2021 Dates & Price

Following the demand and popularity of this tour we are pleased to offer three Intro to the Mountains weeks in 2021, each of which are 7 days and limited to just 8 people so that we can provide our highest level of personal support, especially when giving guidance on techniques and skills.

DATES:

Tue 15th - Mon 21st June 2021 (6 nights)

Thu 5th - Wed 11th August 2021 (6 nights)

Thu 16th - Wed 22nd September 2021 (6 nights)

PRICE:

€2,895 per person - based on twin share. Includes our ‘all inclusive’ meal package.

€495 - single supplement. As we have limited rooms in our guest house please contact us in advance to confirm availability.

Your stay with us includes

A relaxing environment where we take care of you from start to finish:

• 6 nights boutique style accommodation at The Col Collective HQ based on a twin share basis. We are a small but beautifully formed guest house therefore single supplement rooms are limited. Please enquire and we will do our best to accommodate. See more about the house in “accommodation”.
• Personal airport collection and transfers from Toulouse (1 hour 35 transfer to the house). Arrangements can be made for collection from Lourdes train station or airport (10-20 minutes transfer time respectively). For those transiting in Paris a ”direct TGV rail service is available to Lourdes train station”.
• The Col Collective limited edition cycling jersey.

Tasty and nutritious food, locally sourced and lovingly prepared to satisfy your palate and hunger:

• Hearty “cyclist” breakfast to get the day started (our local bakery is the stuff of legend).
• Home cooked healthy evening meals, heartfully prepared using fresh local produce - including beer, house wine and soft drinks.
• One evening meal out at our award winning local Pyrenean restaurant.

On the bike fully supported experience:

• Fully guided rides with Mike and The Col Collective team.
• Support vehicle on every ride.
• TORQ nutrition energy products with guidance on fuelling on and off the bike.
• Numerous and diverse on the road snacks, tailored to your preference.
• Daily photos capturing the core spirit of your time and achievements with The Col Collective.

A thorough recovery to keep you going longer and stronger:

• TORQ recovery shake after each ride, plus post ride snacks and hydration.
• Unlimited daily use of NormaTec recovery “moon” boots.
• Fresh water swimming pool to cool off and relax your muscles.

Keeping it simple for you:

• Daily kit wash.
• Bike valeting service.
• Workshop, in house mechanic, bike tools and secure storage.
• Words of wisdom, help, advice and education throughout the week from Mike and The Col Collective team.

What makes The Col Collective Cycling Tours experience unique?

More than just a cycling tour, an authentic experience

• Hosting you in our 16th century Pyrenean farm house creates a truly unique and homely environment for you to take a week of relaxation, self-care and incredible mountain challenges. We’re here to share all of our experience with you.
• Group sizes are kept to a maximum of just 8 riders. This creates a truly personal experience with a 2:1 guest to staff ratio, ensuring that we can offer the absolute highest level of support and service in every area of your week.
• While the bike riding is an obvious highlight, it’s the before and after that really makes The Col Collective experience unique. From breakfast in our dining room to evening chats in the open air as the sun sets over the mountains, and the scent of our stone baked pizza oven fills the air, we are here as a large family.

More than just a riding event, the experience of riding like a pro without the stress

• From his childhood, Mike Cotty has lived for the mountains, slowly evolving his passion to become an expert and to be able to share and support you in your own journey to the summit both on and off the bike.
• Based on his experiences at professional team camps, his connections in the cycling world and with the support of the brands that he’s worked with for many years, we are proud to be able to take care of you like a pro just without the stress of racing. Quite the opposite in fact, we encourage riders to take their time, to savour the moment and let the essence of the mountains run deep inside your soul.
• Our team will offer you professional advice and guidance on bike skills, techniques, training, nutrition and mental preparation, all tools used by the pros and an increasing part of every day life.

More than just a moment, a lifetime experience to remember forever

• The Col Collective’s values are deep and simple. We care about health, wellbeing, mindfulness and nature. We believe that by sharing these with you, we support our guests to become better versions of themselves.
• Sharing our mountain passion and creating the most personal and well supported experience is our number one goal.
• Join us to simply share the gift of nature and the great outdoors with each other. We will create this uttermost personal experience for and with you.
• This is what we believe in. This is who we are. This is what we wish to bring to you.

