Vielha Cycling Tour

The Vielha Cycling Tour is the road sportive of the Val d'Aran, in the heart of the Pyrenees. Its Gran Fondo covers 151 km and 3,700 m of climbing over six mountain passes, between the Val d'Aran and France, and there is also a shorter Medio Fondo. It is not a race, with one exception: the French side of the Portilhon is a timed section for anyone who wants to race the clock. The route climbs the Portilhon from both sides: from Bossòst (8.2 km at 7%, with ramps of up to 17%) and from Bagnères-de-Luchon. In between comes the Col de Balès from Mauléon-Barousse, the hors-catégorie climb of the day: 18.9 km at 6.3% to 1,755 m, the highest point of the route. The last big climb, the Guardader d'Arres from Bossòst, has ramps of 12-14% when the legs are already empty. Training should prepare you for long climbs at a steady effort and for many hours in the saddle. Build up to rides of five to six hours with plenty of climbing, add sweet spot and threshold intervals of 20-40 minutes to get up climbs like Balès without blowing up, and practice the steep ramps out of the saddle for the Portilhon and Arres. Pacing and fueling over the whole day matter as much as climbing power.