Pyrenees 2026 — 3 IMPORTANT things I need from you... and getting fit for July!
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Hey Reader I've just finished lunch and watching a couple of YouTube videos about cycling in Europe, in particular Girona and France. As much as I love these videos, the bad thing is they make me wish the year away. I can't wait to get back and show you the incredible roads around Girona, the stunning Costa Brava, the beautiful Pyrenees, and the weird and wonderful Andorra! I expect you're as excited as me, especially after seeing the release of the TDF 2026 route last week. As expected, we have timed our stay at Argelès-Gazost to perfection and will be there for stage 6 of the Tour from Pau to Gavarnie, via Col d'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. We'll be riding each of these climbs (not all on the same day as the TDF) and have a great day on one of the climbs, watching and experiencing everything the Tour has to offer. It's a big day! Great news! All hotels have confirmed availability for us, so we are locked in and good to go with our number one preferences. The hotels are varied, each with its own charm and something to look forward to. Here is our confirmed itinerary (unchanged from my last email)... Tuesday, June 30th: Arrive at Barcelona Airport and be ready to start our tour the following morning. I'll be picking up the truck and cars with our nominated drivers on the afternoon of June 30th, ready to leave after breakfast on the 1st. Wednesday, July 1st: Pack up and leave the B&B Hotel Viladecans near Barcelona airport for Girona. (4 nights) Sunday, July 5th: Depart Girona / arrive in Argelès-Gazost (7 nights) Sunday, July 12th: Depart Argelès-Gazost / arrive in Ainsa (4 nights) Thursday, July 16th: Depart Ainsa / arrive in Andorra (5 nights) Tuesday, July 21st: Depart Andorra / arrive at Girona (4 Nights) Saturday, July 25th: Depart Girona for B&B Hotel Viladecans near Barcelona Airport (1 night) Sunday 26th July: Depart Barcelona for home or onward travels The reason I've split our Girona stay in two parts is for a couple of reasons... mainly, to make sure we were in Argelès-Gazost to see the TDF and secondly, to give you and your legs a chance to acclimatise, get some 'easier' rides in and to save having a long transfer on day one. The reason we're going back... is because it's one of the most incredible places to ride, see and experience. Four days is not nearly enough! 3 IMPORTANT THINGS I NEED FROM YOU ASAP 1️⃣ Confirm: Do you want me to book you a hotel bed near Barcelona Airport for the night of June 30 (or earlier)? This is not included in the trip's estimated cost. It's an affordable hotel (around €70 per person twin share/double or €130 for a single room). You do not need to stay here, but you will need to get to this hotel on the morning of July 1st. At this stage, I do have confirmation from Bernie Pennell, The Farley family, Jonathan Millington, Warrick and Ruby Grieve and Sam Francis. Bank details are: Please use your name as a reference, and feel free to let me know when you've made a deposit. Training and Preparation for the Trip One of the common questions I get about these trips is how to train for it if you want to arrive fit and ready for daily climbing and riding. ✅ Arriving fit is way more fun than trying to get in shape while in Europe. ✅ You can train on smaller hills at home and still arrive in top shape for the big climbs in the Pyrenees and Andorra. ✅ Riding up mountains doesn't need to be any more difficult than riding on the flat — if you have the correct bike gearing and aren't looking to break records on every climb you do. So how do you get fit for a trip like this? The easiest and most fun way is to build slowly and plan your training over months in the lead-up. I'm a massive fan of finding a training plan and following it as best I can. You can hire a coach (which can be expensive but great) or download all sorts of plans online. If you're easily motivated and can follow a program, some of the best I've found are by cycling coach Frank Overton of Fascat Training. Here’s what’s worked great for me over the past few years: ✅ My go-to training plans
Both plans include access to TrainingPeaks, which is a platform to track, plan and adjust your workouts. You don’t need it, but I’ve found it incredibly useful — it lets you move sessions around to fit your schedule, weather, or group rides. If you’re arriving in France on July 1st, I recommend:
That’ll leave you a week or two to shuffle things as needed before we fly out. These sessions can be done indoors or outdoors. I prefer the road, but the trainer works perfectly well. You don’t need to follow the plan to the letter — I just aim to complete the key sessions and hit the targets (power, heart rate, or perceived effort). I still mix in races, group rides and fun days on the bike — it all adds to the fitness you’ll need for Europe. You don't need to purchase or follow these plans. The main thing is to consider your training in the lead-up to your trip. Arrive fit to get the most enjoyment out of it. If you have any questions, please reply, call me (0413 852 222) or post in our Group chat on Messenger. Speak soon PS — I’ll share updates on what to pack, bike setup and gearing in December/January. Got questions sooner? Just reply or message me on Facebook — happy to help. |
Photo Biz Xposed
Hey Reader Planning has been well underway for our 2026 cycling adventure! Here is the first update; I'll keep you posted as we go. Although the official TDF route has not been announced, I have a source who has confirmed the Tour will be racing from Pau to Gavarnie early in the second week. Armed with this information, I've been able to book and confirm almost all of our accommodation — I'm still waiting to finalise which hotel in Andorra and pay a deposit for our Girona stay. Everything...
Hey Reader Believe it or not, preparations have started for next year's European cycling adventure! Not only to France next year, but also Andorra, Girona and the Spanish Pyrenees too! — with some riders confirmed already. I'm now taking $1000 deposits for this trip of a lifetime. If you or someone you know is interested, details are below. Group photo at the summit of a hidden gem of a climb on the French and Spanish border. Spend 3.5 weeks in July for approx. $8000 ALL INCLUSIVE (excluding...
Hey Reader Two years ago was the first time we had a custom kit for the France trip, and it was a real hit. Last year's was even more popular. If you're keen, I've created a new design for this year. No pressure to purchase, and nothing in this for me. Baz Doosey is a Central Coast Cycling Club member who works for the GoBik clothing brand. He helped put this together and can answer questions, along with me, if you have any. The 2025 France kit design. You can see the jersey and bib shorts...