Cycling cols of the Bigorre (Hautes-Pyrénées): the complete guide

The Bigorre alone concentrates 18 cols and the highest density of Tour de France legends: the Tourmalet, the col de Portet, Luz Ardiden, Hautacam, the Pla d'Adet... It is the massif where the Pyrenean high mountains give themselves most generously, all within an hour's drive of each other.

The Tourmalet, first of all

18.4 km at 7.7% from Luz-Saint-Sauveur, 17 km at 7.5% from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan: the most mythical col in the Pyrenees, with ~75 Tour crossings since 1910. No kilometre is unrideable, but the whole is long; our dedicated guide covers the preparation.

The hardest in the massif: col de Portet

16.3 km at 8.5%, up to 12% from Saint-Lary-Soulan, arguably the most demanding ascent in the whole French Pyrenees, added to the Tour route in 2018.

The mythical summit finishes

• Luz Ardiden: 13 km at 7.8%, the resort where Armstrong crashed in 2003;
• Hautacam: 13.4 km at 7.9%, never a metre of respite;
• Pla d'Adet: 12 km at 7.1%, some ten stage finishes since 1974;
• Cirque de Troumouse and col des Tentes: the high-altitude dead ends above Gavarnie, among the finest panoramas in the Pyrenees.

To catch your breath

Hourquette d'Ancizan (17 km at 4.2%) and col d'Aspin (12.9 km at 5%) are the gentlest in the massif; the classic Aspin–Tourmalet combination remains the best double ascent for discovering the Bigorre in a day.

Good to know

This is the massif most visited by cycle tourists in summer: favour an early start on the Tourmalet and the Aubisque in July–August. The dead-end roads (Troumouse, Tentes, col de Portet) often only open in June: check the road status on each climb's page before setting off.