A Week in Limoux

TRIP DETAILS:
Duration: 8 days (7 nights)
Dates: Friday, 16 July to Friday, 23 July 2010
Start and Finish: Carcassonne or Toulouse
Accommodation: Traditional 3 star hotel in Limoux
Group Size: Maximum 8 people (2 Staff, 1 Support Van)
Cost: AUD$3,650.00
Reserve this Trip
Inclusions

Does riding your bike for a week in the Pyrenees and seeing three stages of the Tour de France without changing hotels sound appealing? Then read on…

Welcome to Limoux. Limoux is a beautiful medieval city in Languedoc-Roussillon in a district called Aude. It is located 20km south from Carcassonne. Limoux is well known for its sparkling wine “ la Blanquette de Limoux” which is made through a Champagne method since the 16th century (Before the famous Champagne!!). From January to March, the longest Carnival in the world takes place in the town which makes a big entertainment. Limoux and its region offer magnificent roads for cyclists, a nice weather the most part of the year and a very light car traffic. The Tour de France comes often in the city and its last stop was in 2007 during the stage Mazamet to Plateau de Beille. The woman Tour of Aude is as well a big cyclist event in Limoux’ area each year in May, this 10 day race brings the world best women. There is always something on in Limoux, each Saturday, you can find on the main square either an antic market, a music festival or a sport event. Once again : Welcome to Limoux.

Day 1 Friday 16/07/2010
Today is our arrival in Limoux. To start the trip, we will have a briefing about next days, and then we will assembly the bikes and make the settings. Once this done, we will go for a warm-up ride the vineyards around Limoux. We are going to discover the Aude‘s roads and test the fair-play of the Audois drivers… that is if we see any of them. This loop is 50 km long and there are no real difficulties. We will cross the villages of Caudeval, Routier, Alaigne, Courtauly, Saint-Benoit, La Bezole and La Digne. A shorter option through Villelongue d’Aude is possible (36 km).

Dinner included.

Day 2 Saturday 17/07/2010
Today we drive to Carcassonne and then ride to see the race on the final climb near Revel. Carcassonne is the biggest city of Aude. It hosts the biggest medieval castle of Europe. The first stones of this fortress were laid in the 10th century. Politics and religious changes left the castle in ruins until the end of the 19th century when it was classified as historical monument. In the 20th century, a big restoration started and in 1996 the fortress became world heritage of UNESCO. After the visit of the city and the lunch, we will ride the 45 klms across to see the race near the finish at the Lake at Saint-Ferréol passing Aragon, a very typical village of Cabardes, Fraisse, Saissac and then to Saint-Ferreol’s lake.

The race will pass through Revel (or the edge of it) and head up the final climb to the Lake at Saint-Ferréol. This should help to split the group as it has in the past. It’s very scenic and festive at Saint-Ferréol with lots of people having BBQ’s and generally having a good time!

Day 3 Sunday 18/07/2010 col de Pailhère
Here is a day to remember: the col de Pailhère. It is the highest pass of the department Ariège and here are the statistics: average slope 8.4 %, length 10.4 km, highest point 2001 meters, elevation gain 871 meters and maximum slope 9.5%. The route of tour de France crossed this pass three times in 2003, 2005 and 2007. This ascension should make damages in the peloton 2010. Climbing Pailhère offers a good effort and a magnificent panorama on the Pyrenees. Our day starts with an early van transfer to Quillan. We head to Pailhère riding through the Aude’s gorges until Escouloubre where the serious things begin. After the climb of the pass, we will watch the race with the real feeling of “we know how they feel”. When the « voiture balai » is gone and the road open again, we can go back to Quillan with le col du Pradel (average slope 7,5%, length 7 km, highest point 1680 meters, elevation gain 529 meters, maximum slope 9.1 %) and the plateau de Sault. The other option is to go back to Limoux with the support van.

