Pyrenees w Richie Porte

Welcome to France and the start of your Pyrenees experience!

The Mummu Cycling team will meet you at Clermont-Ferrand train station mid-morning before transferring to our accommodation at the exquisite Château Laverdines located in the Cher Department’s, Baugy. Built in the 19th century and fully renovated in the 90s, the classic renaissance castle is like something out of a fairytale. 

On arrival, enjoy some time to check-in and settle before meeting the Mummu staff in our allocated bike room who will give a short welcome brief before assisting with setting up and assembling your bikes ahead of this afternoon’s warm-up ride.

Grab a spot of lunch at your leisure before kitting up for a gentle warm-up ride with the experienced Mummu guides who will lead the way on a stunning 1.5 hour incredibly scenic jaunt through the quiet country roads of Magny-Cours. Today’s ride will be all about getting to know one another and easing the legs into what will be a big week ahead! *Today and on all rides, the Mummu support van will be with you at all times offering mechanical assistance, ride nutrition, water and electrolytes where needed.

This evening there will be a group welcome dinner at the beautiful Château where we will raise our glasses to what we expect will be an epic adventure through the Pyrenees taking in the best of the Tour de France!

This morning enjoy a nutritious breakfast as today we’ll be getting amongst the Tour de France!

Once fuelled and ready, we will roll out on bikes from the hotel en route to the Stage 10 finish in Saint-Amand-Montrond, travelling over some beautiful sunflower covered rolling countryside before arriving at the course to ride the final section into the finish. Lap up the atmosphere as you cruise along the race route and get cheered on by excited fans lining the streets.

On arrival to the finish, it will be time to settle in over a packed lunch with the Mummu crew and mark your spot right amongst the thick of the atmosphere to watch what is expected to be a thrilling sprint battle! Could it be the legendary Mark Cavendish’s day to take the TDF stage record? He currently sits in first equal alongside fellow legend, Eddy Merckx at 34 wins and 2024 will be the last Tour of his career. It won’t be an easy feat against the likes of Jasper Philipsen, however we think we has what it takes. Do you?!

After a spectacular dose of live race viewing, we will transfer back to the Château. The evening will be yours free to enjoy some down-time and dinner as you please. *For those who wish, the Mummu team will do a return transfer to the nearby town of Nevers where there are plenty of reputable bars and restaurants to choose from.

Following breakfast and checkout this morning, we will transfer to the Stage 11 start in Évaux-les-Bains.

Today you will be taking a step right into the Tour de France bubble, enjoying an special experience exclusive to us as an Official Tour Operator that will have you lining up on the official stage start line, to then ride onto the course behind the race caravan and just hours ahead of the pros themselves, all on closed roads! This is a once in a lifetime fan experience and one that will have you truly buzzing as you cruise along the course, every other fans envy! Expect crowds of passionate fans lining the streets cheering you on every km of the way as you make your way over rolling Pyrenees countryside. After around 1.5 hours of riding on course, we will stop off at our roadside viewing location at the town of Montel-de-Gelat where the Mummu marquee will be set up awaiting your arrival with picnic lunches and cold beverages. Settle in for some live stage viewing as soon enough the peloton will blitz by showing us how it’s done. Time to cheer on your favourite riders!

After some epic live stage viewing, we will transfer to our next destination at the premium Château de Mercuès, an exquisite 13th century castle that looks out onto the Valley of the Lot and the Cahors vineyard.

Relax and unwind for the remainder of the afternoon before regathering for this evening’s group dinner where you’ll be treated to an incredible meal paired with a drop or two of local vino.

Today we will take a step away from the Tour de France madness to make the most of our amazing surrounds and accommodation.

Following breakfast and check out, we will transfer to our ride start location for a 2.5 hour tap over mesmerising French countryside en route our next hotel Château de Drudas. Here, you will be treated to a wine tasting, sampling a selection of the Gascogne Toulousaine countryside’s finest wines…When in France…!

After check in, we will watch the stage finish at the hotel bar before sitting down to a group dinner at the Le Verdurier restaurant for a seasonal gastronomic spectacle.

Enjoy breakfast at the Château this morning before checking out.

Today is a transfer/ride day as we continue to venture South into the heart of the Pyrenees where plenty of mountain action awaits!

By now your legs are no doubt well and truly ready for a big test and we have the perfect climb lined up to celebrate – the almighty Col du Tourmalet. At 2,115 m it is no easy feat, however an absolute must for the avid Tour de France fan to tick off your bucket list. It’s one of Le Tour’s biggest icons, featuring in the race as early as 1910 as now stands as the most frequently raced climb in Tour history.

On arrival to the climb, you will have the option to ride it as hard or as gently as you so desire. The Mummu guides will be on the road with you every klick of the way encouraging you along, while the support van will never be far out of sight offering assistance where needed. You’ve got this!

