Cerdagne loop over the Col de la Perche
55 km · 800 m · Bourg-Madame
- Base
- Bourg-Madame
- Distance
- 55 km
- Elevation gain
- 800 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Type
- Loop
- Highest point
- Col de la Perche, 1,581 m
- Season
- May–October
The Cerdagne is a sunny high plateau at 1200–1600 metres where you ride with wide views rather than long climbs. The loop goes via the Spanish enclave of Llívia, up to the Col de la Perche, which from this side is just a long, gentle climb averaging 2–3 per cent, and then via the ski resort of Font-Romeu and the solar furnace at Odeillo back down towards the border. Good for getting used to the altitude and for a rest day between tougher stages.
TipsAvoid the main N116 road where possible; it has heavy traffic. Cafés in Llívia, Saillagouse and Font-Romeu. Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms. Puigcerdà, just across the border, is a nice place for a coffee stop. Combine it with the Coll de Pal (2106 m) from La Molina/Bagà on another day if you want something harder nearby.
Nearby
- Bains de LloSulphur springs by the Sègre gorge
Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000 – Nordic area (La Calme)Cerdagne, Pyrénées-Orientales
Cambre d'AzeEyne and Saint-Pierre-dels-Forcats, Cerdagne, Pyrénées-Orientales- Bains de DorresGranite tubs with 40-degree water
Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000Cerdagne, Pyrénées-Orientales.jpg?width=500)
Mont-LouisVauban's citadel at 1,600 metres
Cycling rides
- Gavarnie from Luz-Saint-Sauveur40 km · 700 m · Easy
- Aubisque and Soulor from Laruns55 km · 1,550 m · Moderate
- Col de Marie-Blanque loop from Arudy60 km · 1,000 m · Moderate
- Col du Pourtalet to Formigal and Sallent82 km · 1,800 m · Moderate
- Port de Larrau and Pierre-Saint-Martin, French–Spanish loop127 km · 3,000 m · Very hard
- The Tourmalet from both sides72 km · 2,700 m · Hard
- Hautacam and Luz Ardiden102 km · 2,550 m · Hard
- Peyresourde and Aspin from Luchon88 km · 2,650 m · Hard
- The Tour's 65-kilometre stage: Luchon–Col de Portet65 km · 3,000 m · Hard
- Port de Balès and Peyresourde from Luchon88 km · 2,300 m · Hard
- The big Comminges loop: Ares, Balès, Menté and Portet d'Aspet133 km · 3,300 m · Very hard
- Col de Port and Mur de Péguère from Foix74 km · 1,750 m · Hard
- Latrape, Saraillé and Col d'Agnes from Aulus76 km · 1,950 m · Hard
- The Pailhères from both sides and Ax 3 Domaines75 km · 2,850 m · Hard
- Coll d'Ordino and Beixalís from Andorra la Vella62 km · 1,700 m · Moderate
- Port de la Bonaigua from Vielha46 km · 1,150 m · Moderate
- The queen stage Pau–Luchon (the Circle of Death in reverse)197 km · 4,800 m · Very hard