Cycling in the Pyrenees with Allant Holidays: training camps with a British Cycling coach

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Cycle training

Steve is a qualified cycling coach with British Cycling: take a look at his use2wheels website to find out about personalised coaching. During your holiday, Steve is always on-hand to offer advice and encouragement. We have also created three training packages to give you an idea of the sort of training holiday available. For those new to cycling, or with no previous experience in the mountains, we offer an Introduction to the Pyrenees and Bike Maintenance. For those who would like to further their skills and are perhaps training for specific events, we would suggest our Climbing and Descending course, or other similarly-focussed training. And for experienced cyclists, who want a real challenge, Steve would provide coaching and training leading up to completing our Allant Raid des Cols (covering 5 Pyrenean cols). As a top finisher in the 2009 Etape du Tour, Steve will also be offering a 5-day Etape 2010 recce trip.

Introduction to the Pyrenees & Bike Maintenance

We are offering cyclists (or would-be cyclists) the chance to come to the Pyrenees and train with a British Cycling coach who will introduce you to climbing and descending the area’s famous Tour de France cols plus offer some vital instruction on essential bike maintenance and repair.

Day one: You and your bike will be collected from either Tarbes-Lourdes, Pau or Toulouse airport and transferred to Allant Holidays’ base in Galan, a small village in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Steve Hall, a British Cycling-qualified coach will be there to meet you, brief you on your stay and, of course, help put your bike together. There may be time for a short local cycle on this first day. Before dinner, Steve will explain some climbing and descending techniques.

On day two, Steve will put you through your paces over some local, undulating climbs around Galan. He will explain how to get the most out of your body and your bike when tackling steep gradients and also how to deal with fast, tight descents. After a day on the bike, Steve will this evening run through some tips on nutrition and hydration.

On day three, Steve will take you into the Pyrenees to tackle one of its spectacular mountains, perhaps the Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin or Col de Peyresourde. Steve will ride with you as you climb and descend. This evening, Steve will give a brief session on bike maintenance and repair.

Day four: this morning, Steve will give a practical session on bike maintenance, cleaning and repair, with you able to work on your own bike. The afternoon will be free for another local cycle or, for the really ambitious, perhaps another col.

Day five: return to the airport of your choice.

All evening meals, lunches, breakfasts, four nights' accommodation plus return transfers back to the airport are included for 400€ per person (based on two people sharing a room) .

Climbing and Descending

All cyclists can do with some help climbing and descending, and what better place to learn than amongst the cols of the Hautes Pyrenees! This three night course offers help with techniques such as leaning into bends, picking the right line through them, plus tips on nutrition and energy levels.

Day one: Arrive at Allant and set up your bike. Have a short, local ride with Steve, taking in some nearby climbs so he can assess your level and discuss the areas of your riding where you would particularly like assistance. Back at the house, Steve will go over some basic nutrition and energy-level theory and run-through the agenda for tomorrow.

Day two: After breakfast, you will be setting off for some of the famous Pyreneen cols. Depending on you ability/fitness level, this will either involve cycling out from the house, or being driven closer to the mountains with bikes on the roof. The climb of the Col de Peyresourde will be your first target. This is a good introductory col as it has a steady gradiant and highly rewarding scenery. The descent is fast and sweeping and ideal for increasing confidence and improving handling skills. After lunch, you will tackle a second climb - the Col d'Aspin before heading back to the house for a well-deserved rest!

Day three: Today will be a chance to put into practise what you have learned so far and again practise your improved climbing and descending techniques. After breakfast, Steve will take you on one of his favourite "loop" rides, which takes in a number of smallish climbs and descents from the house. After a packed lunch (out or back at the house), you will be driven down to Sainte Marie de Campan to tackle the famous Col du Tourmalet. This is one of the most challenging climbs around and if you want, you can be timed for our annual "Tourmalet Challenge" competition. The descent is one of the fastest in the Pyrenees.

Day four: The end of the climbing and descending package, so return to the airport of your choice, or carry on and stay for a few more days to tackle a few more climbs (and perhaps get a bronze, silver or gold Passeport Vélo).

All evening meals, lunches, breakfasts, three nights' accommodation plus return transfers to and from Tarbes-Lourdes, Pau or Toulouse airport are included for 350€ per person (based on two people sharing a room).

Allant Raid des Cols

For those who really want a challenge, Steve has devised an Allant Raid des Cols (ARC). The basic concept is to ride five of the best-known mountains in the Pyrenees over 1 or 2 days.

Day one: Arrive at Allant and set up your bike. Have a short, local ride with Steve, taking in some nearby climbs.

Day two: After breakfast, you will be setting off for a day of warm-up riding with Steve, taking in some local climbs and descents, getting ready for the big ride tomorrow. This evening you will finalise the route and climbs to be tackled in the ARC.

Day three: An early start will be needed today to ensure all five climbs can be achieved. Steve will accompany you en-route together with a vehicle including essential spares, kit, drinks and food.

Day four: If all five climbs were achieved yesterday, then this will be a day for relaxing or taking in any further cycling that you want. If there were any more cols to climb to complete the ARC, then the Raid can be completed over two days today.

Day five: end of package

All evening meals, lunches, breakfasts, four nights' accommodation plus return transfers to and from Tarbes-Lourdes, Pau or Toulouse airport are included for 450€ per person (based on two people sharing a room).

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