THE HIDDEN GEM OF THE PYRENEES

Chris Marshall-Bell takes the road less travelled to explore some of the least ridden and most beautiful climbs in the Pyrenees

- Chris Marshall-Bell

Tucked away in the very heart of the Pyrenees, concealed by the highest peaks and undisturbed by its louder neighbours, the Val d’Aran is the best-kept secret of one of cycling’s greatest mountain ranges.

Largely unfrequented and unspoiled, the locals even speak a language, aranés, that only 7,000 people can understand, but this outpost at the very north of Spain is replete with great climbs to rival any of those in France’s Hautes-Pyrénées or nearby Andorra.

Meaning 'valley of valleys' in aranés, the self-governed mountain hideaway has proudly sat alone throughout its intriguing history, a tunnel built in 1948 finally offering isolated inhabitants a route to other parts of Catalonia in the winter months, with the only other access road to the rest of Spain blocked by snow.

The Tour de France has passed through on multiple occasions, most recently hosting a stage start in 2016, while the Volta a Catalunya and Vuelta a España are no strangers either.

Yet in spite of boasting 16 climbs and little traffic, the valley remains a place overlooked by the cycling world, with the Spanish typically only coming in the winter to enjoy its world-class backcountry ski terrain.

A third of the size of Greater London, the Val d'Aran packs in just 175 kilometres of road, all of which either goes up or down. Highlights include the Mortirolo Aranés, the legsapping ascent to Sauth deth Pish and the pristine lake of Bassa d'Oles.

All unfamiliar names and unfamiliar places, difficult to say and difficult to conquer, but worthy of being ridden by more cyclists who crave a mountain challenge.

We have profiled three must-do climbs as well as one big route that we recommend on any visit to this Pyrenean cycling paradise.