New cycling-focused guest house Escape To The Pyrenees has opened its doors for the first time and announced its selection of high-spec tours.
Located in the heart of the High Pyrenees, surrounded by famous Tour de France climbs including the Col du Tourmalet and Hautacam, Escape To The Pyrenees is positioned as a base to discover the area. Cyclists are invited to stay for self-guided holidays, or to join one of the team’s guided and supported group. The team add that ‘Either way, you will enjoy fantastic home cooking, including homemade ride snacks and post-ride cakes.’
Escape To The Pyrenees was founded and is run by Kitt Blackman and Jamie Wilkins, originally from Wiltshire, UK. In November 2018, after a year’s planning, they took the leap, left their families and jobs, and moved to France to chase their dream.
Kitt Blackman said “We want your stay with us to be truly wonderful, so we have aimed to get the details right and include as much as possible. After a day’s riding in the mountains, what could be better than a free sports massage, a freshly baked cake, and gourmet coffee or beer?”
Jamie Wilkins added, “During my 10 years as a cycling journalist I was lucky enough to ride all over the world. When I first came to the Pyrenees, I knew that this was the place I wanted to live and to share with others. The road and gravel riding here is astonishing.”
Guided and supported group tours include:
• Tour de France week, 14-21 July: watch three important stages from the roadside at key points on the routes, soak up the atmosphere and ride the same roads as the pros.
• Giants of the Pyrenees, 10-17 August: the ‘full fat mountain experience’, with big days and lots of climbing, this tour is guaranteed to satisfy any appetite without being overly hard.
• Meet the Mountains, 24-31 August: an introduction to the big climbs, this tour is designed to be accessible with less demanding routes to help riders achieve their personal summit.
• Peak Gravel, 14-21 September: gravel riding is a hidden gem of the Pyrenees, taking riders to even more spectacular locations, often much higher than any of the roads. The trails run uninterrupted for hours and feature some of the toughest climbing riders will find anywhere.
Each of the group tours includes six days of riding, accompanied by guides and a support vehicle, airport transfers, free sports massage, and all food on and off the bike, for a price of €1450 (sharing a twin room).
Self-guided stays include transfers from Lourdes airport, use of the garage and tools, mechanical support, route sharing, all food, and the option to add guiding when wanted, for €110 per person per night (sharing a twin room).
Riders fascinated by the rich history of cycling in the Pyrenees, or simply looking for an extra challenge, can also rent a vintage style Pashley Guv’nor and get an idea of what the professionals faced when the Tour de France first visited in 1910. The team note that the Guv’nor is demanding and delightful in equal measure.
The Pyrenees boasts a mountain biking pedigree, as a regular host of UCI Downhill and Enduro World Series events. While this isn’t a specialty at Escape To The Pyrenees, mountain bikers are welcome and can be directed to the extensive trail network.
In winter, Escape To The Pyrenees offers half-board accommodation for snow sports holidays. The Cauterets ski station is 15 minutes away and holds the record for snowfall in France; the Grand Tourmalet ski area is 30 minutes away and is the biggest in the Pyrenees.
A separate, but important, aspect of the business is autism-friendly holidays. Kitt Blackman’s brother is severely autistic is aware how few holidays may be suitable. Escape To The Pyrenees aims to create a calm and private haven in a beautiful location, with the benefit of full-board catering to ensure the whole family can enjoy a break.
