2016 TOUR DE FRANCE RIDE PYRENEES 9-DAY CYCLING TOUR ITINERARY I JULY 5-13, 2016

Bonjour. Welcome to the Velotours Ride Pyrenees 9-day/8-night tour to the 2016 Tour de France. On this tour our cycling guests will enjoy the challenge of riding some of the most famous climbs in world cycling including, among others, Col de Peyresourde, Port de Bales, Superbagneres and the legendary Tourmalet. To top it off we will watch individual stages of Le Tour live and get up close and personal with the world’s best cyclist in the tour peloton. Our home base is an incredible French chalet right in the heart of Luchon. Cafes, restaurants, bars and the best cycling in the world is literally at our front door. There’s no daily grind of changing hotels and transporting from stage to stage. It’s a truly brilliant week. We look forward to taking care of you in France and making this a truly memorable cycling experience.

717* Kilometres of riding across 8 ride days. *Distances subject to change

1 2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

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DAY 1 LUCHON

TUESDAY JULY 5, 2016 Today we will pick you up from Toulouse airport (departure is no later than 11am) to transfer you via air-conditioned bus to Luchon for your Velotours Tour de France cycling holiday through the Pyrenees.. We will unpack your bikes and then have a roll down the valley, then the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the village of Luchon. Why not take a ride on the cable car to the mountain summit, stock up on your riding supplies at the local bike shop or just relax and enjoy the TDF atmosphere in the many cafes along the main street? At tonight’s group dinner we’ll chat through the week ahead, enjoy some time for everyone to get to know each other and really settle in to your French cycling holiday!

60 KILOMETRES

2 2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

Ride Terrain Flat to Undulating

Dinner Le Concorde

Tour Stage 4 - Samuur/Limoges - 232km

Short Ride Support Vehicle Option

SAINT BERTRAND

WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016 Today is a steady ride of 90km from Luchon down through the valley to Saint Bertrand de Comminges. Saint Bertrand cathedral sits atop a hill overlooking the site of the ancient Roman city of Lugdunum, the city of the Convenae, where the ruins of the temple, forum, theatre, hot baths and busy market place still seem to ring to the cries of the five to ten thousand citizens who lived here on 30 hectares in the first half of the 2nd Century. After a visit to the Cathedral, some sight seeing and then a coffee and crepe in this little hillside town we will head back to Luchon. On the return journey we will ride via Bossost and climb into Spain over the Col de Portillon and back down into Luchon.""

90 KILOMETRES

Ride Terrain Hilly

Dinner Le Glacier

Tour Stage 5 – Limoges/Le Lioran – 216km

Short Ride Short Ride Option Available.

DAY 2

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DAY 3 COL D’PORTET

THURSDAY JULY 7, 2016 Today will be an awesome day as we start our ride with a roll through the gorgeous village of Aspet. Our route today is the Col d’ Portet – Aspet - Col de Mente loop where you will climb two of the great historical climbs of the TDF. Used since the Tour de France 1971, Marco Pantani holds the record on the steeper West side from St Beat. Descending both sides is fast with lots of switchbacks. The long 'easy' side of the Portet d'Aspet seems innocuous for 5km before a steep finish. It picks its way through some pretty villages and is a good way to test your legs before tackling the Cat 1 and HC alternatives. This is the site of the tragic death of 1994 Olympic Champion, Fabio Casartelli in the 1995 Tour. Most riders will pause at the touching monuments (one erected by the Tour organisers, the other by Casartelli's family) near the foot of the climb, before pressing on to tackle the 17% mid-section which guards the summit from the feeble-legged. We will take some photos and refill our bidons then turn around and head back down to the base to begin the ascent up the Col de Mente. Lunch will be in the little bar/cafe at the summit of the Col de Mente before heading home through St Beat.

