Hendaye

8.00

Leaving station end of town, head to Hendaye Plage and upto rolling Corniche. Cool, misty start to day. Quiet roads all day.

Ciboure

8.30

6.26(10)

30 mins

6

Corniche Basque – rolling coastal road.

St Jean de Luz

8.38

2.5(4)

8 mins

14

Took road through centre. Slight up hill through town. Follow signs for Ascain D4.

Ascain

8.52

3.75(6)

14 mins

30

Gently gain height by Nivelle river.

Col de St Ignace

9.07

2.8(4.5)

15 mins

169

Hairpin climb starts from Ascain. Sun breaking through, pleasantly warm.

Cherchebruit

9.28

4.1(6.5)

21 mins

32

Dancharia

9.42

4.1(6.5)

14 mins

50

On Spanish border.

Ainhoa

9.51

1.9(3)

9 mins

124

Col Pinodeita

10.07

1.9(3)

16 mins

176

Espelette

10.12

10.50

1.6(2.5)

5 mins

58

Café and carnet stop.

Mont Urzumu

11.00

2.2(3.5)

10 mins

213

Pleasant backroad, gentle hill.

Itxassou

11.06

2.2(3.5)

6 mins

150

Soubeleta

1.25(2)

Louhossoa

11.21

3.1(5)

15 mins

86

St Jean-Pied-de-Port

12.17

13.30

15.9(25.5)

56 mins

163

Lunch-stop (pasta) watching the traffic at this junction town.

 52.4 miles @14.4mph

Larceveau

14.04

9.4(15)

34 mins

132

Fast, level-ish run along hard-shoulder.

Col d’Osquich

14.46

7.5(12)

42 mins

500

Rolls to St Just, then stiff climb (8.5% down to 5.5%).

Mauléon

15.06

6.9(11)

20 mins

141

Good, fast descent.

Tardets

15.45

16.25

10.9(17.5)

39 mins

286

Café stop. Fast road, good surface.

85.2 miles @14.5mph

Arette

17.05

6.6(10.5)

40 mins

250

Nasty, short climb after Montory.

Issor

3.4(5.5)

Fast downhill section Asasp helped by a tow from a club cyclist.

Carrefour D918/D134

3.75(6)

Asasp

17.28

23 mins

St Christau

1.25(2)

320

Arudy

18.30

12.5(20)

1hr 2 mins

7 hrs 55 mins

Minor wooded climb and long descent with v. bad surface. Arudy centre slightly difficult to find. Ugly approach with abandoned industry, but pretty town with nicely lit central square: Hotel de France 2* (Fax 00 33 5 59 05 70 06). Dinner at hotel –v.good (last serving 8.30pm). Early breakfast (pre-8am) by arrangement. Garage for bikes. Bar next door. Small supermarket, pharmacy, creperie

115.14 miles @14.5mph