Pyrenees - a summary

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Pyrenees Day 7 : Col de l'Aspin - Col du Tourmalet

Today I took on two regulars of the Tour - Col de l'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet. It has been a goal of mine to do Col du Tourmalet, so I was quite excited when I hit the road in Loudenvielle. From Loudenvielle I headed north towards Arreau, it is slightly downhill but today you wouldn't have known it as there was a strong headwind.

Col de l'Aspin - 12km at 6.5% (profile) - starts just outside Arreau. At the bottom I passed a couple groups of riders, and instantly thought I was on fire. Soon I had company, the riders of the last group I passed had joined me. This included a young guy from North London, and a 66 year old local. The young guy disappeared up the hill, and the old guy sat on my wheel. Then 3km from the summit, the old guy dropped me. It was a harder climb than I had expected, either that or my legs were tired from a week of long climbs.

It was an exhilerating drop off the top into Marbre. No sooner had I hit the valley, I started to go upwards again. Tourmalet starts from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan. From this side it is 17.2km at 7.4% (profile). About 14km from the top I was joined by my support vehicle with Amanda and Mel shouting support, Kenth driving and Freya enjoying the journey. They headed up the road, promising to join me half way up. From this point, the route kicked, and kilometre and kilometre with average gradients above 8.5% followed.

Soon I was in the clouds. With each passing kilometre the visibility progressively got worse, and by the time I next saw Amanda and Mel 4km from the top, one could barely see 10m ahead. Here I was treated to a waffle as Mel ran beside me pushing me up the hill. The last 4km were a slog, but soon I reached a point I recognised from 2 years ago - the reinforced concrete walls that indicate the top. Then out of the mist, the figures of Amanda, Kenth and Mel (and Freya). I had done it - so I did the now trademark double-fist-pump (and nearly crashed).

I would have liked to have rolled to the bottom but the conditions were too bad. So here at the top of Tourmalet, the place that inspired me to buy a bike in the first place, I finished my last ride in Europe (for some time). Though I didn't have the views I would have liked, I will remember this moment always. It was awesome.

Garmin Connect : Col de l'Aspin - Col du Tourmalet

PS - Pictures to come.

Pyrenees Day 6 : Port de Balès

Yesterday was a rest day - and we had a day trip to Tarbes. On our return, Dave and Shaz were talking about a climb out immediately out the back of Saléchan. They spoke of a long, steep climb - one which had clearly had scared them both. Obviously this was the "red rag to the bull", and highlighted a climb I needed to do.

The climb they were talking about was Port de Balès, a climb that was included in the Tour for the first time in 2007. It featured on stage 15, the stage we watched in Loudenville. Stage 15 was an absolute bastard of a stage, including no fewer than 5 mountain passes - Col de Port (cat 2), Col de Portet d'Aspet (cat 2), Col de Menté (cat 1), Port de Balès (HC), and finally the Col de Peyresourde (cat 1).

It wasn't the plan, but this week I have been ticking these climbs off one by one. I approached Port de Balès from the north - 18.9km at 6.3% (profile). From this side the climb doesn't officially start till Mauléon Barousse, which is a good 100m above Saléchan. After a relatively easy start, the gradients really start to kick - the last 10km are at 8.5%, with several sections in excess of 10%. A very, very tough climb.

I rolled over top and completed the descent into Luchon. There I turned around and started the reverse climb - 19.7km at 5.7% (profile). It was a real grind. As the statistics would imply, it isn't as difficult as the climb from Mauléon Barousse, but it is still a beast.

Garmin Connect : Port de Balès

This stage was also selected for the 2007 L'Étape du Tour. A mate of mine, Mike McKillen, completed it. I have new found respect for his achievement in completing the course that year.

Pyrenees Day 4 : Col de Menté - Col de Portet-d'Aspet - Col des Ares

Headed out on a loop today with the intention of climbing Col de Menté and Col de Portet-d'Aspet. Despite thunderstorms overnight, it was blue skies again this morning and hotter than ever.

