STRIPPED BACK BREAK-AWAY
CYCLING SUPERHERO
Pyrénées ‘24.1
18 May – 25 May 2024
Five Days of Cycling Gains
The first overseas Vertical Gain™ Break-away in 2024 will take on the format of our ‘Stripped Back’ offerings. You will still be looked after from start to finish, with great nutrition, ride leadership and all of the support required to ride day after day, but with some of the luxuries saved for our later Break-aways.
£1,200 GBP PP/PW (Limited to 6 riders)
Break-away Schedule
DAY ONE
127Km | 3,089m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY TWO
110KM | 3,242m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY THREE
60KM | 1,693m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY FOUR
102KM | 3,317m VERTICAL GAIN
DAY FIVE
139KM | 3,166m VERTICAL GAIN
TRAINING TIME REMAINING
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Earn Your Stripes in The Pyrénées 2024
Between May 18th and 25th 2024, we will be based in the heart of the Pyrénées in a private chalet with mountain climbs on offer from the get-go. If you have ridden with us in the Alps previously, these routes will be as inspiring, with a different atmosphere and a contrast in gradient challenge.
Vertical Gain™ Stripped Back Break-aways offer road travel to the destination, taking away the additional challenge of airport navigation with your bike and kit. Or, if you choose to fly (Toulouse airport), we can take your bike for you.
What to Expect
Our focus will still be climbing, taking in all of the legendary mountain passes talked about in cycling history, with the most visited climb of all, the Col du Tourmalet being on the ‘to do’ list, along with Hautacam, Luz Ardiden and the Col d’Aubisque.
Day One
Let’s get the week off to an immediate climbing start with the Col du Soulor, taking the group through some fantastic back county roads and including the Col d’Aubisque.
Day Two
Be prepared for a great climbing challenge today; both sides of the Col du Tourmalet, one of the highest paved mountain passes in the French Pyrenees.
Day Three
A low mileage day today, but with the climbing challenge of Hautacam, scene of multiple epic battles in Tour de France history.
Day Four
After yesterdays ‘rest day’, vertical gain becomes the priority for today. If we aren’t going up, we’re going down. Col de Spandelles and the Col du Soulor contribute towards a 3317m vertical gain day.
Day Five
What a great final challenge with the new focus for today being Luz Ardiden, a beautiful route with numerous switch backs and sufficient gradient to celebrate as the final climb of the week.
Route Grading
A theme you will start to see is our route grading. Overall this is a ‘red’ week, meaning you will need to have put in some preparation on the bike, have experienced hilly rides previously and can link day to day rides. However hard each ride is, all of the group is considered at all times, so no rider will be isolated and without support.
Our knowledge of these roads allows us to modify routes if required… conditions can change with little warning. You can even hop into the van for a short period, or even for the whole day if you choose to rest. Whatever the outcome, we will all have great stories to tell when we reminisce around the dinner table.
Click Here to View our Route Grading
Stripped Back But Fully supported
Once you arrive at our accommodation we will prepare the bikes before a short pre-dinner spin. 5-days of mountain climbing will then follow, each route with a ride leader. A full Vertical Gain™ riding kit will be given to you, with a souvenir group photo being taken at the top of the Col du Tourmalet early in the week. Evenings will be where we socialise, reminisce and get ready for the following days ride.
Evening meals will be provided on alternate days, with the group using local restaurants in between.
Included
- Road travel & bike transport
- Daily breakfast
- Alternate evening meal
- Daily ride nutrition
- Daily route guidance
- Accommodation & facilities
WHAT TO BRING
So, most of what you need is included. With our support, you need to;
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Organise your travel to France
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Have travel insurance and medical cover
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Bring a finely tuned bike along with you
We always have spares and good knowledge of sorting out bike issues, but starting the week with a ‘ride ready’ bike is essential.
Price Per Person
Stripped Back Break-aways come to you at £1,200 GBP. £250 deposit secures your place, with the balance being paid in February 2024. The deposit is non refundable. All breakfasts and 4 evening meals are included, along with Vertical Gain™ riding kit, road travel and bike transport. Any questions you may have can be sent to info@verticalgain.co.uk
Cancellations & Refunds
A non refundable deposit secures your place on a Break-away, with the balance being paid in the month linked to each Break-away.
If Vertical Gain™ cancel your Break-away, all monies will be returned, including deposits.
If the client cancels their Break-away, a full refund less deposit is due up to 130 days prior to your journey. If less than 130 days, a full refund less deposit is returned to the client once Vertical Gain™ have filled the cancelled place.
If additional information is required regarding Terms and Conditions, please send your enquiry to info@verticalgain.co.uk
Route Grading
We aim to demonstrate the overall challenge of a Break-away with a colour coding of red, amber and green. All of the Break-aways could have elements of all three during the event, but the overall load is good to be aware of.
CYCLING SUPERHERO
Prepare to Earn Your Stripes
Code red will most often mean a significant amount of vertical gain on each ride and cumulatively during the week. There is no need to have raced previously at the highest level, but you will need to be able to spend consecutive days in the saddle, cope with fatigue and be aware of how a tired body can warm into the day and still have a great experience, even with one of Europe’s highest col’s ahead of you.
Code red could also associate with a one day event whereby distance could be extreme, or many miles of cobble stones could be between the rider and the finish line.
SERIOUS CYCLIST
Get Ready For Serious Gains
Code amber will be measurably lower load than a code red event. There would be less vertical gain and a lot less fatigue after each ride. This would mean a code amber event would be suitable to any rider who is a keen cyclist and exercises regularly, but could also complete the Break-away with a little less conviction in their preparation.
WEEKEND CYCLIST
A Challenge Within Reach
Code green is just as it sounds….green means ‘go’. This style of Break-away would associate more with an adventure or journey through a region, but without huge days of riding, and most likely more time to compete the distance. A participant who is a regular exerciser and not just a cyclist would be great on a code green Break-away.
Whichever colour code your chosen Break-away has tagged to it, Vertical Gain™ will ensure you have the very best opportunity to complete it with our support alongside you during every pedal revolution. Good luck and enjoy.
Book a Place
Our Break-aways are booked on a first come, first served basis. By submitting this form, you are securing a place/s which will be held and invoice generated. If the deposit isn't paid by the given date your place/s will be released again for general sale.
IMPORTANT
If you do not see the 'Thank You' page after submitting this form, please check your details have been entered correctly.
Cyclist Reviews
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Great food, great routes, great mechanical and roadside pickup service (in case your legs fall off). Set in a traditional, well-finished Alpine chalet with all your bike and recovery needs looked after by Gary and the team, I cannot recommend highly enough. If you’re looking to turn off your brain and pedal as hard as you like in a beautiful setting, this is the trip for you! 11/10
Charlotte – UK
'THE' ALPS TRIP
Where to start? Having done several personally and a couple along with the wife, I/we can say that from the moment you arrive to the minute you leave, you will want for nothing. Gary & K have always gone well above & beyond to make the trips challenging, memorable, and fun. All the best with your future adventures.
Marc & Caz – UK
VERY SPECIAL TRIPS
I've been extremely fortunate to have shared some amazing cycling experiences with Gary over the last ten years. Basing ourselves in a first first-class Chalet in the Haute-Savoie, Gary's intimate knowledge of the area guarantees challenging routes and breathtaking scenery.
From cursing up the brutal Col de Romme to bombing down the Joux Plane or watching stages of the Tour de France, there's been some incredible highlights.
But it is the camaraderie within the group that really make these trips so special. On and off the bike, the banter is brilliant and lifelong friendships are formed.
Richard - Australia