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You climb the famous French cols in the Pyrenees from
the West. It's the most beautiful, but also the most
challenging side. The first one is the
Col d'Aubisque
(1.709 m). It is one of those hors catégorie cols that
make the legend of the Tour de France.
You drop down to the Gorge de Luz and have a rest day in
Luz St. Sauveur. If
you don't feel tired, you can climb to one of the
ski-resorts like Luz Ardiden or Hautacam. Probably you
want to safe your energy for the upcoming queen stage :
the Col du Tourmalet
(2.115 m), the Col
d'Aspin (1.489 m) and the
Col de Peyresourde
(1.569 m).
The Tourmalet is one of the most popular mountain climbs
and most famous in the Tour de France having featured
more than 70 times since 1910. From Luz St. Sauveur the
Tourmalet is 18 kilometers long at almost 8% with a last
kilometer of over 10%.Definitely a challenge. The
landscape changes near the top with impressive rocks.
The Col d'Aspin and Col de Peyresourde have open scenery
most of the way and are not the most difficult climbs.
The tough day ends in the fashionable resort of
Bagnères-de-Luchon
which is celebrated for its thermal springs. The last
climb in France is the steep
Col du Portillon
(1.293 m) and marks the border between France and
Spain.
In your second part in Spain you climb the
Port de la Bonaigua
(2.072 m) and the Port de
Cantó (1.725 m). Climbs which are taken regularly
when the Vuelta d'España passes the Pyrenees.
Occasionally the Spanish cols have also a place in the
course of the Tour de France. |
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63 km |
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95 km |
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93 km |
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104 km |
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