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Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet
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I’m taking a trip with my wife to Spain in May. During this trip I’d like to try to make a stop in France to ride up Col Du Tourmalet, but I’d like some advice on that from you guys.

Here’s the rough plan:
- - Fly to Barcelona (2 days stay)
- - Car rental drive to Girona for tourism and cycling (2 days, open to advice here)
- - (5) “Open” days
- - End up in Leon, Spain where we are meeting a friend in his hometown

During those 5 open days we’ll be making our way to Leon, which is about 8 hours drive from Girona. I would LOVE to cross into France and rent a road bike to climb Col Du Tourmalet. My wife will be with me and she wouldn’t do the ride with me, so I’d need some type of plans for her for that morning or afternoon.

Questions:
1) I heard some rental cars aren’t allowed to cross borders – true? If so, what’s options are there?
2) What’s the best side of Col Du Tourmalet to climb? Looking for the best overall experience
3) How long should it take, and where is the best starting/ending point?
4) Have you done it? If so, what bike rental company should I use?

Thanks for any advice!
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [cbr shadow] [ In reply to ]
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I did the Tourmalet (and other Pyrenees classics) in July 2010 with a group of friends. Obviously, it is not to be missed. Pay close attention to weather as it could be a factor.

Lots of info online. Start here - https://velopeloton.com/col-du-tourmalet/
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [cbr shadow] [ In reply to ]
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I'm not aware of border crossing restrictions, or maybe I didn't pay attention. I've rented a car in portugal and have driven it into Spain (my parents were living in their hometown on the border at the time) and another time flew into Madrid and drove the car into Portugal. I used Europcar one year and can't remember the other company I used. I guess I'd better look as I'm going back this summer!
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [cbr shadow] [ In reply to ]
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I rode it last year,& saw women riding on electric bikes with (I presume) their partners on road bikes.
There was a bike shop just south of Bagneres de Bigorre that hired them out.Friendly staff.Whilst I was there (June) the Tourmalet was closed for a couple of days due to rock fall.
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [cbr shadow] [ In reply to ]
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In 2015 I climbed it three times in three days both including both sides and ran the last 12km of it once. From a cycling point of view my preference would be to climb it the Super Barages side. Just more picturesque and nicer climb IMO. If you stay on that side along the valley they is endless climbs up to a lot of ski resorts that all feature in the TDF each year.
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [Shambolic] [ In reply to ]
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Not exactly my home turf since I'm from the west Pyrenees, but I guess I'm kind of a local compared to you! ;)

One of the best hub in the Pyrenees for a few days of mountaineous biking certainly is Argelès-Gazost, on the western side of the col du Tourmalet. It's lovely and it's a good starting point to warm up on the road to some of the best climbs in the Pyrenees. Tourmalet of course, but also col du Soulor, col d'Aubisque, col de Couraduque, col de Spandelles, col des Bordères, lac (lake of) d'Estaing, climb of Hautacam, climb of Luz Ardiden... All are classics of the Tour de France.
Obviously I've never rented a bike in this area, but I took a quick look and found several options on the website of the local bureau of touristic information. Here are their websites with information and contact (most seem able to speak english) :
https://pyreneesrental.bike/
https://www.gtbt.fr/
https://ardidenvelos.com/
http://www.tourmalet-bikes.com/
O2 Cycles Pyrenees - Chemin de la prairie - Village vacances Clairevie - 65400 ARGELES-GAZOST - Mobile : +33 6 65 37 10 10


Enjoy your stay... and rides!
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [tof] [ In reply to ]
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tof wrote:
Not exactly my home turf since I'm from the west Pyrenees, but I guess I'm kind of a local compared to you! ;)

One of the best hub in the Pyrenees for a few days of mountaineous biking certainly is Argelès-Gazost, on the western side of the col du Tourmalet. It's lovely and it's a good starting point to warm up on the road to some of the best climbs in the Pyrenees. Tourmalet of course, but also col du Soulor, col d'Aubisque, col de Couraduque, col de Spandelles, col des Bordères, lac (lake of) d'Estaing, climb of Hautacam, climb of Luz Ardiden... All are classics of the Tour de France.
Obviously I've never rented a bike in this area, but I took a quick look and found several options on the website of the local bureau of touristic information. Here are their websites with information and contact (most seem able to speak english) :
https://pyreneesrental.bike/
https://www.gtbt.fr/
https://ardidenvelos.com/
http://www.tourmalet-bikes.com/
O2 Cycles Pyrenees - Chemin de la prairie - Village vacances Clairevie - 65400 ARGELES-GAZOST - Mobile : +33 6 65 37 10 10


Enjoy your stay... and rides!

