Overview

 

Test your Limits in the French Pyrénées, Test your climbing Skills, Ride your own "Tour de France" !

August Bank Holiday weekend in 2020 is the 5th edition of the Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées. After only four successful editions it is a sportive that is shining on the international circuit.

You can now ride this Sportive supported by SportActive. Feel like a Pro.

Featuring a long distance of 165km and 5,500+ altimetres it is one of the toughest amateur cycling events you can do, together with his big sister, the Look Marmotte Granfondo Alps (in July).

The Route on the Day

You start in Argelès Gazost and ride a 19 km warm-up on the flat and slight climb to Luz St Sauveur. That's were you will find the start of the well known Tourmalet pass (18 km, 2115m) by Barèges.

From the summit you descend on the technically demanding Sainte Marie de Campan road before the second climb of the Granfondo: la Hourquette d'Ancizan (17km, 1564m). You then have a short rest before you start the Aspin pass (12 km, 1489m) and then it's back to Ste Marie de Campan. You're now about to start the impressive ride to the summit of the Tourmalet (17km, 2115m).
Then comes the ultimate difficulty, the Luz Arddiden (1720m); you have to fight the 14 km, meeting 7% gradients, to reach the finish line and become a Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées Finisher. Well done!

 

Logistics - We've got you covered

Our logistical mastery secures your race number and entrance into Marmotte. We handle your airport transfers for you and your bike (check details), and our mechanic helps you building your bike when you arrive, ensuring it is in full working order. All your accommodation is secured by us. We've got you covered.

Sportactive support vehicle's location:

• vehicle 1: Col du Tourmalet
• vehicle 2: Col d'Aspin
• vehicle at the finish line in Luz Arddiden

 

Check out our exceptional assistance on the DAY! 

With our reputation of quality and efficiency all you will have to do is turn up and ride. (You will need to have trained before though!). A SportActive team leader, a mechanic, and two backup cars will give the SportActive riders support, coaching advice (if needed) and security. Martin, our expert SportActive pro cycling coach, will depart with the group offering coaching and pacing to those who require this help.

 

 

 

 

 

Itinerary, Cycling Location, and Profile

The sportive is situated in the south of the Pyrénées, close to the famous town 'Lourdes'. It starts in Argelès Gazost and finishes in Luz Ardiden.

 

One of the toughest Cycle-Sportives in Europe

Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées is a one day sportive, which has already established a reputation as one of the  toughest in France and in Europe. If you know his big sister, the Look Marmotte Granfondo Alps (174 km, 5000 altimetres), you could have a surprise as the smaller one is certainly not easier; actually, it could well be the opposite, although the altitudes are lower in the Pyrénées. 

You will cover 165 km & 5500+ metres climbing over 5 major passes; Col du Tourmalet from both sides, Hourquette d'Ancizan, Col d'Aspin, Luz Ardiden. This is going to be a hard day and you need to be well prepared for it. But it's worthwhile. The scenery over these mountains and through the valleys is enchanting and will sometimes allow you to forget the effort; just one look around and you realise you are not alone as you see your thousands of fellow cyclists.

 

 

 Profile

 

 

The Climbs

• Col du Tourmalet from Luz St Sauveur : 2115 metres, 18km, 7.4% average, 12% max
• La Hourquette d'Ancizan : 1564 metres 22km, 4% average, 12% max
• Col d'Aspin: 1489 metres, 12km, 6.5% average, 9.5% max
• Col du Tourmalet from Ste Marie de Campan : 2115 metres, 17km, 7.4% average, 10% max
• Luz Ardiden: 1720 metres, 13km, 7% average, 12% max

 

Col du Tourmalet : 2115 metres, 18km, 7.4% average, 10.2% max

 

La Hourquette d'Ancizan : 1564 metres 22km, 4% average, 12% max

 

 

Col d'Aspin: 1489 metres, 12km, 6.5% average, 9.5% max

 

Col du Tourmalet : 2115 metres, 17km, 7.4% average, 10% max

 

Luz Ardiden: 1720 metres, 14.7 km, 6.9% average, 10% max

Itinerary

Friday Arrival in Tarbes Lourdes Airport

Flight to Tarbes Lourdes Airport and transfer with private coach to our Hotel in Luz St Sauveur.  The bus will leave Lourdes at the arrival of the Dublin flight at 13:25.  Should you arrive from a different airport please try to arrive in a time bracket of 1 h after the Dublin flight. There will be time to build the bikes in the afternoon and, may be, do a little exploration ride.

Saturday

Time to explore the area and get ready for the big day.

Sunday: the BIG DAY

The start at 7:30 is in Argelès Gazost, 19 km from our hotel, mainly downhill. During the Sportive, you can manage your own ride (feeding stations available ; details will be provided) or you can stay with the SportActive coach pacing the group up the first climb. The first back-up car for support will be on top of Tourmalet. You can have a small bag with private items in each car.  The second back up car will be at the top of Aspin and then at the arrival in Luz Ardiden.
At arrival, a warm meal is served to the riders: featuring a starter, pasta, cheese, dessert, drink.

Two options to get back to our hotel in Luz St Sauveur: you ride down the mountain (19 km);  SportActive vehicles will take riders back to the hotel.

Monday: Flight home

Transfer to Tarbes Lourdes Airport with private bus.  Travel safe, see you next year!