After a valiant effort to the summit, soak up the incredible feeling of elation and grab some snaps to prove your efforts!

Post ride, we will transfer on to our next accommodation just across the border into Spain at the Hotel Vielha Baqueira located in Catalonia’s beautiful Aran Valley and offering gorgeous views of the Pyrenees and The Garonne River.

* We will make a pitstop during transfer to take lunch at leisure.

This evening you will be joined for dinner by the legendary Richie Porte. An Australian cycling phenomenon who throughout his successful career won a string of big stage races; including Paris-Nice, the Tour Down Under and Tour de Romandie. Also no stranger to Tour de France success, he claimed 3rd overall in 2020 before retiring from the sport in 2022. Now’s your time to get to know the Aussie star over a delicious meal and some Spanish vino, then talk all things TDF as we dive right into the thick of the Pyrenees action tomorrow!

This morning you should wake up with the same excitement a kid does on Christmas – it’s going to be one hell of a day at the Tour and we’ll have you embracing the best of it alongside your host, Richie Porte!

After a good breakfast we will transfer to our ride start point along the highly mountainous stage route. We will start the day’s ride nearing the base of the Hourquette d’Ancizan, an 8.2km climb that averages 5%. Lengthy, however nice and steady and a breeze compared to what you tackled yesterday! Enjoy the ‘warm-up’ and scoop up as many tips as you can from former world-class climber, Richie. After a deserved descent, we will roll right onto the Pla d’Adet that drags up for 10.6km with a relentless average gradient of 7.9%. A little tougher on the pins but achievable and what better time to challenge yourself up a big Pyrenean col than today, surrounded by atmosphere and passionate fans cheering you on every pedal of the way up. Take it all in as you hopefully float up to the summit and cross the barriers at the 1km to go Flamme Rouge, where you will have the exclusive opportunity to ride right over the line punching the air in triumph as you go! The celebrations continue as it will then be time to make your way to the podium to pose for a pic or two with Richie and lap up your moment in the Tour de France spotlight.

After some time on top step, there will be opportunity to change before making your way to VIP Izoard hospitality, exceptionally located right at the finish. As today is a big mountain stage, there’s nothing more exciting than being right in the thick of it and just a stone’s throw from seeing the day’s winner take honours! Settle in for a luscious afternoon of unlimited beverages and delicious French canapés, all while chatting to your host Richie and watching the action unfold over big screen entertainment. Soon enough, the crowds will start to really leer up as the leaders approach the summit, giving their absolute all to take the win. Prepare to be wowed as you see the best on the day throw his arms in the air!

After the stage, we will transfer back to the hotel. Following a huge day out at the race, the evening will be yours free to relax and unwind.

Following breakfast this morning and a likely needed cappuccino or two we will transfer to the Stage 15 start in Loudenvielle.

Today you will once again be joined by Richie who will be guiding you through the Official Tour de France Departure Village – another unique experience we have the honour of delivering as a TDF Tour Operator. The Departure Village is a buzzing hospitality zone that surrounds the official podium where the riders sign on for the stage, packed with atmosphere, entertainment and an array of local treats and beverages to choose from while soaking it all up. Neighbouring the village is the team paddock where the pros busily prepare at their team buses ahead of sign on.

We will have you right there in the thick of it to lap up the Departure Village festivities, and if we’re lucky – catch the stars in action as they prepare. Stick with your host Richie and we’re confident you will thanks to his countless connections in the sport and former teammates still cruising the peloton.

After watching the excitement of a Tour de France stage start, it will be time to enjoy a packed lunch before kitting up for another epic ride adventure!

Following directly in the pros path we will ride from the start travelling almost directly uphill onto a true Pyrenees icon, the Col de Peyresourde that averages a stinging 7.8% over 6.9km. Safe to say we may be riding a touch slower than the peloton but stoke levels will be high! Enjoy the incredible views and the fantastic feeling up top as you take a breather with Richie and quiz him on the descent to come. After a fleeting cruise downhill it will be time to face your second challenge of the day, the Col de Menté – another frequently featured Pyrenees mountain pass that will ensure you also have your work cut out for you over 9.3km and 9.1%. Keep in mind that the Mummu guides, Richie and our support vehicle will be on the road with you at all times offering assistance and a spot of motivation when needed. As your final climb of the trip, give it everything to finish on a high!

After a bucket list ride, we will transfer back to the hotel to watch the stage finish together over a deserved cold one and say our goodbyes to Richie.

This evening there will be a final group dinner to close out what we hope has been a trip for your memory books!

After breakfast and checkout this morning, we will transfer you to Toulouse airport before saying au revoir! We trust that you’ve had a fantastic trip lapping up the best of the 2024 Tour de France through the Pyrenees and hope to have you back on tour soon.