New bike event concept:
YOUR BEST 36 HOURS!
PYRENEES 36 PURSUIT
WHAT CAN YOU DO IN 24 TO 36 HOURS?
How many mountains can you climb?
How much elevation can you gain?
COVID NOTICE!
Due to the COVID, the French government has extended a curfew until June 30, 2021
We are therefore sorry to be forced to postpone this event to 2022, but we’d like to invite you to join our September events.
Our two events, September 19 Catalan Pursuit and September 24 Basque Pursuit, each offer three loops from 500 to 1400 km. The 500 km Discovery Loops are perfect for a first-time bikepacking experience.
PYRENEES 36 - Your Best 36 Hours!
2021 The Challenge for all cyclists
It’s an entirely new concept!
“Your Best 36 Hours” is a new concept of bike events:
What can you do in 36 hours?
It will be your best 36 hours!
June 12-13, 2021
Cyclosportifs, Ultra-Cyclists, Bikepackers, 24-Hour event lovers, this unique road cycling event is for you!
You choose the number of mountain climbs: 5 to 15
You choose the elevation gain: 6,000 to 18,000m+
You choose the duration of your event: 24 to 36 hrs
You will ride some of the world’s most beautiful mountain climbs, including many legendary ascents of the Tour de France.
A perfect introduction to a first bikepacking experience.
For the most experienced ultra cyclists, it’s also the best way to push your limits beyond imagination.
A challenge for all cyclists!
Do you love mountain cyclosportives?
Do you love ultra cycling events?
Do you love 24-hour challenges?
Do you love Bikepacking and Adventure Cycling?
This event was designed for you!
It encompasses the best of all these types of events, in a modular challenge tailored exactly to your abilities and desires!
Better yet, you can adapt your challenge level on the spot based on how your legs feel during the event.
Choose your challenge level
Your Best 36 Hours!
From an easy first experience…
2 Days x 110 km - 3,000m with a good night sleep
How easy could it be?
The minimum loop is 220 km. It includes five mountain climbs with 6,000m of elevation.
You could split your ride in two days, each with 110 km and 3,000m of climbing and enjoy a full night sleep in a comfortable hotel and be a finisher within 36 hours. All cyclists with a minimum of experience can achieve it.
…to an impossibly tough challenge!
up to 15 climbs with 18,000m+
Riding them all is impossible. You’ll have to choose your climbs.
How hard could it become?
Harder than you may wish. If you’d like to attempt all 15 mountain climbs, your ride would be over 600 km with a staggering 18,000+ meters of climbing. An Impossible task that would require you to ride a daily average of 300km with 9,000m of elevation gain. It’s impossible. We don’t think you can do it! Can you?
Everybody can be a finisher but even the best won’t be able to climb all 15 mountains - Which one will you choose?
What can you do in 36 hours?
You won’t know until you try it!
The challenge level is entirely your choice!
You choose the number of mountains you climb between five and fifteen. It’s entirely your choice.
The first five mountains are mandatory. After you pick the ones you want to climb and those you wish to skip. Adapt your ride to your legs and desires. Make your challenge as tough, or as easy as you can or wish.
Pyrenees 36 is a personal challenge. You only race against yourself. The presence of other participants is a great motivation bonus.
Who can enter?
The modular approach of this event is perfect to accommodate all levels of cyclists, from the novice testing his/her very first ultra distance, to the strongest and most experienced ultra bikepacking racer.
It’s nearly impossible, even for the strongest ultra cyclists, to complete the entire itinerary with all the climbs within the 36-hour timeframe. It’s very realistic, even for cyclists attempting their first ultra, to complete the shortest course and become a finisher.
Between Tour de France iconic roads and National Park, you’ll climb through sumptuous mountain landscapes.
The rules are simple
The first loop is 200 km long. It features 5 major climbs with 6000 meters of elevation. All participants will ride it. At the end of this loop, you can end your ride and cross the finish line, or continue climbing.
The Finish Line
The finish line is open between the Hour 24 and 36. There is no crossing allowed before, or after this time frame. If you’ve done the shortest loop, you have time to sleep and plan your arrival after 24 hours. You may also take up to 36 hours to complete that loop.
If you’re trying to climb as many mountains as possible, plan to cross the finish line within 36 hours. If you cross the finish line in 36hrs and five minutes, you will not be a finisher!
Hall of Fame
We will publish all results on the Hall of Fame official webpage. No matter how many mountain climbs you’ve ridden. But you need to cross the finish line within the time limit to be a finisher. You need to plan, calculate, and re-evaluate your itinerary as you ride to cross the finish before the deadline.
36 Hours, Your Pace, Your Challenge!
How does it work?
All climbs are numbered from one to fifteen. These numbers define the order in which they need to be climbed. You choose the mountains you want to climb or skip, but everybody will ride in the same direction, following a specific GPS trace. This means that if you skip #7 to go directly to #8, you may not ride #7 at a later time, even if you realize that you still have the time and energy to do so.
Each climb has a specific point value.
The first 5 climbs are worth 10 points each. Finishing the first loop would yield 50 points if you cross the finish line within 24 hours.
The number of points for subsequent climb depends on length and difficulty, as well as position on the itinerary. The later climbs yield proportionally more points than the earlier climbs.
