330 km covered on foot and by bike in 33 hours: the incredible sporting challenge of Bernard Pucheu-Planté to reach the spa resorts of the Hautes-Pyrénées

Bernard Pucheu-Planté is not his first attempt. The 59-year-old Cauteresian is used to taking on sporting challenges of great endurance. Like the time he traveled 400 km by bike and on foot, from Tarbes to Lourdes via the central Pyrenees, in the footsteps of Pyrenean cyclist Georges Ledormeur… “I am passionate about long-distance endurance,” he admits. I do a lot of cycling, mountain biking, long distance triathlons, etc. And I also have a second passion: the geography of the river. Besides, that's why I live in Cauterets… That's it. is something that animates me, also calms me, and gives me the desire to ascend.”

So, for his new sporting challenge, Bernard decided to combine his two passions with a physical experience of endurance based on the natural and thermal geography of the Hautes-Pyrénées. “In the department, there are 7 thermal spas (Cauterets, Argelès, Bagnères, St Lary, Capvern, Luz and Barèges). My idea was therefore to establish a route, to be carried out on foot and by bike, in order to accommodate all connect without stopping And I also decided to go through Luchon…” That's a total loop of 330 km, including around 8,000 m of elevation gain with 9 passes and a summit to cross!

The story of the journey

Last Thursday, October 31, it was 10 a.m. when Bernard set off from the Cauterets egg esplanade, which is also his arrival point. He leaves on foot (run and walk) to the Col du Lisey and Soum des Aulhères in order to descend to the Luz Ardiden station. There, he found Marc Bruning, the director of the Departmental Sports Office, who agreed to supervise him in particular to ensure his supplies throughout the journey. By getting on his bike to tackle the Col du Tourmalet (from Luz), Bernard then begins the second stage of his challenge: “There, it's violent for the legs. But, I was lucky it worked out. went well…”

The Tourmalet crossed at 5 p.m., the Cauterésien then tackles the Hourquette d'Ancizan. At night now: “Descending a pass at night is no fun. You have to be very careful.” After passing Saint-Lary, he joined Luchon at the stroke of midnight via the Col de Peyresourde, far from being the most pleasant moment: “There is cold and fatigue at this time. It's a mess in head, I'm not far from giving up”.

But Bernard hangs on, the route is intended to be easier until Capvern then Bagnères via the Col des Palomières and Argelès-Gazost via the Col de Lingous. It was then 9 a.m., almost 24 hours after departure, when he began the ascent in the Val d'Azun to reach the Col des Bordères then Lac d'Estaing, reached around 1:30 p.m. a big resupply, it is time to start the 3rd stage of the journey, again on foot. Passing through the Col d'Ilhéou, he finally arrives in Cauterets at 7 p.m. That is 33 hours after his departure… “When I arrive at the egg esplanade, it’s classy,” smiles the Cauterésian. “It’s truly a magical place that I love.”

At almost 60 years old, Bernard has managed to complete his incredible journey of the “thermal route”. And there is no doubt that he will take on new endurance challenges in the future…