What’s new in 2021?

• All inclusive meals. Package price includes all main meals at the house and when we eat out one evening at our local restaurant, meaning you have more for souvenirs!
• The Col Collective Coaching > Personal training plans to support you in the lead up to your week in the mountains. (Additional fee applies, contact us for details when booking)

What’s not included

• Your flights and travel arrangements
• Bike hire. Please contact us to arrange if required
• Travel and personal insurance
• Additional sustenance outside of what’s listed above

Itinerary

THE WEEK IN BRIEF > 7 Cols / 400km / 7,500m elevation

Day 1 - Collection from Toulouse airport at midday, bike build and gentle spin to loosen the legs
Day 2 - Luz Ardiden with climbing and descending tuition from Mike Cotty > 60-90km / 1,200m to 1,500m elevation
Day 3 - Hourquette d’Ancizan and Col d’Aspin > 70-100km / 1,600m to 2,000m elevation
Day 4 - Col du Soulor and Cirque du Litor to Col d’Aubisque > 95km / 1,750m elevation
Day 5 - Hautacam > 60km / 1,100m elevation
Day 6 - Col du Tourmalet from Luz Saint Sauveur > 100km / 1,800m elevation
Day 7 - Well deserved breakfast feast, bike packing and transfer to Toulouse airport for 12 noon drop off

Learn more about some of the climbs you’ll conquer throughout the week here.

Day 1

Arriving in Toulouse we’ll collect you and your bike at midday. Snacks and light refreshments will be available on arrival at The Col Collective HQ where we’ll have time to get the bikes built and prepped before a light spin to loosen the legs. Relaxing by the pool or catching up on recovery after travelling is also an option. Today is an easy day to get you ready for the week ahead. Over dinner Mike will chat you through the schedule for the coming days and no doubt a few tall tales will be told along the way.

Day 2

We’ll start the week with a session on climbing and descending techniques on the sinewy slopes of Luz Ardiden. Also known as the Alpe d’Huez of the Pyrénées for its similar character (albeit with 30 bends as opposed to Alpe d’Huez’s 21) this is where the once great Lance Armstrong clipped a spectator in the 2003 Tour de France. Perhaps a technique masterclass from The Col Collective could’ve helped the Texan that day (hee-hee). As it climbs to the ski-station there’s little need to go there unless you’re cycling. This means that we should have the road to ourselves, excellent for the uphill and even better for practicing cornering and descending skills where staying relaxed and confident is your biggest friend. We’ll spend time understanding the essentials, learning techniques that you can put into practice throughout the week and beyond.

Day 3

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful climbs in the region, Hourquette d’Ancizan has a kind of soothing effect on the body and mind and it’s for this reason that we simply love to share it with as many riders as we can. We’ll start the day in the Campan valley where we have a gentle warm up ascending the first 6.5 kilometres of the Col d’Aspin to Lac de Payolle. An unassuming right hand turn takes us away from the Aspin and into a world of cycling magnificence as the road meanders for 8km to its 1,564m high summit. Breath deep, the mountain air is so pure it’s invigorating. With vast valley views in all directions, after mixing it with the locals at the summit (that’ll be the donkeys) we’ll retrace our steps to ascend the remaining 5km of the Aspin up to 1,489m. With the grand 2,877m high Pic du Midi de Bigorre peacefully watching over us the goal today is to give you the opportunity to tackle two incredible climbs in a row.

Day 4

It’s now all eyes on the road as we head towards the supremely picturesque Col du Soulor (1,474m). With its consistent gradient, the Soulor is a beautiful ascent and one that allows you to really think about what you’re doing, find the right pace, get into a rhythm and enjoy the stunning mountain views. At the summit we’ll pause for refreshments before joining one of the most sensational mountain roads in the world, the unbelievable Cirque du Litor up to the Col d’Aubisque. Built by Napoleon III in the 18th Century the ‘route thermale’ connects the spa towns of Eaux-Bonnes to Argelès-Gazost and has seen much drama in the Tour de France, more on that from one of Mike’s (many) dinner time stories! The focus today is about breaking the ride down into sections and managing both your mental and physical efforts.