Climbing order and point value - First loop
#1 Port de Bales: 10 points
$2 Peyragudes: 10 points
#3 col d’Azet: 10 points
#4 col du Portet: 10 points
#5 col d’Aspin: 10 points
First 5 mandatory climbs = 50 points
Climbing order and point value - Optional Climbs
# 6 Tourmalet (east): 20 points
# 7 col des Tentes: 30 points
#8 Cirque du Troumouse: 30 points
# 9 Soulor: 20 points
#10 Marie-Blanque: 20 points
#11 Aubisque: 40 points
#12 Couraduque: 10 points
#13 Hautacam: 30 points
#14 Luz-Ardiden: 10 points
#15 Tourmalet (west): 40 points
All 15 climbs would yield a total of 300 points
How time is accounted for after 24h
After the 24 hour mark, subtract 2 points for each hour. If you finish within 24 hours, no points are subtracted.
If you finish in 30 hours, twelve points will be subtracted to the total number of points you’ve accumulated on your climbs. Twenty-four points if you cross the finish line between 35 and 36 hours.
60 points if you cross the line within 2 minutes after the deadline. 100 points if you cross the line within 3 to 5 minutes.
You need to cross the finish within 36 hours and five minutes to be a finisher.
If you aren’t certain to finish within 36 hours, it’s better to skip one or more climbs. You can even take the optional lower mountain return route, but you’ll miss on some of the highest points of climbing the western slope of Tourmalet.
Over 36 hours?
If you arrive within 2 minutes of the deadline, you will lose 60 points. If you arrive between two and five minutes after the deadline, you will 100 points. But in both cases, you will still be a finisher.
Will I be disqualified if I don’t cross the finish line within 36hrs?
No, you will not. After 36hrs and 5 minutes, you will no longer be a finisher. But you will not be disqualified. We will still list the mountains you’ve climbed on the official website, but you will not have any points.
We recommend you plan your climbs properly to not miss the deadline. The time penalties beyond the 36 hours are greater than the points you’d gather on multiple climbs. It’s best to consider that you must cross the finish within the deadline of a maximum of 36hrs.
36 HOURS PYRENEES CHALLENGE
What can you do in 36 hours?
June 12-13, 2021
Mandatory equipment
It’s an event done in the bikepacking spirit. This means that some people may ride at night, possibly all night if they choose. It’s an entirely self-supported event. Outside, pre-arranged assistance isnt’s allowed. You can purchase food from any public places and use bike shops along the way if needed.
There is a minimum amount of equipment you to need have at all times.
It includes two headlights and two tail lights. A survival blanket. A waterproof jacket. Long finger winter gloves (preferably waterproof). A reflective vest, a spare tube, a patch kit and a manual pump. A multi-tool. Two water bottles. At least one bikepacking pack. This can be any bag of 3 liters or more (e.g. frame, saddle or handlebar). A GPS tracker (can be rented from the organization). A mobile phone. A powerbank (battery pack of minimum 3,600mAh to recharge your phone, GPS, and lights).
Can I sleep? How & Where?
Yes, you can sleep as much or as little as you’d like, or not at all.
Where can I sleep?
It’s your choice. You could sleep an hour or two on the side of the road, a few hours in a gite, camping or B&B, or a full night in a comfortable hotel. It’s easy. There are lodging facilities at the base of every climb.
Your Best 36 Hours:
The best you can do in 36 hours…
and the best time you’ll ever have in 36 hours!
Other reasons to ride the Pyrenees 36
The stunning mountain landscape.
The incredible challenge tailored to you.
You can push yourself and test your limits.
The pleasure of cycling at night if you choose to do so.
The friendship.
It’s not a race against others.
There is no podium. You won’t even know how you fare compared to others until it’s finished, because not all people will choose to climb the same mountains. You only compete against yourself and set your own goals to be a Finisher.
The motivation of riding with like-minded adventure cyclists.
The feeling of adventure. It’s even better than riding a stage-race.
If you like riding events such as Marmotte, Etape du Tour, Ardechoise, Ariegeoise, Paris-Brest-Paris, Haute-Route, Audax Randonees and Brevets, Tour du Mont-Blanc, Luchon-Bayonne, Mallorca 312 and more… You’ll love the Pyrenees 36.
Give it a try!
Far from the crowds, the only competition is against yourself. Others aren’t competitors, they are like-minded free-spirit cycling friends.
June 12 - 13, 2021
Start: June 12: 8 AM
Finish: June 13 - 8 AM to 8 PM
You choose the number of climbs, and you choose when to cross the finish line between 8 AM and 8 PM on Day 2. Note, even though the finish line will open a little before 8 AM on Day 2. the Minimum time credited will be 24hrs (and not 23). So may make the full use of these first 24 hours.
Where?
Start/Finish: Bagneres-de-Bigorre, French Pyrenees
Price: 99 Euros
Pricing includes:
Event participation
Live Satellite service
Finisher T-Shirt
Your results on the official website
The GPS tracker isn’t included and can be rented for 40 Euros.
This event is limited to 100 people.
Be first on the list to participate!
Pyrenees 36 is also the perfect training for the Ultra Bike Pursuit and a qualifier for the Hardcore Loop!
Are you still hesitating to join this 36-hour event? Join us on a training camp.
Our Training Camp is an initiation to bikepacking with hands-on training, equipment tips, and everything you need to know to ride your own event, or venture on your own.
Ultra Bike Pursuit - Instagram Feed
Recent Blog Posts
