Cycling cols of the Ariège: the complete guide

The Ariège is the densest massif on this site (17 climbs, from HC giant to confidential ramp), and probably the quietest: far less traffic than in the Bigorre, roads winding through mountain pastures, and a few fearsome traps hiding behind unassuming names.

Plateau de Beille, the benchmark

15.6 km at 8%, up to 10.5% from Les Cabannes: the col most used by the Tour de France in this massif, without a metre of flat over the entire ascent.

The trap: Mur de Péguère

9.9 km at 7.2% average, but up to 18% from Massat via Les Caougnous: the most severe gradient on the whole site outside Mont Artzamendi. The average tells you nothing: it all happens in the final kilometre.

The border giants

• Port de Pailhères: 19.2 km at 6.7% from Ax-les-Thermes via Ascou, a true HC climb between pastures and scree;
• Col de Puymorens: 27.6 km, long and steady towards Andorra and the Cerdagne.

The Ax-les-Thermes classics

From Ax-les-Thermes four accessible cols radiate out: Ax 3 Domaines (8.7 km at 7.5%), col du Chioula (9.7 km at 7.3%), col du Pradel (14.9 km) and Puymorens: enough to build several rides from a single base camp.

To get started

Col d'Agnes (10 km at 8.2%) is still a serious effort, but col de Port (16.4 km at 4.7%) and col des Marrous (17.8 km at 3.4%, the gentlest in the massif) are excellent first rides in the Ariège.

Good to know

The Ariège offers the widest choice of "secret" cols in the French Pyrenees (Latrape, la Crouzette, Montségur), perfect for riding without meeting a soul. Little food or water at altitude: check the water points on each climb's page before setting off.