GUEST ARTICLE BY SIMON COADY

 

The Ariege is a sleepy backwater in the heart of the French Pyrenees: its principal town is St. Girons, about 2 hours south of Toulouse. The Tour de France regularly visits the department and there are many great circuits to delight both the professional and the amateur rider.

 

Frequent overnight dews keep the mountains and valleys lush while providing cool mornings for some of those long and hard climbs. Cold, clear mountain rivers are great for stretching out beside in the hotter afternoons.

 

We use Biert as a base, which is perfect for the 6 circuits below.

 

Circuit 1 – Col de Saraille

This would be a perfect start for the afternoon you arrive: it will get the blood flowing through your legs after the long drive! It takes just under an hour and is about 16 km.

From Biert, take the small road that crosses the river then climb for the next 5 km, 3 of them steeply. Most of this climb is shaded by trees so it is a good one for a hot day. At the T junction in Saraille, a right turn will lead you 1.5 km to the col at 942 m. From there, retrace your tracks back to Saraille, but this time stay straight on the main road, which will lead you 7 km into Massat, with one final sharp descent to the village. Bear left and then left again onto the main road to follow the valley back to Biert; otherwise turn right on the main road to get to the village square and a cold beer.

Length of Circuit: 17 km

Approximate Time: 50 min

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circuit 2 – Col de la Crouzette → Col de Portal → Col de Peguere

This 28 km circuit is a must! It should only take you about an hour and a half but you will experience some of the steepest climbing in the area.

From the main square in Biert, take the small road leading north up from the church: enjoy this flat section while it lasts. It is 8km to the Col de la Crouzette (1241): the first 2km are about 6% and then it levels off for the next 2km. Take a deep breath along here and drink plenty of water because once it starts to climb again, it is unrelenting until the last hairpin bend. There are 2 km that have a gradient of more than 12%!

Once you reach the Col de la Crouzette, continue straight on uphill for 3.7 km to the Col de Portal(1432). This is the nicest section: the gradients are managable and the views across the range are spectacular. Enjoy a rest at the Col de Portal because from here it is virtually all downhill. After a gentle descent to the Col du Peguere(1375), the next 3.3 km to the junction with the main road are extremely steep.

Turn right there for a 6 km spin back to Massat and an easy run down the valley to Biert. This circuit is good to do in reverse with the famous Tour de France ‘Mur de Peguere’ climb to the Col de Peguere. Indeed, it does often feel as if you hit a wall or ‘mur’ when you turn uphill for that first 1km of 14%, which thankfully eases back to 13% for the next 1km.

Length of Circuit: 28 km

Approximate Time: 1hour 30

 

 

Circuit 3 – Col de Saraille → Col d’Agnes

For this loop we start off with the easier ascent up to the Col de Saraille from Massat, so from Biert cycle to Massat. After the Petit Casino supermarket, turn right and right again for the 8km to the Col de Saraille(942). There are a couple of short steep sections but nothing serious: we save that for later!

After the Col de Saraille it is relatively flat to the mountain hamlet of Cominac with its spectacular views of Mt Valier. Take the left turn to Erce and continue down to the valley floor.

A pleasant 30min ride up the valley beside the river will bring you to the village of Aulus Les Bains, your last chance to buy a cold drink before the Catagory 1 Col d’Agnes(1570). It is 10 km to the top with a maximum gradient of  10%: the first 3 km are the hardest where the road climbs up the side of the mountain before a series of hairpins.

Emerging from the trees you can see the Col d’Agnes in the distance with the road snaking around the mountain to it. From there,drop down to the restaurant at the Etang de Lers for a well earned coffee, beer or lunch. It is all downhill to Biert from here, about 16km.

Length of Circuit: 59 km

Approximate Time: 3 hours

 

 

Circuit 4 – Col d’Agnes → Col de la Trape → Col de Saraille

We start this ride with the official 16 km climb up to the Col d’Agnes(1570): from Biert cycle up the valley to Massat, then turn right in the square following signs to Etang de Lers.

