Marmot Tours

At Marmot Tours we have a lifelong love affair with the Tour in the Pyrenees, a mountain range that we adore for its hidden charms, unexploited terrain and traditional mountain culture. We believe it to offer the best road cycling in the world. Add to that, the Marmot expertise in supporting cyclists, the close relationship we have with our local hotels ensuring you excellent locations on the trip, the madness of the visiting Spanish Tour fans from across the border, and the excitement that we get a chance to watch a stage start and col top finish, then you will know where you should be watching the Tour this year.

Our flexible itinerary gives you the opportunity to cycle some or all the cols from Stages 11 and 12 (plus a few extra) and makes our trip suitable for those wanting more emphasis on the'holiday' or those wanting the emphasis on the 'cycling'. Our 'pro action' this year will be the start of Stage 11 in Tarbes and the 'cherry on the cake' viewing from our hospitality suite in the best spot on the Plateau de Beille, to watch the final climb of the last mountainous stage of the Tour in the Pyrenees.

It is a point to point journey traversing the region from East to West, taking in the infamous climbs that the professional Tour de France cyclists head up every year.

The joy of this holiday, and our other Classic Cols itineraries is in its flexibility. Using our in-depth knowledge of the Pyrenees, we have devised a Classic route which warms us up gently getting progressively tougher in preparation for your final ascent of the infamous Col du Tourmalet. Taken at a steady pace this route is manageable and enjoyable for healthy cyclists regardless of experience in the mountains, with the toughest day involving 1700m of ascent. It is route to open up the Pyrenees to you. However, this holiday also offers a fantastic challenge to those wanting to push themselves further and for longer: each day there are 'optional extras' increasing the possible daily ascent to over 3000m, making this holiday also suitable for those very fit cyclists who are regular cyclosportive entrants, and who would consider a Raid.Climb the legendary Tour de France Pyrenean cols & stage endings: Tourmalet, Portet d'Aspet, PeyresourdeOptional Classic Cols challenge: up to 4000m ascent per day!

It is a paradise for cyclists, with lots of infamous cols used regularly by the Giro D'Italia, plus some lesser known ones to discover for yourself.This centre based minibreak showcases the area from the comfort of a 3* Lakeside hotel in Alleghe so you have the flexibility to cycle or relax as suits you best. Each of the 4 days rides has 3 options so will suit both novice cyclists to the mountains, and experienced col climbers. As with our other Classic Cols holidays, the unique thing about this type of holiday is its flexibility - you really can ride as much or as little as you like, at a pace that suits you without holding up or being held up by others in the group. That said, with a group of 20, you can be sure to find someone else on the trip with similar aspirations to you, whether that be sampling a glass of Prosecco in a rustic village bar, or taking on every optional climb on offer.

Our tantalising circular route takes in all the Tour de France climbs: Cormet de Roseland, l'Iseran, Telegraphie, Col du Galibier, Alpe D'Huez, Croix-de-Fer and la Madeleine. On our Classic Route you start off as gently as the Alps allow, gradually cranking up the daily altitude gain from 1200 to 2100m. Each day there are 'optional extras' increasing the possible daily ascent to over 2600m, making this holiday also suitable for those looking to really push themselves and take on our Classic Cols Challenge. It is ideal for mixed ability groups or couples.

This week is real escape and riding on the quiet roads through the dramatic mountain scenery of the Alps with its far reaching views is a joy, not to mention the sense of achievement as you summit these climbs.
Flexible itinerary to suit mixed ability groups with optional extras for those looking for a challenge
Climb the legendary Tour de France Alpine cols: Iseran, Telegraphie, Galibier, & Alpe d'HuezOptional Classic Cols challenge: over 600kms and 16000m ascent

This road cycling holiday showcases the region perfectly, offering epic climbs, breathtaking scenery, delicious Italian food, and excellent support from 2 Marmot guides and vehicles.

We have designed the Classic Route so that, taken steadily, it is manageable and enjoyable for healthy cyclists regardless of experience in the mountains. However, this holiday also offers a fantastic challenge to those wanting to push themselves further: each day there are 'optional extras' increasing the possible daily ascent to between 3000 and 4200m on the Challenge Route.

There are few places with so much variety; rugged limestone mountains, deep gorges, ancient forests, mountain pastures and unspoilt villages. The climbs are also varied: gentle and meandering or short and sharp, and then there is the Alto de Angliru, which is just brutal (and thankfully optional!).

We have designed the Classic Route so that the distance and gradients between the hotels is manageable and enjoyable for most cyclists if taken steadily. However, each day there are 'optional extras' increasing the possible daily ascent to between 2600m and 3100m, making this holiday also suitable for those looking to really push themselves and take on our Challenge Route. With a group of 20, you can be sure to find someone else on the trip with similar aspirations to you, whether that be sampling 'una cerveza por favor' in a rustic village bar, or taking on every optional climb on offer.

Flexible itinerary to suit mixed ability groups with optional extras for those looking for a challenge - Climb the infamous Vuelta passes including Fuenta De and Lagos de Covadonga - Optional Classic Cols challenge: over 600kms and 16000m ascent