Week 2 - Red Kite Prayer

vÉlo classic tours
ride through history. live in luxury.
2THOUSAND X5
Crossing the Pyrénées
July 31-Aug 7, 2011
8 Days/7 Nights
Arrive: Toulouse, FR
Depart: Barcelona, ES
$4,750
Highlights:
Col de Puymorens
Port d’Envalira
Arcalis
Vallnord Pal
Bosc de la Rabassa
La Molina
Col de Morella
Chefs:
Rogier van den
Biggelaar
Josep Maria
Josep Antoni Lopez
Hector Costa
Joan Roca
2 T H O U S A N D X 5 : C R O S S I N G T H E P Y R ÉN É E S
Day 1 Sun July 31: Arrival. You will be greeted at Toulouse Airport and transferred to our 4-star
luxury hotel in the medieval village of Mirepoix. Lunch is provided as we assist in bike assembly
and get guests checked in. Our introductory ride takes us along the dramatic Basque coast.
Dinner is with chef Rogier van den Biggelaar, renowned for his Belgian influenced style of
cooking. Ride distance: 35 miles. Overnight: Mirepoix/Relais Royal
Day 2 Mon Aug 1: Our tour begins with a ride into the Principality of Andorra and over the Col de
Puymoren and Port d'Envalira, both over 2,000 meters. Andorra la Vella is well known for stage
finishes in the Tour and Vuelta. Our hide away hotel overlooks the surrounding mountain chain
and offers fresh air, tranquility and luxury. The Theater of Wine Restaurant pays tribute to wine
and mountain cuisine in an intimate setting reserved for ten diners.
Ride distance: 75 miles. Overnight: Andorra/Hotel Grau Roig
Day 3 Tues Aug 2: Our second stage takes us on a loop ride that includes the famous stagefinishing climb to Arcalis, last used in the 2009 Tour de France and reaching a height of 2225
meters, and climbing 10.6 kilometers at an average grade of 7.1%. There is then an option to
ascend the16-kilometer climb to Valnord Pal. Our luxury mountain retreat offers refined
dining in the hotel’s alternate restaurants, or a trip to the city is offered for a pre-dinner stroll
and dining in one of the many restaurants.
Ride distance:Multiple options. Overnight: Andorra/Hotel Grau Roig
Day 4 Wed Aug 3: Today’s ride takes us into Spain and the Catalan Pyrenees via the 18-kilometer
Bosc de la Rabassa, capping off at an altitude of 2060 meters and featured in the 2009 Vuelta a
Espana. Our ride finishes in the Cerdanya National Reserve and our Catalan mansion built at the
turn of the 20th Century. Dinner is a gastronomique treat with Chef Josep Maria, a highly
acclaimed chef born and raised in the area.
Ride distance: 55 miles Overnight: Bolvir/Torre del Remei
Day 5 Thur Aug 4: Our final ride in the Catalan Pyrénées takes us first to the ski station of
La Molina, featured in the Vuelta a Espana. After climbing the Col de Morella, we finish in the
beautiful landscape of the Guillerias Mountains and our 4-star luxury hotel, a converted Catalan
farmhouse now part of Spain’s luxury Paradors. Dinner is with Chef Josep Antoni Lopez Toro.
Ride distance: 65 miles. Overnight: Masies de Roda/Parador Vic-Sau
Day 6 Fri Aug 5: Today we ride across the undulating hills that surround the Garrotxa volcano,
on our way to our luxury resort on the outskirts of Girona, where our 5-star hotel and spa offers
the perfect luxury to finish our trip, including dinner with Chef Hector Costa.
Ride distance: 70 miles. Overnight: Girona/Mas de Torrent
Day 7 Sat Aug 6: Our final ride takes us takes us along the Mediterranean Coast and north to the
Priorat vineyards, home to one of the most unique wine regions in Spain, with vineyards draping
the steep hillsides with vines up to 1,000 years old. we celebrate our final dinner in Girona with
Chef Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca.
Ride distance: 55 miles. Overnight: Girona/Mas de Torrent
Day 8 Sun Aug 7: Departure. Transportation provided to Barcelona Airport.
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