informal riding instruction. Medical and Mechanical support.
4 nights in a 2 star hotel in Ax-les-Thermes, 3 nights in a mountain
hotel in Vicdossos. 6 evening meals (with moderate wine), 7 breakfasts,
6 picnic
lunches, barbeque by the roadside on the Col d'Agnes. Satellite TV
coverage of the TDF on day 6.WHERE DO WE STAY
For the first 4 nights we stay in the family run 2 star Hotel Terminus
in Ax-les-Thermes. The owners Alain and Elizabet
offer a warm welcome and are proud to serve
up delicious evening meals using meat and vegetables from local producers. The
ensuite rooms are large and all have a window overlooking
the river Ariège. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the centre
of Ax les Thermes, opposite the railway station.
The last 3 nights of the trip are spent in the excellently located village
of Vicdossos, at the Hotel Hivert. This one star hotel gives us the
perfect start point for our adventures in the mountains to see the
pros on Tour, and has a very good restaurant.
FOOD
7 substantial continental style breakfasts are included. Comprehensive
picnic lunches will be provided which you will be expected to carry
with you. All but one evening meals will be taken at the taken at the
Hotels, where we will be
served regional specialties such as Confit du canard and Cassoulet. A
moderate amount of wine is included with these meals. 1 evening
meal is not included, giving you the opportunity to head into town
where there are many fine French and International restaurants. Vegetarians are welcome and will
be looked after very well.
GUIDING AND INSTRUCTION
You are accompanied by James
Thompson, who has over 10 years of experience of leading mountain
biking trips around the world. James' quest for the "ultimate
ride" ended when he stumbled across Ax three years ago. He now
lives in the Valley and has an intimate knowledge of the regions single
track. James is a competent mechanic and experienced First-aider.
Informal instruction will be given for those wanting to improve their
technique.
GROUP
There is a maximum of 12 people (minimum 4) plus
James and Cathy and another leader on
this holiday. Bookings from single people are welcome as activity
holidays are a great way to make new friends.
TRANSPORT / SUPPORT
Every morning you will be transferred up to our ride start point in our
private minibus which is fitted with a bike rack. James cycles with a
comprehensive medical and tool kits, however if further assistance is
needed the bus is only a phone call away.
BIKE HIRE
If you do not want to have the hassle of bringing your own bike; you can
hire one from Marmot-Tours (and return it dirty at the end of the
holiday). Marmot-Tours has a fleet of Specialised Rockhoppers Bikes
with either 'Normal' of 'Disc' Brakes. There are no full suspension
bikes available. For more information on hiring or packing up your
own bike for travel please see the Bike
Hire section.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
Toulouse Airport is only 1hr45mins from Ax and Vicdossos by road. Minibus transfers
at specified times are included in the cost of the holiday. Please
see the Transport
section for all travel options (air, road and rail), including how to get
to the start point independently. If appropriate, please check out our
section on travelling with
a bike.
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