Cycling enthusiasts with family or friends, you are surely looking for a nice walk with a pretty setting in Ariège and around Foix with a view of the Pyrenees. Friends parking for cyclists and pedal enthusiasts, you are looking for yet another challenge for you surpass. Maybe like us, you are a fan of Tour de France and you want to follow in the footsteps of the runners on the route of the legendary passes of the Great Boucle. Dear mountain bikers and gravel bikers, our territory is also a playground of choice for your leisure or sporting outings!
Accueil Vélo Label
The objective of the national brand “Accueil Vélo ” is to provide a clear and easily identifiable designation for services aimed at bicycle tourists along cycle routes, cycle routes and green ways. This mark applies in particular to accommodation, tourist sites, bicycle rental companies or repairers, etc.
The Foix Ariège Pyrenees tourist office is labeled Accueil velo, you will find the following services with us:
- Provision of a repair and maintenance kit (set of keys, tire iron, patches, pump, lubricant, etc.);
- Possibility of recharging your battery at reception;
- Baggage storage;
- Water point and public toilets outside;
- Bicycle hoops in front of the tourist office.
And advice adapted to cycling!
Accessibility of our territory
Find below all the information you need to get to Foix by car 🚗, train 🚂 or plane ✈️.
Heading to the county town
Coming to Foix
Accessibility of the tourist office by bike
Join the SNCF station and the greenway from the tourist office 🚶🚲:
Reach the tourist office from the greenway and the train station 🚶🚲:
To join us
Bike Rental Companies
Want to cycle in Ariège near Foix? You are in the right place ! Rent your mountain bike, hybrid bike, electric bike, or road bike for a day or several days and set off on an adventure on the roads of Ariège. Discover all our rental companies below!
Rent equipment in Foix and surrounding areas
The Voie Verte to go at your own pace between Foix and Saint-Girons / Prat-Bonrepaux
To borrow the Greenway from Foix, you can start your way behind the SNCF train station or directly to Vernajoul. This old railway line which allows you to join the Couserans, is 42 kilometers long with a stabilized surface and some sections of road. It passes in particular through different points of interest and tourist sites such as the Underground River from Labouiche to Baulou, the Palace of the Bishops of Saint-Lizier and the town of Saint Girons.
This route crossing Ariège from East to West, in the foothills of Pyrenees, offers you the possibility of going at your own pace, quietly, without no difficulties (apart from maybe having to turn around). For the eyes, it's a pleasant stroll, punctuated by traces of XNUMXth century railway heritage, such as the 14 arches of the Vernajoul viaduct.
We are leading the way
A bicycle ascent of the legendary passes of the Pyrenees of the Tour de France
For our cycling friends wishing to discover or rediscover Ariège and the Pyrenees, our network of routes offers a myriad of possibilities with elevation differences for all levels of practice.
Our territory is also recognized for its legendary passes nearby, some of which regularly appear on the Grande Boucle route. You have on the program:
The Prat d'Albis
Le Prat d'Albis was the arrival of Tour de France in 2019 for the first time! At an altitude of 1205m and a sublime view of the town of Foix, the Prat and its 11.8km at 6.9% was a great last climb for runners who had already passed the Col de Montségur Port de Lers and Mur de Péguère.
The Col des Marrous
Le with is regularly borrowed by the Tour de France, as during the 13th stage in 2017 or the 15th stage linking Limoux to Foix-Prat d'Albis in 2019, in the descending direction from the Mur de Péguère.
The Beille Plateau
Since 1998, the ascent from Les Cabannes to the plateau has regularly constituted the final ascent of a stage of the Tour de France. The Beille plateau is also a fantastic playground for your mountain bike outings.
The Port Pass
Passage between Vicdessos and Massat, in Couserans, it is the first major Pyrenean pass included in the program of a Tour de France. Since then, there have been more than 30 crossings at the Col de Port. It is regularly replaced by its nearby neighbor: the Péguère wall.
The Col (or wall) of Péguère
The first time that Grande Boucle cyclists crossed it was very recent. This was in 2012. This ascension lives up to its name with 3.6km on average at 11% with two short portions at 16 and 18%. (hence its nickname “wall”).
Take these passes…
Mountain biking or gravel biking to get off the beaten track
If you are passing through Prat d'Albis or the family Col des Marrous, why not take out your mountain bike or gravel bike to explore the many forest trails of the Consulate of Foix National Forest.
Le gravel bike is a dynamic bike that draws its inspiration from both the road bike, touring bike and cyclocross. It offers the possibility of riding on a variety of terrains, combining roads and paths.
Cycling routes 🚴
Saddle up! Explore the Ariège region around Foix and discover our most beautiful trails. Take on legendary mountain passes, admire breathtaking panoramas, and take on the challenges of Col de Péguère or the climb to Prat d’Albis!
Hors catégorie le cyclotour de l’Ariège en 5 jours – circuit n°11
Hors catégorie étape 100% Ariège tour de France – circuit n°12
Foix, a real Cycling Hub
What is a Cycling Hub?
A Cycling Hub is an area that concentrates services for cyclists, easily accessible by public transport, promoting the interaction of both tourists and residents. It is a gateway to an area that connects, upstream, cycle tourism enthusiasts and, downstream, quality infrastructure, equipment, and services to facilitate cycling for tourists and residents alike.
An environment at the service of the cyclist
Born from a shared desire to offer an exceptional cycling experience, Cycling Hubs bring together all the essential services for experiencing cycling tourism in the best possible conditions. Accommodation with secure bike storage, adapted restaurants, dedicated rental and repair shops, dedicated information spaces... all meet the standards of the national Accueil Vélo label (or equivalent) and are part of a continuous improvement process.
Adapted and secure routes and equipment
Cycling Hubs in Occitanie are the ideal starting point for safe cycling routes, designed to meet the needs and abilities of all cyclists. Each route takes you to discover the region's must-see treasures, recognized regionally. Along the way, take advantage of practical amenities: restrooms, water points, secure bike parking, lockers, dedicated lanes in built-up areas, electric bike charging stations, and more. And that's just the beginning: the infrastructure continues to evolve to offer ever more services and ensure a cycling experience accessible to all.
An accessible territory
By definition, a hub is a connecting platform, a convenient and connected access point. Cycling Hubs are easily accessible by car, train, coach, bus… and of course, by bike! Equipped with train stations (SNCF train stations in Foix, Varilhes and Saint-Jean-de-Verges) or well-served roads with direct road access (motorway or national road), they can also be located along cycle routes and greenways. So-called "last mile" transport is designed to simplify access to accommodation, services and the starting points of cycle routes.
A tourist base also for the benefit of residents!
With a view to optimizing public and private investments, deseasonalization, and involving residents, the concept of a "hub" extends beyond tourism. A Cycling Hub is, above all, a place that serves its community: it welcomes tourists by bike, encourages local practice, improves travel safety, and facilitates access to school or work by bike.
The creation of a Cycling Hub reflects a region's commitment to developing a genuine cycling culture, implementing a quality approach, and becoming a hub for exchanges between residents and visitors. This collective commitment to tourism and soft mobility is based on a trust agreement between public and private stakeholders, brought together within a steering committee.