 

Finish times for medals

MEN
     Age       Gold      Silver
C (18-29):   07:55      09:25
D (30-39):   08:15      09:50
E (40-49):   08:40      10:20
F (50-59):   09:05      10:45
G1(60-66): 09:30     11:20

WOMAN 
Age               Gold      Silver
A (18-34)      09:30     11:20
AB (35-49)    09:45    11:35
B (50&+)       09:55    11:55

Check out your time & Look Granfondo Marmotte Pyrénées Website

Check the Official site for La Marmotte
Check this site to find your results

 

 

Prices and dates

 

Marmotte Granfondo Pyrenees - Start line on Sun 26th Aug 2018

 

 

 

What's included / not included

What's Included

• Registration to the Sportive
• Pre-event information meeting on Saturday morning, in which we hand out your race number and provide strategy tips. Benefit from our sportive experience.
• Full support including 2 backup cars carrying spare clothes, refreshments, spare parts, and drinking water. We've got you covered.
• SportActive bike mechanic for assistance when assembling your bike
• Secure bike storage in the hotel
• transport back to the hotel on Sunday after the sportive
• Transfers airport-hotel-airport for you and your bike. Check details
• 3 nights’ B&B in 3 star hotel, based on 2 people sharing room; Good comfortable large en-suite rooms
• Pictures we take throughout the event
• A SportActive-Granfondo Marmotte Pyrénées cycling jersey

Not Included

• Flights
• Single Supplement
• Drinks during the meals and other private expenses
• Private medical & travel insurance
• Bike hire
• Inner tubes and tyres for purchase

 

 

Services & Information

Hotel*** in Luz St Sauveur 

 

We'll stay in a 3 star hotel in Luz St Sauveur, very close to the start line. The hotel is just outside the village, in an extremely quiet location, only 4 minutes walk from the village centre, where you will find a vast choice of bars, shops & restaurants. The hotel offers nice & spacious en-suite rooms. We book B&B with well-adapted breakfast menus for cyclists (even porridge!). On Sunday morning breakfast will be served from 5:00 am.

Limited number of single rooms available: supplement 45 € / night

  

 

Luz St Sauveur is located in the south of the "Midi-Pyrénées" region, and welcomes you to an extraordinary environment where you can discover unique destinations and relax after the effort of your cycle sportive. If you can, build in a few extra days, and enjoy the beauty of the "Toy country". (As you will see this word 'Toy' in many places, we may as well explain you what it means: it means "small" in Gascon, and was a nickname used to describe the inhabitants of these high Pyrenean valleys. Formerly called Barège Valley, the territory was named "Toy Country" after the revolution of 1789).

Coming extra days before the sportive is not the best thing to do as you will be tempted to ride some of the beautiful passes and will end-up with tired legs on the sportive day ; and this is the last thing you want to happen! 100% of your energies are needed on the 'Big day'.

The 'Toy country" being clarified, enjoy, first of all, the rich heritage of the village, Luz Saint-Sauveur. (Luz, means light in Spanish, and tells you about the spectacular light in these mountains). As you walk in Luz St Sauveur, you can admire the Templar church, (l'église des Templiers) built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Napoleon bridge that connects the two banks of the Gavarnie Gave and was built at the request of Napoleon III, the chapel Solferino, also built on order of the emperor and, on the heights, the ruins of the castle Sainte-Marie which dates from the tenth century.

Also enjoy the thermal baths of the village, Luzea, operated since the sixteenth century, listed as historical monuments and whose waters rich in rare gases, sulfur and mineral salts, are recommended for venous insufficiency. The bath used by the 'Impératrice Eugénie - Napoléon III' can still be admired. Cesar first sent his armies to the thermal sources of the area to heal their wounds. Imagine what this will do to your tired legs after the sportive... 

Then, with the starting point from the village, offer yourself some escapades to grandiose sites: admire the majesty of the Gavarnie circus, the splendour of the Pic de Midi de Bigorre and the beauty of the Néouvielle nature reserve. In summer, enjoy these exceptional natural areas for hiking, biking, mountain biking and many other sports: climbing, canyoning, paragliding, fishing ...

 

Flights & Airport Transfers

 

We'll use Tarbes Lourdes Airport with direct flights out of Dublin (Ryanair) and various UK airports. About 40 minutes drive will bring us from the airport to our hotel. 

The flights to use for this holiday, if flying from Ireland into Tarbes Lourdes airport, are the following :

Ryanair

• Friday 27th August 2021,  Dublin to Lourdes, flight FR 5079, dep 10:10 arr 13:25
• Mon 30th August 2021, Lourdes to Dublin, flight FR 5078, dep 11:30 arr 12:40

For Uk Departures or from other countries, please try to get your flights close to these times in order to avail of our group airport transfers. If not possible, we can organize another pick-up.

Transfers

• Grouped Airport transfers for you and your bike, to and from your hotel, for the flight times indicated above, are included in the package price.

We'll have secure bike storage in our hotel. SportActive will supply high pressure pumps and tools for assembling your bikes. In addtion, the SportActive bike mechanic will be on hand to assist with the bike assembling.

 

Weather & seasonality

Due to altitude temperatures and the weather can change quickly. It can be 30 °C in the valley to lower than 10 °C on top of the climbs.

We advise taking a range of warm clothing including:

• Leggings,
• Arm warmers
• Gilet
• Long sleeve wind/rain jacket
• Light long finger gloves
• Overshoes

Thunderstorms are likely to happen in this season. Be prepared!

Remember you will have the two SportActive back-up cars to carry your clothing items and have them available on top of the climbs.

.

 

 

Request my Holiday Details

 

 

Download the Brochure

You can download the following PDF :

Download the brochure

Testimonials