HISTORY

The Raid Pyrénéen celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025

William (a British citizen) completed the Raid in 2021 with race number 10,000

Read the account of the first crossing of the Pyrenees mountain range via the mountain passes route, undertaken by Lily BETBEDER and Paul MATHIS in June 1950

Established in 1950 by the Cyclo Club Béarnais, the Raid Pyrénéen is a year-round cycle route, open from 1 June to 30 September.

A cycle crossing of the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean (Hendaye to Cerbère or Cerbère to Hendaye), taking in both famous and lesser-known mountain passes.
In 1950, five cyclists set out on the Raid Pyrénéen adventure.

Today we have over 300 participants a year (with a record year of over 600).
Some figures:
- 16 nationalities,
- 90% from abroad, mainly from the United Kingdom,
- 85% choose the ‘Randonneur’ option,
- 90% set off from Hendaye.

Louis PUCHEUS was one of the five CCB pioneers who cycled from Cerbère to Hendaye in 1950. Nine days after the team led by Lily BETBEDER and Paul MATHIS, he completed the Raid Pyrénéen alongside Fernand PIÈGE and Henri LABORDE.
He wrote his first article for the magazine *Le Cycliste* in 1950; it was very well written but contained a few inaccuracies regarding the origins of the Raid.

The Raid was officially presented to the regional press, in the presence of its founder Mr BUGARD, then aged 73, in late 1951.

By the end of 1952, the Raid was a success, and Louis PUCHEUS, a member of the Raid Pyrénéen committee, wrote the history of the Raid with passion and precision.
This highly experienced cyclist (Diagonales, Paris–Brest–Paris) was a discreet man and simply signed this fine article with his initials, L. P.

This article appeared in full in the booklet given to each participant until well into the 1980s. In this booklet, Joseph DARRACQ, then vice-president of the club, acknowledged the name of the author of this history.

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PACKAGES

The Pyrenean Raid HIKER
720 km – 18 mountain passes
11,000 m of elevation gain
To be completed in a maximum of 100 hours

The Pyrenean Raid – TOURIST
800 km – 28 mountain passes
18,000 m of elevation gain
To be completed in a maximum of 10 days