Day 5

Today we’re heading to Hautacam and another classic of the Tour de France. With a cheeky reputation for its undulating gradient and steep pitches Hautacam is a great backdrop to practice climbing techniques and pacing with a very different character to climbs that offer a more regular and sustained effort. Another ski station finish means traffic is virtually non existent allowing you to focus on your form and (most importantly) views towards the Val d’Azun and beyond. We’ll spend the afternoon recovering and preparing ourselves for the final big ascent of the Tourmalet tomorrow, with a helicopter mountain sky ride (additional fee applies) or an optional trip to our local bike shop to check out Bernard Hinault’s yellow jersey!

Day 6

With everything you’ve experienced this week we thought that there’s no better way to put it all into practice and finish the week off in style than with the Col du Tourmalet, arguably the most famous col in Tour de France history. At 19km it’s one of the longer climbs we’ll be doing this week. It will give you an opportunity to tackle the high mountains, where the air becomes even thinner, all the way up to its 2,115m summit. The Tourmalet is an absolute icon and one that we want to help you add your legend to. Soak up the views, bask in its history, be proud of yourself. As the Pic du Midi comes into view it’s time for one last victory salute. You are a champion. Vive le Tourmalet!

Day 7

There’s no such thing as petit-déjeuner in The Col Collective household, more like énorme-déjeuner! Following the feast it’s time to pack and prepare for a drop off back at Toulouse airport arriving at 12 noon.

This is a general itinerary to give you a good idea of what to expect. We may make some adjustments if we think we can further improve the week or if we need to dodge Mother Nature at any time. As this is an introduction to the mountains week there will be plenty of opportunities throughout to learn about more than what’s outlined here, for example the principles of using power, pacing, training, nutrition, recovery and more. We’ll have time to answer all of your questions and can provide practical advice and examples both on and off the bike. There are also opportunities to extend rides each day should you wish to add some extra kilometres and hours to the week.

About the house

Located in the heart of the Hautes Pyrénées with views towards the 2,877m Pic du Midi de Bigorre, The Col Collective HQ is a perfect base for cyclists looking to tackle the most prestigious Hors Catégorie climbs, gentle rolling roads or even flatter farmlands that give this area so much charm and character.

We have 5 beautifully appointed en-suite guest bedrooms which can hold a total of 12 people. All of our rooms are named after local peaks or cols and each bring their own unique feel of the Hautes Pyrénées to life.

4 rooms are located in the Grange and 1 room is located in the Maison de Maître. All are warmly appointed and allow for peaceful relaxation and recovery after a great day of cycling. Each room is private and spacious and offers flexible accommodation with the choice of either two single beds or one super king size bed. Complimentary services available in each room include:

• Stretch mats and foam roller
• NormaTec recovery system
• Tea and Coffee making facilities
• Hairdryer…..gotta look good off the bike
• Safe for valuables
• Towels
• Soap and shampoo
• WIFI

Après vélo we welcome you to enjoy our pool, also known as ’the recovery zone’, cultivate your tan lines in our generously sized courtyard or take a spin into town for a coffee and culture.

Booking Terms

Please complete the below booking request form so that we can start working with you to confirm your Col Collective cycling adventure. We’ll give you a call or send you an email with more details, also prior to booking we can answer any questions that you may have. Once you’re happy and have confirmed the booking we ask for a 30% deposit of the full price of the tour at this time, with the remaining balance paid in full 12 weeks before the tour. Changes and cancellations are detailed in our terms and conditions.

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to welcoming you to our mountains!

Ride safe,

Mike Cotty

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE OCCASIONALLY ENCOUNTER AN ISSUE WITH OUR BOOKING FORM. IF YOU DON’T HEAR FROM US WITHIN 48 HOURS PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO cyclingtours@thecolcollective.com

Request a booking for An Introduction to the Mountains