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2004 could be a very historic year for the Tour
de France. Lance Armstrong will be racing for his sixth
straight Tour victory, more wins than any of the other great
legends of this epic race. Our Pyrenees tour will also be very
special, as we will be present on one of the most famous climbs,
the Col du Tourmalet. The first serious mountain stage will
finish here on the slopes in la Mongie, where the eventual
champion will be put to his first big test. This will truly be
an historic event. To ride the roads that have contributed to
this history and to see the action in person will be an
unforgettable experience. Not only will we climb all of the cols
in the Pyrenees of this year’s Tour, we will ride countless
small, incredibly scenic roads that are seldom if ever part of
the Tour de France.
It is an
understatement to say that biking the Pyrenees
is a cyclist’s dream. These mountains, which traverse the
400 kilometer distance
between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in the south of
France and north of Spain
invite, or rather
demand
exploration by bike.
The Pyrenees present a diversity of landscape unequaled in
Europe - lush meadows, peaks crowned with permanent ice or
draped in velvety green, thick forests, and hidden valleys at
the foot of sheer sun-baked cliffs. An exceptionally rich
variety of wildlife abounds - we might sight a herd of
isard
(Pyrenean chamois), or overhead, any number of majestic birds of
prey. The Pyrenees’ history of human habitation goes back
thousands of years before it was ever recorded, and in our
travels we will encounter prehistoric caves with their
well-preserved cave drawings, not to mention countless castles
and their rich history of warfare. We will also interact with
a fascinating variety of cultures, dialects and traditions, and
FOOD. Our routes will be for the most part on the smallest and
least traveled roads, taking us to incredible sights (and
heights!) off the beaten path.
These mountains,
generally rounded and crumbling, are more of a seductive
challenge than an intimidating one, and their peaks and passes
are attainable to cyclists of decent experience and fitness.
However, in keeping with our tradition of spirited cycle tours,
and to maximize our coverage of this spectacular region, tour
designer, Glenn Erickson, promises the option of just about
every climb and awesome descent ever challenged by the Tour de
France. |
