P07 Orthez - Pamplona

Seventh stage to the Algarve, from Orthez to Pamplona, 141 kilometers and 2554 altitude meters.

First, you encounter some rolling roads until after 25 km you ride into Sauveterre de Béarn over 'le Gave d’Oloron'. After that, it’s about 40 km flat to slightly rolling and from Saint-Jean-du-Pied-du-Port (km 70) you gradually climb to the highest point of the day. Saint-Jean-du-Pied-du-Port is well known among many Compostela pilgrims as the crossing of the Pyrenees.

After 75 km you cross the French-Spanish border and enter the region of 'Navarra'. Here you traverse the Pyrenees with one gentle pass. You follow the valley of the 'Petite Nive' from the village of Arnéguy. At the border area with Spain, the climb begins again, in Spain we follow the 'rio Luzanne'. You climb from 60 Hm above sea level to a height of 1074 Hm. Spanning about 25 km, the average gradient is 4%. The first 10 km are the least steep, the last 10 are slightly steeper. Riders would call this a runner's climb.

Just before Roncevalles, near the 'Pto Ibañeta', you reach the highest point of the day. After that, it’s rolling roads at an altitude of 800 to 1000 Hm with respectively 'Pto de Aurizberri' and 'Pto Erro'. The last 20 km are gently downhill along the 'Rio Arga' to Pamplona.

Pamplona (Iruñea in Basque) is the capital of the Spanish region Navarra. The city is located on the river 'Arga' and has about 194,000 inhabitants. Navarra is one of the seven provinces of the Basque Country, 4 in Spain and 3 in France. The city is especially known for the annual bull runs during the San Fermín festivities, in honor of San Firmín who is the co-patron saint of the city. These festivities take place between July 6 and 14.