The climb starts about 1 km outside Massat. The first 6 km are not too bad: you are following a stream and are mostly in the shade. The next 3km hit 8%; you leave the trees halfway through them and come out into the blazing sun.

After a series of hairpins and about 11 km of climbing you have reached the Etang de Lers. Turn right for the Col d’Agnes: after a very short descent, you are climbing again. Enjoy the view at the top at 1570m before starting the rapid descent down to Aulus Les Bains.

At the roundabout in town there is a small supermarket and a good water fountain. Turn left over the bridge and start the short steep climb to the Col de la Trape at 1145 m. If you are still feeling fresh, you can extend the ride up to 1520 m, with a 5 km climb up to the ski resort of Guzet Neige: turn left after descending 1km and return by the same route.

It is then downhill all the way to the village of Seix which has plenty of resturants and cafes. Continue down the valley out of town and turn right to Oust; stay on this road through town to a give way junction and go right. After about 2 km take a left turn to Cominac and the Col du Saraille(942): the 3rd col of the day.  Then it is just the final descent into Biert.

Length of Circuit: 70 km

Approximate Time: 4 Hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circuit 5 – Col de Port → Port de Lers

We drop east into the next valley for this one where the climate is more Mediterranean, noticeablely hotter and drier.

Once again, we go up the valley to Massat, through the square and left. The climb is straight forward, about 11km with a maximum gradient of 6%. The Col de Port(1250) takes about an hour from the start but at the top you have to decide: if you drop down the other side

you have a big climb to get back, there is no easy way around the valley.

It is a nice, 20 km long run into Tarascon. From there, follow signs to Andorra and at the 4th roundabout, turn right to Vicdessos. There are a few cafes and restaurants lining the road in Tarascon trying to catch the passing Andorran traffic.

It is a pleasant 16 km ride up the valley to Vicdessos which is the last chance for a cold drink before the 11.5 km climb to the Port de Lers(1517). The Port is signposted to the right just after the square. You reach 13 % in the first 2 kms, after which it stabilises around the 8% mark, but there are shady trees until just before the Port.

From there, it is a long descent back to the start at Biert.

Length of Circuit: 81 km

Approximate Time: 4 Hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circuit 6 – One for the Pro!

Col de Saraille → Col de la Trape → Col d’Agnes → Port de Lers → Col de Port → Col de Peguere → Col de Portal → Col de la Crouzette

If all these are to short why not do them all in one day!?

Start with the steep climb to the Col de Saraille(942) from Biert and then down through Cominac, Oust and onto Seix. Go straight through town and up the valley, following signs to Guzet Neige for the Col de la Trape(1145).

A quick descent to Alus follows, then the Category 1 climb to the Col d’Agnes(1570). After the drop down to the Etang de Lers (a good spot for a rest in the cafe), turn right for the short climb to the Port de Lers(1517) and then the downhill run to Vicdessos and Tarascon.

Another long steady climb will bring you back to the Col du Port(1250), but only descend 6km to the righthand turning for the Col (Mur) de Peguere(1375). At the top go left along the crest to the Col de Portal(1432) where you can then rest your legs on the easy run to the Col de la Crouzette(1241) and back down to Biert.

Length of Circuit: 133.8km

Approximate Time: 7 Hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are just my favorite rides in the area: it is easy to link some of them together or run around the valley to make them longer with less climbing.

Another popular event in the area is the cyclosportive Casartelli held in September every year as a memorial to Fabio Casartelli who was killed on the descent of the Col du Portet d’Aspet, near St Girons, in the 1995 Tour de France.

Places to stay are easy: if you want a bed stay at Les Deux Velos, between Biert and Massat (half board from 60 euros) or for camping stay at Azaigouat, just outside Biert towards Saraille. In the old square by the church in Biert, you will find the Gypaete Barbu restaurant with good value menus from 12.50 euros.

 

Exchange Rate: £1 = E1.12 (August 2018)