Preparing your first Tourmalet by bike

The col du Tourmalet (2,115 m) is the most mythical climb in the Pyrenees: 19.1 km at 7.4% from Luz-Saint-Sauveur, 17 km at 7.5% from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan. No single kilometre is unrideable, but the whole is long: success is decided before you even reach the foot of the climb.

Which side for a first time?

Both are equally hard on paper. Campan (east) starts gently and saves the worst for La Mongie (4 km at 9% average): perfect if you like to build into an effort. Luz (west) is steadier but more exposed to the westerly wind in the afternoon. First time? Start from Campan, early in the morning.

Gearing, without ego

The question is not "what can I push" but "what lets me keep a cadence of 70–80 rpm on the 9–10% kilometres". For most riders that means a 34×30 minimum, and a 34×32 or 34×34 has never dishonoured anyone. Use the time calculator on each climb page to estimate your speed on the steep sections: if it drops below 8 km/h, go easier.

Pacing: the first-20-minutes rule

The classic mistake happens in the first 3 kilometres, carried by excitement. Settle in 10 to 15% below the intensity you think you can hold: on the Tourmalet you don't "test", you manage. If you can still speak in full sentences, you're at the right pace.

Food and equipment

• Two bottles: there are fountains in Barèges (west side) and La Mongie (east);
• 1 bar or gel every 30–40 min from the start, not once the bonk arrives;
• A windproof jacket: it is often 10 °C colder at the summit, and the descent is long; check the summit weather on the climb page before setting off;
• Repair kit: the descent wears out tyre sidewalls, especially on the Luz side.

When to go?

The col is generally open from late May to October; check the live road status on the climb page. July–August: leave before 8 am to avoid the valley heat and the traffic. June and September are the dream months: quiet roads, ideal temperatures.

One last tip: keep 20% in the tank for the final 3 kilometres. That is where the Tourmalet is won, and the view from the top erases everything. Enjoy the climb!