L’Ariégeoise

L’Ariégeoise is a cyclosportive in the Ariège Pyrenees of south-west France, and the organiser’s website gives Saturday 26 June 2027 as the date of its 31st edition. Riders start from Avenue Paul Joucla in Tarascon-sur-Ariège, in the Occitanie region, where the valleys meet on the way to Spain and Andorra. The organiser lists three timed routes (L’Ariégeoise, La Mountagnole and La Rapaillou) and three non-timed formats, with entries already open on the official site.

Routes and distances

The distances and elevation gain for 2027 have not been published yet: the organiser’s route pages still show placeholders, and the 2027 regulations say routes and cut-off times will be published on 22 November 2026.

L’Ariégeoise is the timed flagship route and La Mountagnole is also timed, with distance and elevation still to come for both. La Rapaillou is timed too, and the organiser’s page gives 92 km and about 2,200 m of climbing, though that page still mixes 2026 and 2027 references, so treat the figures as provisional. The non-timed formats are Elles font l’Ariégeoise, for women only, and La Passéjade / Passéjad’Elec, which allows e-bikes assisted up to 25 km/h.

The Rapaillou, billed as the accessible way into the event, starts with 20 fast, rolling kilometres to the foot of the château at Foix. It then climbs for nearly 32 km, which the organiser calls one of the longest climbs in the Pyrenees, over the Col de Péguère to the Col du Portel. After the descent to Biert, the route climbs again through Massat towards the Port de Lers. The organiser’s menu also lists a timed climb at Soulcem as part of the 2027 programme; details are not yet published.

The regulations set cut-off guide speeds of 19 km/h for L’Ariégeoise and 15 km/h for the other routes, as average speeds over the full distance. Mandatory kit includes an approved rigid helmet, two full water bottles, cold-weather clothing and a charged phone. Triathlon bars are prohibited, and e-bikes are allowed only on the Passéjad’Elec. Riders without an FFC licence need a medical certificate or FFC Health Module certificate. We have not found feed-station locations or official GPX files for 2027.

Registration

Entries opened in mid-October 2026 through the organiser’s Njuko registration page, with prices from €55. For the timed routes, the price is €55 (FFC licence holders) or €59 (other riders) until 22 November 2026, €65 or €69 until 31 December 2026, €85 or €89 from 1 January to 16 May 2027, and €95 or €99 from 17 May to 13 June 2027. Non-timed routes are €65 or €69 from 1 January 2027, and processing fees are extra.

Registration closes on 13 June 2027 at 23:59, or earlier once 5,300 entries are reached. Riders can switch routes free of charge until 21 May 2027, and cancellation insurance allows an 80% refund. A post-event meal costs €13.

Bibs are collected on rue des Remparts in Tarascon-sur-Ariège on Friday 25 June 2027 from 09:00 to 20:00 and on Saturday 26 June from 04:30 to 07:15. The organiser’s site also announces a village expo on the Friday.

Full details are on the official website.

Why ride it

The programme goes beyond one sportive: the organiser lists three timed routes, three non-timed formats and a timed climb at Soulcem on the same weekend. Tarascon-sur-Ariège sits at the crossroads of valleys leading to Spain and Andorra, so the roads head straight into big mountain terrain. The organiser’s site says the village expo has more than 40 exhibitors and attracts 7,000 visitors a year.

Where to stay

None of our certified cycling-friendly hotels is close to Tarascon-sur-Ariège yet. The organiser’s Organise your stay page links to an interactive map of outdoor establishments, restaurants, hotels and tourist sites. With bib collection on the Friday and an early start on the Saturday, it is worth arriving the day before and booking early. You can also browse more cycling-friendly accommodation.