The Raid Pyrénéen is a timed bicycle challenge over a route that traverses the length of the Pyrenees between Hendaye on the Atlantic coast and Cerbère on the Mediterranean, organised by Cyclo Club Béarnais since 1950.
Format It can be completed in either direction - West to East, which is the most popular, or East to West. Around 300 people complete this "randonnée" each year, between 1 June and 30 September, either entering the event as an individual and riding independently, taking care of their own arrangements, or joining an organised event run by one of the many tour companies, who look after all the arrangements and support the riders - either staying in hotels, or camping.
There are two official versions: a 720 km route to be completed in under 100 hours for randonneurs or a 790 km route to be completed in under 10 days for cycle-tourists. A medal and certificate are awarded on successful completion. Participants enter the event by contacting the CCB and obtaining an official "carnet", which they get stamped at various control points (usually cafés or shops) along the route. There is a modest entry fee, which covers the carnet, the certificate and the medal.
Route The 10-day route passes over 28 cols: Location Altitude (m) Hendaye (Control) 0 Col Saint Ignace 169 Col Pinodeita 176 Col Budincurutcheta 1135 Col Bagargui 1319 Col de Marie-Blanque 1035 Col d'Aubisque 1709 Col du Soulor 1474 Col des Borderes 1156 Col du Tourmalet 2115 Col d'Aspin 1489 Col de Peyresourde 1569 Col du Portillon 1293 Col de Menté 1349 Col de Portet d'Aspet 1069 Col de la Core 1395 Col de la Trappe 1111 Col d'Agnes 1570 Port de Lers 1517 Col de Marmares 1361 Col de Chioula 1431 Col de Pailheres 2001 Col de Moulis 1099 Col de Garabel 1267 Col de Jau 1513 Col de Palomere 1036 Col Xatard 752 Col Fourtou 646 Col Llauro 380
The 100-hour route passes over 18 cols, although riders have the option of adding the Marie Blanque if they wish: Sequence Location Altitude (m) 1 Hendaye (Control) 0 2 Col Saint Ignace 169 3 Col Pinodeita 176 4 Espelette (Control) 58 5 Col d’ Osquich 500 6 Tardets-Sorholus (Control) 286 7 Col de Marie-Blanque **Optional** 1035 8 Col d'Aubisque (Control) 1709 9 Col du Soulor 1474 10 Col du Tourmalet 2115 11 La Mongie (Control) 1750 12 Col d'Aspin 1489 13 Col de Peyresourde 1569 14 Col des Ares 797 15 Col de Portet d'Aspet 1069 16 St Girons (Control) 392 17 Col de Caougnous 947 18 Col de Port 1249 19 Col de Puymorens 1920 20 Col de Lious 1345 21 Col Rigat 1488 22 Col de la Perche 1570 23 Prades (Control) 354 24 Col Saint Pierre 185 25 Col de Ternére 200 26 Cerbère (Control) 0
References Cyclo-Club Béarnais (French)