122 KILOMETRES

3 2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

Ride Terrain 122

Dinner Hilly Mountains

Tour Stage 6 – Arpajon/Montauban – 187km

Short Ride Support Vehicle Option

TDF MOUNTAIN STAGE

FRIDAY JULY 8, 2016 Today we will watch the action up close from the roadside on the Col d Aspin. Departing from home base in Luchon we will climb the Col de Peyresourde which is one of the most amazing climbs in the Pyrenees region. (vehicles will be stationed in Arreau for the day). From the top of the Peyresourde we will descend half way down before heading through the beautiful village of Loudervielle to begin the climb up the scenic Col d’Azet. The Azet gets very steep in the lower kilometres and eases a little nearer the summit where you will see some excellent views for more photo opportunities. We will then roll back down the valley to the village of Arreau for a coffee before riding 2km up the Aspin to our viewing location, which will be set up the night before.

85 KILOMETRES

Ride Terrain Mountains

Dinner L’Arbequens

Tour Stage 7 – L’isle Jordain/Lac de Payolle – 162km

Short Ride Shorter Option Available,

DAY 4

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DAY 5 LUCHON

SATURDAY JULY 9, 2016 Today we will again watch the tour action up close with the finish practically outside our front door in Luchon, but first we will ride the awesome Superbagneres. This is a scenic and open climb finishing at the ski station with great views at the summit over an almost vertical drop of 1,170m over Luchon. The snow-capped mountains towards the Spanish border are especially impressive. The climb is 18.7kms in distance, elevation of 1170m and an average gradient 6.3% with Max 11%. Departure for today’s will be relatively early so as to be back in time to freshen up and then enjoy the excitement in town for the big finish.

70 KILOMETRES

4 2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

Ride Terrain Flat or Mountain Options

Dinner House Gardens

Tour Stage 8 – Pau/Bagneres de Luchon – 183km

Short Ride 60km Flat Option Available.

SPAIN STAGE START

SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016 Today is watching the TDF from a different perspective. The stage start and rider sign-on is an amazing place to be and will give you an insight into just how big this event is. The atmosphere is simply amazing and we will get a chance to be up close with the teams and the riders during the sign on and official presentations which take place each day at the start. We will depart from home base and climb the Col de Portillion from the Luchon side over into Spain then head to the town of Vielha and return to Luchon via Saint Beat.

100 KILOMETRES

Ride Terrain Mountains

Dinner Le Glacier

Tour Stage 9 – Vielha/Andorre Arcalis – 184km

Short Ride Support Vehicle Option.

DAY 6

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DAY 7 PORT DE BALES

MONDAY JULY 11, 2016 Today we climb the very tough and challenging Port de Bales as well as the Col de Ares. The Port de Bales has a broad open summit with excellent views of the snow-capped Spanish frontier mountains. We will climb up the south side from Luchon which is occasionally steep with long shallow stretches through small villages. We will descend back down the mountain into Mauleon before heading through the valley to climb the Col de Ares. We will stop at the gorgeous little café at the top for a drink and some lunch before heading back to Luchon to watch the stage live on TV.

90 KILOMETRES

5 2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

Ride Terrain Mountains

Dinner Bistro De Alee

Tour Stage Rest Day 1 - Andorre

Short Ride Support Vehicle Option.

TOURMALET

TUESDAY JULY 12, 2016 We have left the best until last, with our final climb of the tour up the amazing Col du Tourmalet. After transferring by bus to the village of Arreau, we climb to the top of Col d Aspin then descend down into Payolle and head to Sainte Marie de Campan. We turn left at the church and then start the climb up the Col du Tourmalet through the ski village of Le Mongie. This is a climb you will never forget; the views are simply breathtaking and I am sure you will enjoy your lunch on top of the Tourmalet and some time browsing in the gift shop after the challenge is complete. The amazing descent is back the way we came for the ride back up the Col d’Aspin and down into Arreau for the transfer back home for our final group dinner in the Pyrenees.