My route took me south to Marignac, and east to Saint-Béat, from where the climb of Col de Menté began. From this side it is 9.3km at 9.1% (profile), and it kicks right from the start. It was a wonderful climb - offering views back into the valley with each alternate switchback.

After an exciting descent, the ascent of Col de Portet-d'Aspet began. Though the climb from this side is 14.3km at 4.2%, from the Pont de l'Oule (where I joined it) it is 4.4km at 9.6% (profile) with some really steep sections.

Having reached the top, I rolled back down the same side of the hill and stopped at the mounment for Fabio Casartelli. He crashed during the 1995 Tour de France on this very descent and died of head injuries - he like the rest of the peleton in those days wasn't wearing a helmet.

Rather than heading back over Col de Menté, I joined the D618 for the journey home. This included a small anonymous Col and Col des Ares, 6.7km at 4.6% (profile). On the climb of Col des Ares, I reached the bottom of bottles and in the heat struggled my way to the top. Fortunately from the top it was a short descent back to Saléchan.

Garmin Connect : Col de Menté - Col de Portet-d'Aspet - Col des Ares

Pyrenees Day 3 : Col du Portillon

Another gorgeous day in France. Under blue skies, Dave and I rolled out towards Luchon, Dave to ride both Superbagnères and Col de Peyresourde, me to ride to the Spanish border via Col du Portillon.

Not a regular feature on the Tour by any stretch of the imagination, Col du Portillon was included in the 2006 edition. On that day, Cadel Evans featured and ended up finishing fourth with Sastre. Portillon was classed category 1 - 8.4% over 7.9km.

For everyone else it is 6.5% over 10.2km. The difference is significant, for the first 2.3km includes almost no ascent. Then 200m in the next 2km, a relatively easy section, and then it takes off again - this time all the way to the top. A more difficult climb than I had expected when I set out.

After a breather at the top, I followed the same route back home. The last 20km from Luchon, though slightly downhill, again a slog into the wind.

Garmin Connect : Col du Portillon

Pyrenees Day 2 : Superbagnères

Another single climb today, this time Superbagnères. Rolled out with Dave and Shaz to Luchon. Shaz was struggling after a week and in particular, a hard 6hr ride yesterday. In Luchon, I turned left for Superbagnères, and decided to grap a coffee.

From Luchon the climb to the ski-station is 18.5 km at an average gradient of 6.3%, with the summit being at 1800 m above sea-level. There are several short stretches in excess of 10% - one which happens to be at the end. Like Col de Peyresourder, there is little protection from the sun the whole way up, and today the sun was intense. Needless to say, I sweated my way to the top.

It was my first outing for the Rapha gear given to me by the folks on the BFP programme at M&S as my leaving present. It is fabulous stuff. The feel of wool rather than lycra so much more luxurous and comfortable. So a big thanks to the guys!

Garmin Connect : Superbagnères

Pyrenees Day 1 : Col de Peyresourde

It was an early start today. A 03:30 alarm, 04:08 train and a 06:25 flight. A flight to Toulouse for a week in the Pyrenees with Melinda, Kenth and Freya, and Shaz and Dave. This is our last holiday before returning to Australia.

After settling into our "home" in Salechan, we headed to Luchon for a spot of lunch. It is a beautiful town at the base of the ski resort Superbagnères. The main boulevarde is lined with trees, and looked amazing against the backdrop of the high mountains.

After a lunch of Moules et Frites, the others decided to have an afternoon nap. I decided to go for a ride. With nothing particular planned, I headed back towards Luchon, saw a sign for Col de Peyresourde and started in that direction.

The Col de Peyresourde (profile) is frequently included on Tour de France routes, including 6 of the last 9. In 2007, when we were last in the Pyrenees, we watched the stage finish in Loudenville. On that day, the route included no fewer than 5 mountain passes - the Col de Port, the Col de Portet d'Aspet, the Col de Menté, the Port de Balès, and finally the Col de Peyresourde before the downhill finish into Loudenville.

From Louchon, Col de Peyresourde is 14.5km at 6.7%. This is longer than any of the Maratona climbs, and about the same gradient as Passo Pordoi. A great way to start the week.

Garmin Connect : Col de Peyresourde