CYCLISTS from Devizes headed to the Pyrenees to tackle climbs tackled by Tour de France riders.

And while they were there they took the opportunity to watch the race itself as the riders headed over the Col de Peyresourde.

Member Paddy Little said: "Yet again we have a number of riders from the UK as lead protagonists in what many feel is one of the greatest sporting spectacles of them all.

"In anticipation of this, and following a successful club trip to the Alps last year, Devizes Town Cycling Trip organised a club training camp to the Pyrenees, not only to train for a week over the same climbs as the event itself competes over, but also to watch the Tour in the flesh.

"Twelve club members, 10 male and two female, of varied fitness and experience levels took part and accomplished what had been set out: a tough diet of riding hard every day, conquering arguably the most famous climbs of the Pyrenees, enjoying the support of like-minded club members, and all culminating in the excitement of the Tour spectacle passing only metres away.

"For many cyclists, riding in the mountains is the climax of any year’s training. It means tough, gruelling climbs in high temperatures, where the speed bumps of Wiltshire’s hills feel a long way distant from the 10-20km climbs one finds in the Pyrenees.

"It means riding to one’s limits, but appreciating that the very nature of riding in mountains means that with a bit of planning and compromise on everyone’s part, groups can easily accommodate a variety of different fitness and expectation levels.

"We wemt over the Col de Tourmalet, Col d’Aubisque, the Hautacam, the Col de Peyresourde, and Super Bagneres, as well as a host of smaller, less well-known climbs, some of which were ferociously steep and unremitting.

"At the top of nearly all of them were cafes or auberges, refuges for a quick coffee, ice cream, or omelettes and crepes followed by absolutely exhilarating descents back to the valley floor.

"As for the the tour, well you might have missed it if you blinked, but standing on one of the hairpins at the start of Stage 8 climb up the Col de Peyresourde was a group of Devizes riders cheering on the peloton.

"What of next year? Well, planning has already started, but until the 2017 tour route is announced in October, plans will remain a closely-guarded secret."

Visit www.devizestowncycling.co.uk for details about the club