Duration: 9-12 days • Distance: 1880-2430 miles • Average daily ride: ±5.75hrs

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The French Pyrenees are packed with brilliant roads – and not just the famous passes that feature so often in the Tour de France. Gorges, peaks, castles, caves, quaint towns… even miracles – these mountains have everything you need and more than you ever dreamed!

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Of course, they are a long way from the UK, on the far side of Europe's biggest country  – and that's a good thing. Between Calais and the Col du Tourmalet are miles of brilliant roads to be enjoyed as this tour crosses France with minimal time wasted on motorways. Every day of the tour is packed with great roads and beautiful places.

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The core touring route takes nine days, fitting in with one week off work (leave on Saturday morning, return the following Sunday afternoon). If you have more time, the Tour Pack​ edition includes three extra daytrips in the Pyrenees, to let you really get the best from the mountains.

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What’s included on the route? Each day’s route has recommended places to stop for coffee in the morning and afternoon, a suggested lunch stop and planned fuel stops. Hotel recommendations are included, too.

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How long is each day’s ride? Each leg of the tour is planned to be a full day in the saddle. If you check-out of the hotel and hit the road at 9am, you should reach the next night's stop at 5-5:30pm. That's with coffee stops and lunch. Saddle-time rating: six out of 10.

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What are the highlights? For most riders it will be the days spent on the passes of the Pyrenees – not just the famous ones. There are plenty of smaller, wonderful roads to discover. But the trip also cuts through the Auvergne, the Dordogne, the Limousin... There's plenty to see along the way.  

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Why nine days? The tour is planned to fit in with taking a week off work: set off from Folkstone on a Saturday morning (either side of 9am) and return the following Sunday afternoon (either side of 3pm).

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How is it supplied? Each individual download consists of an interactive eBook of notes plus the GPX file for that ride. The complete tour download and Tour Pack contain individual GPX files for each route plus one interactive eBook covering the full trip. The Tour Pack also has printable tankbag notes and comes with a marked-up Michelin map (can't beat a good map!) but these are prepared to order so there may be a slight delay in posting, if I'm on the road when you order the tour.