Somewhere between a tonne of hairpin corners, gorgeous Basque Country descents and sheep blocking the road, we all stopped thinking about work for a week. Turns out that's what an epic point-to-point cycling trip across the Pyrenees will do to you!

A Bespoke Corporate Trip

We took 40 people - Salesforce colleagues and partners, some who'd barely met before, some who'd never ridden more than a few hours in their life - out to Toulouse for a point-to-point week of cycling all the way to San Sebastian. But the thing that mattered more than any climb was why they were doing it: challenging themselves to raise money for multiple amazing charities.

Everyone made it over the Tourmalet too - every single person! Here's how the week went:

Toulouse Arrival

First night, no riding yet - the bikes arrived in the van from London, we had dinner together alongside the first evening ride briefing, and everyone got a sense of who they'd be spending the week with. The calm before four very big days!

Day 1 - Toulouse to Lourdes Cycling Route

160km, 1860m of climbing, and everyone was straight into it on day one. Riders split into four pace groups so everyone could ride at a level that suited them, with an amazing lunch stop by a lake to break up the day before rolling on to Lourdes for the night. For a lot of the group, it was already the furthest they'd ever ridden a bike, with three more days still to go.

Day 2 - Climbing the Col du Tourmalet

100km, 2070m of elevation. The kind of climb that's nearly broken professional riders, and one of the most legendary climbs in the Tour de France.

This one, everyone climbed at their own pace - some with music playing, some just going for it, all of them taking in the EPIC views the whole way up the Tourmalet. Our support van did the quiet work in the background - sugar and snacks, right when the legs really started feeling it.

One father and daughter rode it side by side, start to finish - one of the loveliest things about the whole week!

EVERYONE made it. Every single rider, going at their own pace, up and around every hairpin - and at the top, the group was there waiting and cheering each other on.

Then came the descent - the most insane views, a few sheep wandering across the road, and SO much fun getting back down. On the way back, we stopped for a cheeky bib dip which was very much welcomed after a huge climbing day.

Day 3 - Cycling Into the Basque Country: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

145km and 1430m of elevation, and the scenery properly changed on this one - cobbled streets, entering Basque Country, riding through towns lined with traditional white and red houses. For lunch we sat down at a traditional auberge bistro, plates of paella and Basque cheesecake, to refuel for the remaining 45km we had left.

We arrived at an incredible accommodation overlooking the mountains, where everyone connected over a swim, a sauna, and dinner while the sun set over the mountains.

Day 4 - Finishing the Ride in San Sebastian

A shorter day, 90km taking the group through the Basque Country to San Sebastián, with one more spicy BIG climb before a lovely descent into the city, followed by everyone jumping straight into the ocean for one final bib dip. Then cocktails and one last dinner with the group to round off the amazing week.

By this point plenty of riders had done the longest ride of their lives more than once that week, which is an insanely good stat for a work trip! Everyone bonded, had an incredible sense of self achievement and group accomplishment, and got proper time on bikes and amongst the mountains, away from the desk.

Corporate Cycling Trips with Moloko

This is what a Moloko corporate cycling trip looks like. Everything is fully planned - all the routes led by our ride leaders, incredible hotels in scenic spots, a support van to provide the vibes and sugar top-ups, and making sure everyone - first-timers included - gets to the top of every climb and to the end of every route.

We build point-to-point cycling trips like this one, or fully custom cycling routes designed around your team - wherever you want to ride, however many days you've got, whatever mix of abilities you're bringing.

If your team's got a point-to-point or a Tourmalet in them, get in touch and we'll talk you through the options for doing your own corporate cycling trip with Moloko.