Which Pyrenean col should you start with?

You don't start mountain riding with the Tourmalet. Here is a five-step progression, tested and approved, to go from "never climbed" to "ready for a giant" in a single season.

1. Col d'Osquich · the warm-up (495 m)

6.7 km at 3.9% in the heart of the Basque Country: the gradient never bites, the road is beautiful, and you learn the only thing that matters: finding a rhythm and holding it to the top.

2. Col des Ares · steadiness (797 m)

6 steady kilometres around 5% in the Comminges. First lesson in pacing: same gradient, same cadence, same sensations from bottom to top.

3. Col d'Ichère · a bit of character (674 m)

4.6 km at 6% in the Aspe valley, with a few sections that sting. It's short: perfect for discovering 8–9% gradients without risking the tank running dry.

4. Col d'Aspin · the real mountain (1,490 m)

12 km at 6.5% from Arreau: your first "big" col, with high-mountain scenery, cows on the road and a summit you have to earn. If the Aspin goes well, you're ready for what comes next.

5. Hourquette d'Ancizan · the giants' antechamber (1,564 m)

10 km at 8%: the gradients of an HC climb, over a still reasonable distance. After it, the Tourmalet is only a matter of patience.

The beginner's three rules

1. Easy gearing: 34×30 minimum — cadence saves both knees and morale;
2. Conversation pace: if you can no longer talk, you're going too fast;
3. Check the road and the weather on each climb's page before setting off: a closed col or a summit in the fog can be known in advance.