2010 RATatouille

Airport Transfer from Toulouse
We will pick you up from Toulouse airport in the morning and transfer you back to our centre in Luscan. After building the bikes and a spot of lunch we will head out to Fos to register for tomorrow duathlon race – the ride is at a very easy pace to loosen up the legs and test out the bikes and to get used to each other in the group. - 40 km

Easy run to present the routes that are marked up around the area. All runs are a mixture of trail and tarmac. - 6 or 10 km

Sunday - Val d'Aran Duathlon

This is a fantastic race which is run at an international standard but with a very local feel. We will enter you for the race and look after all the logistics on race day so you can enjoy racing at your own pace.

The race is based only 10 km from our centre in the small border town of Fos. The fisrt run is a jaunt up a small trail over the border into Spain. The bike is an epic ride over the Col de Menté (1349m) down the the other side and then back again. The final run is pan flat and takes you to the finsh line in Fos. The race has the typical French atmosphere with alot of support all along the course.

12.5 km - 82 km - 10 km Duathlon Val d'Aran

Monday - Tour de Luscan
A trip to local lake will relax this muscles from yesterdays race. We have a 1 km course marked so you can do as many laps you like. It is warm, shallow and crystal clear - perfect swimming conditions.

After breakfast we will head out for a short ride today to shake the legs out. The Tour de Luscan is exactly what is says on the tin, a short tour around the small rises the surround our village. - 49 km

5 km run - forget the watch, this is guess your time (and it doesn't need to be fast) and the closest wins the points that count to the KoM competition. - 5 km

Tuesday - Stage 16 Luscan (Luchon) to Arette (Pau)

Before breakfast, the earlybird run on either the 6.5 or the 10 km trail route. Appropriate points allocated to each course chosen

We start down the valley from Luchon and head to the Peyresourde for the first of 5 climbs today. This is a tough day so pacing is crucial. The Col d'Aspin follows pretty soon after a long fast descent. This is a beautful climb but the descent is short and leads you directly to the base of the giant, the Tourmalet. We will being seeing this one tomorrow (just like the pros did in this years Tour de France). The descent off the Tourmalet is mind blowing and the road to the Aubisque is fast. Through Argelés and onto the long slog to the base of the Soulor, the last 8 km of the Soulour is tough with a tiny descent to the start of the Aubisque - on a clear day the summit is beyond description. We then head down and across the valley to a small village of Arette for a welcome meal and bed. Ready for tomorrow Etape du Tour.

Wednesday - Stage 17 Arette (Pau) to Tourmalet

Early bird run around a perfect 10 km loop and then after breakfast we start out on this year Etape du Tour route. We will start a little closer to the Marie Blanque to avoid the busy roads out of Pau. This first climb takes no prisoners and the final 13% grades will really test the legs after yeasterdays epic ride. We then head along the valley to the start of the Soulor - You climbed and descended this mountain yesterday but there is a third side, the most difficult one at that. Then its a backtrack on yesterdays stage to the final ascent of the Tourmalet. After the celebrations we descend directly to the hotel in St Marie de Campan.

Thursday - St Marie De Campan to Luscan
This is the third big day in a row and we head straight out to the start of the Col d'Aspin but instead of heading over the summit we will take a right and ride the Hourquette d'Ancizan (1564m), a very quiet climb weaving through the valley and popping out at the base of the Peyresourde. Up the Peyresourde (been here before) and descend but not all the way to the bottom, just before the end of the rollercoaster we take a left for number two giant of the Pyrenees - the Port de Balés (1755m). This is the final climb of the day and we descend all the way down to Luscan

Quick change and we will head out to the lake at Avetningan for a mini Aquathon. Remeber the KoM points are not just for the climbers.

Friday - Col des Ares TT
Morning swim at the lake before breakfast. The final swim in this idilic setting. After breakfast we head out to the Col Larrieu (799m) and after descending we will stop for a quick coffee in the town of Aspet. Then it is off to conquer the Col de Buret (599m) again before we set up for the famous Col des Ares (797m) Mountain TT. This is your chance to get on the Lap Time board and it is double points for the KoM jersey. - 74 km

Short transition run over the trails before packing up the bikes

Saturday - Airport Transfer
After breakfast we will head out to Toulouse airport in plenty of time to catch the morning flights.