Dinner included

Day 4 Monday 19/07/2010 départ Pamiers
Pamiers is the doors to the Pyrenees. Located in the department Ariège, this city with its 13000 inhabitants is one of the main cities of the department. It is built on the river Ariege. The city is between the Atlantique Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, making Pamiers an important commercial way. The industry of the Pastel flower was rich and it is here that they discovered how to dye materials. Today, Pamiers is the start of the stage leading the riders of the tour to Bagnères-de-Luchon. When the race is gone, we will ride toward Limoux. We cross the Ariege to go back into the Aude with Mirepoix being on our way. This medieval village-bastide city was erected in the 13th century on the river Hers. The main square of the village is surrounded by half-timbered houses built on galleries which host traditional shops and cafés. It is a good spot to have our lunch at one of the numerous terraces. After the lunch, there are 35km remaining to Limoux where we can finish on the main square watching the end of the mountain stage on TV with a cold drink.

Day 5 Tuesday 20/07/2010

Today is a quieter day as we don’t have any stresses due to race live watching. So we will go for a 95km ride toward Chalabre connecting several little passes and then onto Belesta. We have no major difficulties. Montsegur is the next village after Belesta. This ascension is long (15 km) but the average slope isn’t too high (3,8%), just at the end it is sharper with a maximum of 8,4%. On the top of the village, at 1207m, there is one of the most famous cathar castles. The Catharism is an old religion violently repressed by the Church of Rome between the 10th and the 12th century. At Montsegur, a tragic episode took place when the crusaders of the French Church burnt the 200 occupants of the castle which was besieged during 10 months. After Montségur we go down to Lavelanet, and then we ride back to Belesta, then Puivert. There we start two easy ascensions and finish the journey to our hotel with a nice 20 km descent.

Day 6 Wednesday 21/07/2010
The Pic de Nore is located in the Department of Tarn. It is in the middle of a small mountain area called “la Montagne Noire”, the black forest. This ascension is among Laurent Jalabert’s training routes, one of the most popular French cyclists even if he has never won the tour de France. However he won twice the king of the mountain jersey and twice the green jersey when he was younger, now he is a commentator for the French TV. Here are the statistics of the Pic de Nore: average slope 4.6%, length 22 km, highest point 1211 meters, elevation gain 1004 meters, maximum slope 7.2%. Once at the top the mountain, we are between the Tarn and the Aude. The descent offers beautiful views on the Minervois. We ride not far from the “gouffre de Cabrespine”, a natural hole 80 meters wide and 250 meters deep. The descent finishes in Villeneuve-Minervois. We can either take the van to go to Limoux or go on to Limoux by bike and finish the day with 130 km.

Dinner included

Day 7 Thursday 22/07/2010
Today, we ride to the sea. We go for about 125km from west to east to reach Leucate’s beach. On our route, we will find bastides which are picturesque villages which usually host a castle or other vestiges like Peyrepertuse’s castle. Once the last hills of Corbières is crossed, we will ride with a nice view on the Mediterranean sea. An easier option (less climbs and 20 km less) is possible through Arques, Villerouge-Termenes, Lagrasse and Durban-Corbières. After this long ride from west to east, we might have a nice nap on Leucate’s beach and a swim in the Mediterranean Sea to refresh our muscles.
Tonight, we pack the bikes.

Dinner included.

Day 8 Friday 23/07/2010
Au revoir as our trip comes to a close. This morning we will transfer you to Carcasssonne or Toulouse airports for your onward journey. If you’d like to see the final stage of the Tour de France in style then why not travel on to Paris and take advantage of our special 2 night Paris VIP package.

Inclusions
Tour cost is per person twin share and includes:
-Transport throughout by private minibus
-Services of 2 experienced tour guides
-Transfers on Friday 16/07/2010 from Carcassonne or Toulouse Airport to hotel
-Transfer on Friday 23/07/2010 to Carcassonne or Toulouse Airport
-7 night’s accommodation, in a 3 star Traditional hotel (with private facilities)
- Buffet breakfast daily
-3 course evening meals on 4 nights
-Mechanical assistance with your bike
-Sightseeing and entrance fees as listed
-Maps and Bikestyle guide to the Tour de France
-Bikestyle Tours cycling jersey, cap and musette bag

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