EASTERN PYRENEES ULTRA CYCLING CHALLENGE
The ultra bikepacking series for cyclists who love to climb mountains
Catalan Pursuit
Oriental Pyrenees
New to Bikepacking or Experienced Ultra Bike Racer — Choose your challenge level!
The Catalan Pursuit will have you discover the best of the Oriental Pyrenees.
The Basque Pursuit offers you the best of the Occidental Pyrenees.
The Ultimate Pyrenees Pursuit combines both of these events into one.
Catalan and Basque Pursuits each offer three levels of challenge. There are options for all cyclists.
CATALAN PURSUIT
Departure Date: September 17, 2022 / 8:00 AM
Location: Central & Eastern Pyrenees (France, Spain & Andorra)
The Catalan Pursuit begins in the heart of the Hautes-Pyrenees, travels to the Mediterranean coast, and returns to the Hautes-Pyrenees. You'll finish with the legendary climb of Tourmalet which has been featured in more Tour de France events than any other climb. This route includes many iconic French climbs such as Aspin, Peyresourde, Port-de-Bales, Col-de-Pailheres; famous Andorran climbs such as Arcalis, and several Vuelta climbs, including one of Alberto Contador’s all-time favorites. You have three distances to choose from, and the option to ride them all on asphalt or with gravel sections.
CATALAN ITINERARIES
Choose your distance and elevation:
Discovery Loop: 512 km / 12,000m
Time Limit: 4 Days and 12 hours (108 hrs)
Adventure Loop: 1,177 km / 25,000m
Time Limit: 5 Days and 12 hours (132 hrs)
Hardcore Loop: 1,420 km / 32,000m
Time Limit: 5 Days and 12 hours (132 hrs)
The Discovery loop is perfect for cyclist new to the sport of bikepacking. The Adventure loop will challenge experienced ultra bikepackers. The Hardcore loop will push the limits of the most experienced ultra cyclists.
Gravel Options
We’re planning to add a few optional gravel sections for those who like to get off the asphalted roads.
CATALAN — DISCOVERY LOOP
Discovery Loop: 512 km / 12,000 m
The Discovery Loop is the easiest Ultra Bike Pursuit option, but the relatively high elevation gain over only 512 kilometers makes it a good challenge and deserves all bragging rights. It's a perfect distance for cyclists looking to discover the sport of bikepacking. Unlike the Adventure and Hardcore, this loop does not stretch all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. The Discovery Loop is entirely in France. You will never be too far from the start/finish location.
It features eleven epic Tour de France climbs such as: Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden, Soulor, Aubisque, Portet and Aspin.
You need to average 102 km with 2400m+ of daily elevation to finish within the allowed 120 hrs (5-day) limit.
We invite cyclists who would be able to ride this course in a couple of days to consider our Adventure or Hardcore Loop instead.
CATALAN — ADVENTURE LOOP
Adventure Loop: 1,141 km / 25,000 m
Experienced bikepackers looking for an amazing mountain experience will enjoy the Adventure Loop. Like the Hardcore Loop, this itinerary will take you all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and back. It’s a good distance for those who wish to sleep at night to enjoy all the scenery during the daytime.
It features 14 epic climbs including: Tourmalet, Port de Bales, Peyresourde, Aspin, Port de Pailheres, La Creueta and Envalira.
You need to average 192 km with 4160m+ of daily elevation to finish within the allowed 132 hrs (6-day & 5 night) limit.
If it seems a lot, you may prefer the Discovery Loop. If it seems easy, the Hardcore Loop will push your limits.
CATALAN — HARDCORE LOOP
Hardcore Loop: 1,420 km / 32,000 m
Our Hardcore Loop features ten more climbs than the Adventure Loop. You'll discover superb mountains you'd never ride on your own. You will ride through and marvel at the best Pyrenees scenery.
The most experienced bikepackers will be able to push their limits on the Hardcore Loop. The strongest may be able to ride it in 3 or 4 days. Most people venturing on these loops will likely take 5 or the full 6 days. It features 25 epic climbs including: Tourmalet, Port de Bales, Peyresourde, Aspin, Port de Pailheres, La Creueta, and Envalira.
You need to average 237 km with 5300m+ of daily elevation to finish within the allowed 132 hrs (6-day & 5 night) limit.
If this seems like a lot, you may prefer the Adventure or Discovery Loop. If it seems easy, you can ride the Hardcore Loops of the Catalan and Basque events back-to-back. That's what we named the "Ultimate Pyrenees" event.
Take a look at the climbing profile for the Hardcore Loop that features 25 major climbs
"Catalan" Ultra Bike Pursuit — Eastern Pyrenees
500 km / 12,000m -or- 1,400 km / 32,000m
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?
Are you ready to ride all the legendary Pyrenees mountain climbs of the Tour de France but aren’t sure which to tackle first?
The Ultra Bike "Catalan" and "Basque" Pursuits will satisfy your sense of adventure, overwhelm you with pleasure and pain, and provide you with an incredible feeling of accomplishment, as well as more bragging rights than any other road cycling events.
Complete an Ultra Bike Pursuit and become a climbing king.
“Ultra endurance cycling defined and explained”
- John P. Sprock
eBook $5.99 / £: 3.99
Paperback: $16.99 / £: 12.99
A Must-Read book for all cyclists!
From the event organizer who is also an award-winning author writing under various pen names.
Two Wheels and a Will
The motivational story of ultra-cyclists exploring their limits on the ultimate bikepacking adventure.
“Full of great information for any level of rider, well written, easy to follow.”
“I found “Two Wheels And A Will” a fantastic read, it is very well written and everything is explained so well that you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy this book. There’s no doubt the author knows his stuff and although what happens is bordering on the crazy, it is written with honesty and truth without over embellishment which I like.”
“As a lifetime endurance athlete, I found TWO WHEELS AND A WILL compelling and mesmerizing. Colin's passion for bikepacking jumps off the page. He writes with clarity and depth of feeling.
Despite my background on the bike, I picked up nuggets about the bike that were fascinating, e.g. the impact of tire pressure, gearing. The book is both instructional and inspiring.”
Recent Blog Posts
Ultra Bike Pursuit - Instagram Feed
RELIVE THE 2020 - ULTRA BIKE PURSUIT!
Below you will find the map of the 2020 Ultra Bike Pursuit (in 2020 the itinerary was entirely in France).
In 2020 the Catalan Pursuit was the Tourmalet Pursuit and the Basque Pursuit was the Hautacam Pursuit.
Relive the 2020 event!
You can replay the full event at the seed you wish
Live this event Live from your phone or computer and cheer these amazing participants!
These incredible cyclists need all your help. Follow them live and cheer them up. You can do so on our blog, Facebook and Instagram pages.
How to best follow the Ultra Bike Pursuit
You can zoom in and out. You can select the itinerary/event you want to focus on (click on the scholar icon for advanced view). The 4th icon shows all itineraries. Click on it and hide or show the itinerary/elevation profiles you wish to see. Click on the first icon to see all the participants. You can click on the 123/ABC icon to toggle between names and bib numbers. You can even play the history of the event to see how it unfolded while you were away. Click the question mark icon for info on how to use all features.
For even greater fun, you can view the detailed climbing profile for all major climbs in our Climb blog.
Invite your friends to enjoy this Live event. Share this page on your social networks.