Wow! Thanks for all the info! This helps a lot and gives me a good place to start with researching.

I didn't even think about the electric bike for my wife. That should definitely work!

Our plans in Girona are basically to go there and bike, but no specific plans or areas. Does anyone have recommendations for what part of Girona to stay in, which areas or routes are the best for cycling, etc?
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [kevinkeegan] [ In reply to ]
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kevinkeegan wrote:
I rode it last year,& saw women riding on electric bikes with (I presume) their partners on road bikes.
There was a bike shop just south of Bagneres de Bigorre that hired them out.Friendly staff.Whilst I was there (June) the Tourmalet was closed for a couple of days due to rock fall.

This is a great shop. It's next to the hotel where I stayed. Actually had to get a wind vest from them, since I forgot mine. I only climbed the Tourmalet from Campan side, but loved it. I wish I had done it from the other side, but had other climbs that day. Good luck!

"Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps"
Blog = http://extrememomentum.com|Photos = http://wheelgoodphotos.com
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [allenpg] [ In reply to ]
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allenpg wrote:
kevinkeegan wrote:
I rode it last year,& saw women riding on electric bikes with (I presume) their partners on road bikes.
There was a bike shop just south of Bagneres de Bigorre that hired them out.Friendly staff.Whilst I was there (June) the Tourmalet was closed for a couple of days due to rock fall.


This is a great shop. It's next to the hotel where I stayed. Actually had to get a wind vest from them, since I forgot mine. I only climbed the Tourmalet from Campan side, but loved it. I wish I had done it from the other side, but had other climbs that day. Good luck!

Awesome. I'm looking on a map to find the hotel/shop you're both mentioning but can't tell which it is. Can you tell me the name of the hotel you stayed at or the name of the shop? If you were going to do only 1 ride in the area would Tourmalet me the one?
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [cbr shadow] [ In reply to ]
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this is the place :http://www.pyrenees-velo.com/en/
My favourite ride in the area was up the Soulor and on to the Aubisque-jaw droppingly beautiful at the top.
I also liked Col D'Aspin which is much easier and shorter and the Horquettes D'Ancizans which are within a few km of the Tourmalet.The Soulor is further west.
Last edited by: kevinkeegan: Mar 8, 18 23:22
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [cbr shadow] [ In reply to ]
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Is there a specific reason you absolutaly want to climb the Tourmalet? I mean, you can easily do some nice climbing in the Gerona region. You could stay in the Gerona surroundings (Santari dels Angels or Montseny mountains with Turo de l'Home, Santa Fe, Coll Formic, Coll de Ravell) or do climbs in that region of the Pyrenees, Mare de Deu del Mont, Rocacorba eand Els Angels are the usual pro climbs near Gerona, Rassos de Peguerro form Berga is a little further but also a really nice climb with excellent roads. Another option is the Coll de Pal, also from Berga.

When you're in Leon, the Asturian mountain range is right around the corner. Picos de Europa is nearby with some really epic climbing. Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga, Collado de Hoja, just to name a few options if you need famous names.

If you absolutely want to ride the Tourmalet, go ahead. But there are plenty of nice climbs that will be logistically easier for you since you are already visiting some very nice cycling area's. If you want another stop between Gerona and Leon, choose one. Personally I see no reason to cross into France, the climbs on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees are just as nice and Spain has some other mountain ranges worth discovering.
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [Kreiger] [ In reply to ]
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Kreiger,
The goal for this vacation is to see as much as possible and have a bit of a road trip adventure. I'd like to try as much cycling as I can during the trip, where my wife just wants to spend time in different areas in Spain and France. If this trip was only for cycling I might consider staying in 1 area.
I also have never done any cycling in Europe so I'd like to try a variety, including the Col du Tourmalet since I've seen it in the tour so much.

I'm from the SF Bay Area where cycling is really good, so I'm excited to try cycling in other great areas.
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Re: Advice: Spain trip plus Col Du Tourmalet [cbr shadow] [ In reply to ]
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Regarding your question about the rental car, I can't see why you couldn't cross the border with it. As you may know, Spain and France are both part of the European Union, and the border is now just "virtual" between the two countries. You won't have to show any ID to any border control unit. Maybe check with the company if there are any limitations insurance wise.
The cost of living is slightly cheaper in Spain compared to France, so for example topping your fuel tank before crossing the border is a good idea. Both countries use the same currency unit, the Euro, which is practical.
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