Pyrenees: where the weather wins

Sunshine all the way: Languedoc, Camargue, Provence, Cevennes, the Pyrenees. Southern France is good for cycling. Hot, sunny weather. Choose where you want to ride and...go for it.

But it doesn’t always quite work out like that. After a few days riding in the Eastern Pyrenees around the town of Foix, a big col is planned in the high mountains. Bagneres de Bigorre is sandwiched between two cols, the d'Espin and  it’s more famous brother, the Tourmalet. All roads from Bagneres go in the same direction: upwards. Everyone on a bike is intent on the big one, the long haul to 2000m. 

„Done that“ a few years ago, so this year's target was the Col d'Espin at 1480m. But the weather was having none of it. It’s all very well struggling up a mountain for the psychological high. But if you can't see when or if you have reached the top because a cloud is sitting on it, all the effort is wasted. And riding down 1200 vertical meters in the rain is neither wise nor fun. Sometimes the weather has to win and common sense prevail.

 

Topping out on the Col des Polomières

But all is not lost. An afternoon outing to the little Col des Polomières at 810m proved to be more than a walk in the park. And riding on through Lies to make a circuit, where the descent is too steep to let it rip, makes this a challenging but short circuit.

 

In the Gorges de Ribaou

Around Foix there are plenty of more modest passes to climb even when it is overcast. From Saint Girons lovely rides along through the Gorges de Ribaou to the Salat, Garbet and Ustou valleys culminating in a climb to the Col de Latrape at 1111m.

There's plenty of good riding to be enjoyed along the length of the Pyrenees. But this is mountain country and here the weather changes fast. And here the weather wins.