A special reduction for your accommodation is offered for those partaking in any cycling event whilst staying at La Haille Gîtes<\/STRONG>. We offer discount to CTC and other affiliated cycle club members and also Singletrack magazine subscribers. Sorry, this offer is not available during the months of July and August.

MARK PICKFORD CYCLES<\/STRONG><\/A> kindly sponsor La Haille Gîtes<\/STRONG>.

Please visit the \'Gallery\' for more photographs of some of the cycling we have done with our clients and friends.<\/STRONG>

SOME OF OUR GUESTS THAT HAVE CYCLED WITH US . . .

<\/STRONG>\"Had a great time cycling with Mark and Eliane. Road, cross country, on your doorstep, downhill, all mountain and Tour de France climbs an hour away! What more could you want? An extra week! Thank you both.\"
- Lucy & Roger, Jersey, Channel Islands.<\/I>

\"La Haille is a great base for all types of cycling; off-road trails for all abilities and road cycling on quiet roads. A short drive even lets you tackle some famous cols. There are also opportunities to take part in local events. I hope it won\'t be too long before I manage back!\"
- Ray, Scotland.<\/I>

\"The countryside around you is amazing, the cycling was awesome and the hospitality show by the two of you was phenomenal. Thank you so much for giving up your time to insure that we enjoyed ourselves so much, particularly on the day we did Peyresourde, Aspin and Tourmalet. If you\'ll have me again I\'ll definitely be coming back to finish off La Tourmalet; who knows, I may even cross to the \'dark side\' and try my hand at VTT!\"
- Paul, Guernsey, Channel Islands.<\/I>

\"Another fantastic holiday - our fifth time staying with you has been the best ever! We have returned home, reluctant but refreshed and certainly fitter than when we arrived. The guiding was brilliant, as were the local club outings - it was great to be able to cover so many different routes. And in between the cycling - we still found lots to do. The only regret is missing the downhilling from Luchon and the white water rafting - next time! Great gite, great cycling, great views - what more could you ask for? Thanks again for making us so welcome.\"
- Lorna and Richard, England.<\/I>

$\"Nicolas$ Local professional cyclists<\/STRONG>
Auch, Gers is birthplace to two brothers, both of whom are very promising up and coming cyclists, Nicolas and Sébastien Portal.
Nicolas started his professional riding career in 2002 with team AG2R Prévoyance winning a stage of the Dauphiné Libéré in 2004 and then moving to team Caisse d\'Epargne in 2006. That year he finished 18th in Stage 19 of the Tour de France finishing overall in 100th position, in 2007 Nicolas finished overall in 57th position, in 2008 he finished overall in 66th position but his 2009 season was cut short due to an irregular heart rhythm and consequently did not compete in the 2010 Tour de France.
Over the years he has also ridden for the MTB Team of France winning many competitive events and is currently riding for the new British team, Team Sky.

More information available on Nicolas Portal<\/A><\/STRONG>

Photo by kind permission.

Sébastien rode for Crédit Agricole in 2006, moving to Caisse d\'Epargne in 2007, then Cofidis in 2008 and 2009 and, along with numerous other victories, was MTB Champion of the Midi-Pyrénées and is currently unattached to a team.

We wish the \'Freres from the Gers\' all the best for the upcoming cycling season.

Tour de France
<\/STRONG>The Tour de France passed through our village of Villefranche d\'Astarac on Friday July 16th 2004.

Every year the Tour de France passes near to us. The Pyrénées mountain passes on the Tour de France route are linked to each other by a road called the ‘four passes stretch’, claimed to be the place where the Tour is lost or won. Col d’Aspin, (altitude: 4,960 feet, 1,489 metres); Col de l’Aubisque, (altitude: 5,696 feet, 1,754 metres); Col du Tourmalet, (altitude: 7,050 feet, 2,115 metres); Col de Peyresourde, (altitude: 5,230 feet, 1,569 metres); all are within easy reach.

$\"Col$ $\"La$
\'Le Géant du Tourmalet\' \'La Grande Boucle\'<\/EM><\/STRONG>

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<\/P>\n
$\"Lance$ <\/P>
The legendary Lance Armstrong, the only man to win the Tour de France SEVEN consecutive times from 1999 to 2005! AND . . . after an absence of three years, Lance Armstrong, finished in third place in the 2009 Tour de France!!<\/EM><\/STRONG>

Book with us for 2011 to watch a nearby stage or an exciting Pyrénées mountain stage.

More photographs from the Tour de France in the \'Gallery\' section. \n
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<\/STRONG><\/A>\'Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever\'.<\/I>
LANCE ARMSTRONG<\/STRONG><\/I> <\/P>\n
\'YELLOW wakes me up in the morning.
YELLOW gets me on the bike every day.
YELLOW has taught me the true meaning of sacrifice.
YELLOW makes me suffer.
YELLOW is the reason I\'m here\'.<\/I>
LANCE ARMSTRONG - \'Mellow Johnny\'<\/STRONG><\/I><\/P>\n
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