We rode around the Pyrenees last summer, and loved it – and now La Marmotte have announced that they’ll be adding the Marmotte Pyrenees to their roster of iconic events for this year.

Like the original La Marmotte sportive in the Alps, the organisers have looked to pack the route with iconic climbs of the Tour de France and make it as difficult as possible for a mass participation event.

The company already offer events in the Dolomites and the Alps, where riders receive way marking, feed stations and all the perks of taking part in an official sportive as you might expect. Their new Marmotte Pyrenees will take place on August 28 and will take riders from Argeles-Gazost to Luz Ardiden.

The first ascent on the route will be the the Col du Tourmalet. Following the long descent, the second climb will be the Hourquette before the classic Tour de France double of the Col d’Aspin & Col du Tourmalet once again. Then there’s one final ascent to the ski station at Luz Ardiden.

The five climbs culminate to offer a jaw dropping 5,600m of elevation – to put that into context, at last year’s Vuelta a Espana, pundits and riders alike were calling one stage to Andorra the hardest ever Grand Tour stage. That day featured 5,000m of elevation.

The event is held over the August bank holiday, and Sportive Breaks have partnered with Marmotte Pyrenees to offer hotel rooms in Luz Saint Sauveur and sportive entries from £249 per person – find out more here.