Pyrenees

The roughly east-west road over the Col du Tourmalet is the Tour de France’s favorite high pass, having been included more than 80 times. It is situated in the central Pyrenees (between France and Spain) in the French department of Hautes-Pyrénées.

The Col du Peyresourde connects Bagneres-du-Luchon to Arreau and forms part of the notorious ‘Circle of Death’ route used in the Tour de France. First crested in the 1910 Tour rider 1910 Octave Lapize, the climb is now best associated with Chris Froome, who used the Col as a launch pad to a stage victory in 2016.

The final test is on the slopes of the Peyragudes, a short, steep ramp from the summit of the Peyresourde.

Often used in the Tour de France the Col d’Aspin is often considered the smaller, easier little brother of the Tourmalet. The fact that the elevation is much lower than it’s neighbouring Cols means it’s rideable much earlier in the year while the other mountains of the Hautes-Pyrénées are still snow-capped.

Col d’Aspin is the perfect climb for an easier day or for making a hard day just that little bit harder!

The Hautacam is a real tough climb owing to it’s steep gradient. The climb starts steadily, between 5 and 7% to get you warmed up before hitting the 9 and 10% sloped of the middle section.

Surprisingly the climb has only been used a total of five times in the Tour de France, the most recent occasion being in 2014 on the final mountain stage of the race won by Vincenzo Nibali.

The Route des Lacs is lesser known but no less spectacular ride in the Pyrenees. The climb starts alongside a river and gently climbs to Fabian. Here the challenge kicks in and as the climb develops so does the spectacular scenery. Thick forest gives way to rocky hairpins and a birds-eye view acorss the Lac d’Oredon. The road ends at a colossal dam, Lac-de-Cap-de Long. This climb is a treat for the soul.