Cathar

This is the second, through Cathar country in the rarely visited eastern Pyrenees.

Marcel Proust joined our walks along the French Cathar Way last year.

Coming right after the ascent of the Tourmalet — where Pinot had already showed his great form and stamina with a stage win at the famed Tour mountain — Stage 15 ran close to the ancient Cathar castles and was a punishing ride totaling more than 24 miles of climbing.

Coming right after Stage 14 to the famed Col du Tourmalet — the first of three finishes over 2,000 meters this year — the last Pyrenean trek running close to the ancient Cathar castles is a grueling and daunting ride totaling more than 39 kilometers of climbing.

The blood of St. Peter Martyr, who was killed by Cathar heretics in 1252, was also accorded medicinal properties.