All articles tagged with #pyrenees
Ancient hunter-gatherers around 16,000 years ago risked their lives exploring a difficult cave in the French Pyrenees, possibly for ritualistic shaman training, as evidenced by intricate paintings and tools found deep within the site, suggesting a complex cultural practice.
Rescuers in Spain found the body of American hiker Cole Henderson, who had been missing for nearly a month in the Pyrenees near Monte Perdido. Henderson, 27, was last heard from on July 9 while hiking in the area, and his body was recovered from a difficult-to-access location on August 8. He was an active individual and recent graduate working in renewable energy.
Tadej Pogačar remains relaxed and confident as the Tour de France leader, having won two Pyrenees stages and leading by over four minutes, while maintaining a humble attitude in press conferences.
In stage 14 of the 2025 Tour de France, a breakaway victory was achieved by Arensman, denying Pogačar a third stage win in the Pyrenees, while Vingegaard attempted to attack but was ultimately second in the stage sprint. Pogačar maintained the yellow jersey, and Lipowitz took the white jersey as best young rider, with GC standings shifting slightly amidst intense mountain racing.
Remco Evenepoel, wearing the white jersey, abandoned the Tour de France during stage 14 in the Pyrenees after being dropped early on the Col du Tourmalet, marking a significant setback in the race.
Stage 14 of the Tour de France is a challenging mountain stage featuring four major Pyrénéan climbs—Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, and Superbagnères—stacked in the final 110km, promising significant time gaps among riders and reminiscent of the 1986 route.
Tadej Pogacar dominated stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France with a commanding performance in the Pyrenees, securing his 20th stage win and solidifying his lead in the general classification, while other contenders struggled to keep pace.
Ben Healy and EF Education-EasyPost are optimistic about defending the Tour de France yellow jersey as they prepare for the Pyrenees, celebrating their current success and aiming high in the race.
A reader captured a stunning image of the Milky Way Galaxy above the Pyrenees mountain range, which separates Spain from the rest of Europe. The photographer described the skies as dark and brilliant, making even a single exposure photo taken with a Fuji X100 APS camera look stunning. The image was taken while hiking the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, a high mountain route along the French-Spanish border, and the photographer expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share their work and looks forward to more celestial delights in the new year.
The owners of a French farmhouse where British teenager Alex Batty stayed during his years missing abroad have shared details about his time living there. Alex, who went missing in 2017 at the age of 13, returned to the UK on Saturday after walking alone for days in the French Pyrenees to find help. The gite owners described him as "part of our family" and said he did odd jobs in exchange for food and accommodation. They helped him find a place at a school but learned he needed official identification, prompting his decision to return to the UK. The whereabouts of his mother, who he intended to join, are unknown.
British teenager Alex Batty, missing since 2017, reportedly emerged from the wilderness in southern France after six years, having lived an alternative lifestyle in the Pyrenees. The region is home to a mix of international nomads and communities rooted in religion or spiritual enlightenment. Concerns have been raised about the psychological impact of living in seclusion and the potential for individuals to become brainwashed or divorced from their families and reality. French authorities have stated that Alex experienced no physical violence and there is no evidence he was living in a cult.
A delivery driver in France, Fabien Accidini, found Alex Batty, a missing teenager who had disappeared six years ago with his mother and grandfather. Accidini came across Batty on an unlit mountain road in the early hours of the morning while delivering medicines. Batty had left his mother's life in a spiritual commune and was searching for his grandmother in England. The delivery driver offered him a lift, and during their three-hour conversation, Batty revealed his true identity and shared his story. Accidini contacted Batty's grandmother, and the teenager is now in the hands of French authorities.
Over 3,000 residents and holidaymakers were forced to evacuate campsites and homes in southwestern France as a fast-moving wildfire spread across the Pyrenees region. The blaze, fueled by high temperatures and winds, damaged houses, a campsite, and a warehouse, while roads and train services were temporarily disrupted. Although the fire has been contained, authorities remain on high alert as the country faces another bout of extreme heat. France, along with many other European countries, has been grappling with wildfires and heatwaves due to the El Niño weather pattern and global warming.
Jai Hindley, the 2022 Giro d'Italia winner, unexpectedly took the yellow jersey in the Tour de France after winning stage 5 in the Pyrenees. Hindley, along with several other contenders, found himself in a breakaway group and capitalized on the situation as the gap grew to over four minutes. Although his effort to secure the stage win and yellow jersey may impact his performance in the upcoming stages, Hindley's success has already made the Tour de France a positive experience for his team, Bora-Hansgrohe. Hindley remains focused on the GC and acknowledges the presence of other strong contenders in the race.
Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma impressed in stage 5 of the Tour de France, distancing Tadej Pogačar in the final climb and gaining a significant time advantage. Vingegaard expressed his satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged that the race is far from over and that Pogačar is a formidable rival. He currently sits 53 seconds ahead of Pogačar in the overall standings.