Between myths and legends – emblematic passes of the Pyrenees

The Col d'Aspin is a classic in the Pyrenees and one of the most emblematic passes of the Tour de France. Since 1947, it has been climbed more than fifty times by the runners of the big loop. Culminating at 1,489 meters above sea level, it is located between Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and Arreau.



The route… read more

The Col de Peyresourde is an emblematic passage in the Pyrenees and a classic of the Tour de France. Since 1910, it has been climbed more than 60 times by runners on the great loop. Culminating at 1,589 meters above sea level, it is a historic passage between Luron, Larboust and Luchon. The pass is located… read more

The Col du Tourmalet is an essential passage in the Pyrenees and a myth of the Tour de France. Since 1910, it has been climbed more than 80 times by runners on the great loop. To date, it is the most used pass of the Tour de France. Culminating at 2,115 meters above sea level, this giant of the Pyrenees… read more

The Aubisque and Soulor passes are two of the most emblematic passes in the Pyrenees and the Tour de France. The first was climbed for the first time in 1910 while the second had to wait until 1935 before entering the history of the great loop. I suggest you discover them as part of a loop that starts… read more

The Col de Portet-d'Aspet is a classic of the Pyrenees and a monument of the Tour de France. Since 1910, it has been used more than thirty times by the big loop. A link between the Ger and Bouigane valleys, it culminates at 1,069 meters above sea level.



The start is in the town center of Saint-Girons… read more

Marie-Blanque is a mythical pass in the Pyrenees and a historic part of the Tour de France. Since 1978, it has been crossed fifteen times by the big loop. Uniting the beautiful valleys of Ossau and Aspe, it culminates at 1,035 meters above sea level. This rural pass owes its name to the Egyptian vulture… read more

The Portillon is a classic of the Pyrenees and an emblematic pass of the Tour de France. Culminating at 1,293 meters above sea level, it marks the border between France and Spain. Since 1957, it has been used about twenty times by the runners of the big loop.



The route starts at Bagnères-de-Luchon train… read more

The Menté is one of the most used passes by the Tour de France in the Pyrenees. Since 1966, the big loop has taken it twenty times. Linking the Ger valley to that of the Garonne, it rises to 1,349 meters above sea level.



The start of the loop that leads to this classic starts from the charming mountain… read more

The Col d'Azet is less known and frequented than its prestigious neighbours. However, since 1997, it has already been used ten times by the Tour de France. Located in the Louron valley between Saint-Lary-Soulan and Loudenvielle, it culminates at 1,580 meters above sea level.



The start of the course is… read more

Luz-Ardiden is a beautiful climb in the Pyrenees and one of the busiest in the Tour de France since 1985. Its many switchbacks wind their way up to the ski resort of the same name which is 1,720 meters above sea level. The start of the course is in the center of Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Dynamic and charming… read more

The ascent of Hautacam tends to become a classic of the Pyrenees and the Tour de France. The Tour de France took it for the first time in 1994, before repeating the passages there since. Culminating at 1,520 meters above sea level, it shades the Tramassel pass which is a few meters further on.



The route… read more

The Hourquette d'Ancizan is less well known than its neighbor the Col d'Aspin, but since 2011 it has made a few appearances on the Tour de France route. Hourquette in Gascon is a derivative of the Latin word "fork". In the Pyrenees, it designates a mountain pass. It culminates at 1,564 meters above sea… read more

Culminating at 1,755 meters, the port of Balès is less well known and renowned than its neighbours, which are none other than the Tourmalet or the Portillon. However, its irregular and brittle ascent has earned it the chance to be climbed a few times by the Tour de France since its first in 2007.



The… read more

The Col de Pailhères or Port de Pailhères is an emblematic passage in the Pyrenees. Culminating at 2,001 meters above sea level, it stands as a magnificent link between the resort of Ax-les-Thermes and the Ariège gorges. The Tour de France used it for the first time in 2003.



The start of this great loop… read more

Located on the border between France and Spain, the Col du Somport peaks at 1,632 meters above sea level. It was climbed in 1991 for the first time by the riders of the Tour de France. It is above the tunnel of the same name which is an important crossing point of the Pyrenees.



The departure is at the… read more