Published by Andrew on 22 January 2018
If you fancy a multi-stage event for amateurs in the mountains of France, the Campilaro Pyrenean Sportive could be for you.
See the blog for more cycling sportive and events
The Campilaro is relatively new cycle sportive held in the French Pyrenees. First created in 2015, it's quite an unusual format for amateurs in that it is held over three days with four individual stages, one of which is an individual time trial. Anyone over 18 can enter and you can register as either a solo rider or as a team.
In 2018 the event will be held from July 19 to July 22.
The sporting is based around the towns of Luchon and Vielha. The route covers around 330km in total, which doesn’t sound too bad until you factor in 8000m of climbing.
Highlights include 8 major cols: the Port de Balès (1755 m), the Col de Mente (1350 m), the Col des Ares (797m), Superbagnères (1800m), the Col du Portillon (1296 m), the Bassa d’Oles (1599 m), Les Agudes (1560 m) and the Bourg d’Oueil.
Super Superbagnères! Photo: Freewheeling France
Cost is for 2018 is €320 per person, or €1440 per team of 5, before March 31, or €350 per person/€1550 per team of 5 after March 31. Entries close July 15 and there are 198 bibs available, a nod to the number of entrants in previous grand tours.
For your entrance fee you receive a Campilaro jersey, pasta party entrance, food stops during the stages, mechanical assistance, electronic timer and roadbook, 20-litre backpack (to be handed over to the organising team every morning who will return it to you on the finishing line), and a souvenir of your adventure.
There is a PDF for 2018 in English here, which provides the full itinerary, and an event website in French only here for registrations.
Finding accommodation
You can take an accommodation package offered trogh the organises or, better still, use one of the bike-friendly accommodation options on the map below.
Bike hire
You can use our bespoke service for bike hire for this event.
Thanks to Geoff and Victoria at the Free Range Chalet cycling accommodation in Luchon for letting us know about this event.