HISTORY

The Raid Pyrénéen turns 70 in 2020

William (British citizen) has completed the Raid in 2021 with the bib 10 000

Read the report of the first crossing of the Pyrenees by the road of the passes made by Lily BETBEDER and Paul MATHIS in June 1950

Created in 1950 by the Cyclo Club Béarnais, the Raid Pyrénéen is a permanent tour, open from June 1st to September 30th.

A crossing of the Pyrenees by bike from the ocean to the Mediterranean (Hendaye to Cerbère or Cerbère to Hendaye) which takes in prestigious passes and others less known.
In 1950 five cyclists embarked on the adventure of the Pyrenean Raid.

Today we have more than 300 participants per year (with a record year of more than 600).
Some figures :
- 16 nationalities,
- 90% foreigners, mostly from the United Kingdom,
- 85% choose the Randonneur formula,
- 90% leave from Hendaye.

Louis PUCHEUS is one of the five CCB pioneers who rallied Cerbère to Hendaye in 1950. Nine days after the Lily BETBEDER and Paul MATHIS team, he completed the Raid Pyrénéen with Fernand PIÈGE and Henri LABORDE.
He wrote a first article for the magazine "Le Cycliste" in 1950, very well written but with some inaccuracies on the origins of the Raid.

The Raid is officially presented to the regional press, in the presence of its creator Mr BUGARD, then 73 years old, at the end of 1951.

At the end of 1952, the Raid was a success and Louis PUCHEUS, member of the Raid Pyrénéen committee, wrote the history of the Raid with passion and precision.
This very experienced hiker (diagonals, Paris-Brest-Paris) is a discreet man and he will be satisfied to sign this beautiful article by his initials L. P.

This article will appear in its entirety on the booklet given to each participant until after the 1980s. On this booklet Joseph DARRACQ, then vice-president of the club, recalls the name of the author of this history.

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FORMULAS

The Raid Pyrénéen RANDONNEUR
720 km - 18 passes
11 000 m of ascent
To be completed in 100 hours maximum

The Pyrenean Touring Raid
800 km - 28 passes
18 000 m of ascent
To be completed in 10 days maximum