100 KILOMETRES

Ride Terrain Mountains

Dinner Le Concorde

Tour Stage 10 – Escaldes-Egordany/Revel – 198km

Short Ride Support Vehicle Option

DAY 8

DAY 9 0 KILOMETRES WEDNESDAY JULY 13, 2016 This morning will be a relaxed start so you can take a last minute wander around town for some souvenirs for the family before packing in readiness for our departure for Toulouse. We will transfer to Toulouse Blagnac airport (with all bikes, luggage and guests) by air-conditioned bus, departing Luchon at approximately 9.30am to connect with your flights home or the next destination on your European Summer vacation. The drive time from Luchon to Toulouse Blagnac is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, traffic pending.

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YOUR VELOTOURS TEAM

ALLISTER ELLIOT DIRECTOR "

KIM STUBBS TOUR COORDINATOR "

SHANE SMITH DIRECTOR AND TOUR LEADER "

KERRY STUBBS DIRECTOR AND TOUR LEADER

TIM STUBBS DIRECTOR

MICHAEL PRATT TOUR LEADER "

2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

DEPARTURES

Ride Terrain N/A

Breakfast House Gardens

Tour Stage 11 – Carcassone/Montpellier – 164km

Short Ride N/A

7 2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

OUR BASE IN BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON Our Pyrenees home is located in the centre of Bagneres-de-Luchon, The historic chalet is ideally located just off the main arterial road in Luchon, between the cable car to the top of the Superbagnères and the thermal baths. The world’s best cycling is literally at our front door. You can be pedalling up Superbagneres within 2 minutes of closing the front door. Our base features a secluded and private garden area, yet no less than 50 metres outside the impressive front gates are a vast array of fantastic bars, restaurants, thermal springs and day spas, great shopping, daily markets and nightlife. Bagneres de Luchon is the perfect location for the ultimate cycling holiday with plenty of fun, culture and relaxation thrown into the mix.

YOUR CLIMBS (FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS) CLIMB ELEVATION DAY KEY DETAILS

Col de Portillon 1293 Metres 2, 6 8.6km long; average gradient 7%; maximum gradient 13%

Col de Portet-Aspet 1069 Metres 3 5.3km long; average gradient 8.8%; maximum gradient 17%

Col de Mente 1349 Metres 3 11km long; average gradient 6.7%; maximum gradient 11%

Col de Peyresourde (Luchon) 1569 Metres 4 15km long; average gradient 6.2%; maximum gradient 10%

Col De Peyresourde (Arreau) 1569 Metres 4 10km long; average gradient 7.2%; maximum gradient 10%

Col d’Azet 1580 Metres 4 8.1km long; average gradient 8%; maximum gradient 10%

Port de Bales 1755 Metres 5, 7 18.9km long; average gradient 6%; maximum gradient 11.5%

Col De Ares 797 Metres 7 8.2km long; average gradient 4%; maximum gradient 8%

Col du Tourmalet 2115 Metres 8 22.6km long; average gradient 7.5%, maximum gradient 12%

Col d’Aspin 1489 Metres 8 12.5km long; average gradient 6.3%; maximum gradient 10%

Superbagneres 1800 Metres 9 18.7km long, average gradient 6.3%; maximum gradient 11%

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BOOKINGS

Terms and Conditions. Tour is subject to change. Prices are per based on person, twin share. Single share levies apply. Price does not include flights or train trips.

✓ 8 nights accommodation in stunning Luchon ✓  Fully escorted tour with crew and support vans ✓  Ride captains and domestiques ✓ Experienced Staff Members ✓  Breakfast and dinner each night ✓  After Tour party in Luchon ✓  Official photographer and digital image pack ✓  Viewing of live stages of le Tour. ✓  Velotours Cycling Kit ✓  Velotours merchandise ✓  Tour booklets and guides

TOUR

PENDING ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINAL 2016 TOUR ROUTE

INCLUSIONS:

TOUR PRICE AUD $3,930* PAYMENT PLANS ARE

AVAILABLE.

8 2016 Velotours RIDE PYRENEES Tour. Bookings Being Taken Now. Email donna@sport3.com.au

To secure your spot for the 2016 Ride Pyrenees tour, please contact Donna Noble at Velotours. Email: donna@sport3.com.au Phone: 0417 753 187