Pyrenees early May

graememacd
graememacd Posts: 386
edited January 2018 in Road general
Looking at booking a trip to the Pyrenees the first weekend in May to do the Tourmalet and a couple of other big rides. Does anyone have experince of being there that time of year? Is there a possibility the roads will still be closed due to snow? The other option is to leave it until september

Comments

  • mercia_man
    mercia_man Posts: 1,431
    Strong chance it will be closed by snow. Tourmalet sometimes opens early May, sometimes late May. Last time I cycle toured there early June 2013 both Tourmalet and Aubisque were still closed. I crossed into Spain where the high passes were open but was then stranded in Aran Valley when floods and landslides closed both ends. Was evacuated from campsite and only got back into France near Bagneres by going off-road.
  • graememacd
    graememacd Posts: 386
    Thanks for the reply. I suspected it might be the case. Don't really want to risk going that far for the roads to be closed. Looks like september is more likely
  • matudavey
    matudavey Posts: 108
    Coll De Canto and Coll De Boixols are great at that time of year, a bit further southwest. Check out http://www.RedRockTrails.co.uk if you fancy a trip to that area!
  • VeloPeloton
    VeloPeloton Posts: 72
    You should assume that any climb in the Pyrénées over 1800m will be closed until mid-May. Last year Tourmalet was open in the first week of may but that is unusual. There have been years that it does not open until June. September and October are excellent months for cycling in this area.
    Vélo Peloton Pyrénées Café and Bike Rental
    https://pyreneesrental.bike
    https://velopeloton.com/
  • graememacd
    graememacd Posts: 386
    VeloPeloton wrote:
    You should assume that any climb in the Pyrénées over 1800m will be closed until mid-May. Last year Tourmalet was open in the first week of may but that is unusual. There have been years that it does not open until June. September and October are excellent months for cycling in this area.

    Trip postponed now until september, don't want to risk the roads not being open. I was looking at your website for bike hire and the cycling lodge. I'll be in touch soon!
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,345
    Go with he local knowledge but prepare for extremes. I went in August. It was 8 degrees at the bottom of the Tourmalet climb in the morning, 30 degrees going up the Luz Ardiden after the descent of Tourmalet.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.

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