New bike event concept:
YOUR BEST 36 HOURS!
PYRENEES 36 PURSUIT
WHAT CAN YOU DO IN 36 HOURS?
How many mountains can you climb?
How much elevation can you gain?
PYRENEES 36 - Your Best 36 Hours!
2022 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 11-12, 2022
Cyclosportifs, Ultra-Cyclists, Bikepackers, 24-Hour event lovers, this unique road cycling event is for you!
You choose the number of mountain climbs: 4 to 15
You choose the elevation gain: 4,600 to 18,000m+
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 100 km - 2,600m with a good night sleep
We’ve made the col du Portet (4th climb in this first loop) an optional climb. This makes the minimum loop to be a finisher a mere 192km / 4,600m over two days (36hrs).
How easy could it be?
The minimum loop is 192 km. It includes four mountain climbs with 4,600m of elevation.
You could split your ride in two days, each with 96 km and 2,300m 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 four 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 192 km long. It features 4 major climbs with 4,600 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 Hour 35 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 35 hours. You may also take up to 36 hours to complete that first 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.
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: 5 points
#4 col du Portet: 20 points (optional)
#5 col d’Aspin: 5 points
First 4 mandatory climbs = 30 points (50 points with Portet)
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
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 forfeit 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.
And make sure you check the final itinerary, in case you’d have to keep energy for a surprise climb before the finish!
36 HOURS PYRENEES CHALLENGE
What can you do in 36 hours?
June 11-12, 2022
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.
Event celebration dinner
The finish line is open between 17:30 and 18:30 on Sunday. Join us and other participants in celebrating your 36 hour challenge with a dinner at 19:00.
The dinner is optional (additional fee), and is open to all participants, their friends, and family (prior reservation needed).
This will be a good opportunity to enjoy time with friends you may have met on the road.
This event is limited to 100 people
The 2022 event is confirmed. The event is limited to 100 participants.
Register now to secure your spot.
June 11 - 12, 2021
Start: June 11: 6:30 AM
Finish: June 12 - Between 5:30 and 6:30 PM
You choose the number of climbs, as long as you cross the finish line between 17:30 and 18:30 on Day 2.
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.
The 2022 event is confirmed.
Register now to secure your spot!
“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.”
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 for 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.
Note: During this COVID period, we are not offering any training camps. We may resume training camps from 2023.
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