Route: D618A/N-141 Bagneres-de-Luchon to Bossost - 12 miles

 

Ridden: 23/07/2010

 

The Col du Portillon (or Puerto del Portillon) is located in the Val d'Aran, a Spanish valley that borders France and connects the French town of Bagneres-de-Luchon in the north with the Spanish town of Bossost in the south.

 

The ride from from France to Spain is best as the well surfaced route up the French side is tight and steep while the equally well surfaced route down the Spanish side is fast and flowing.

 

If you find yourself in Bagneres-de-Luchon with an hour or so to kill we suggest you head up and over the Portillon. From Bossost pick up the N230 which will take you back to France. Once back in France pick up the N125 and follow signs to St. Beat. From St. Beat it's a short 12 mile blast along the D44/D125 back to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Take your passport just in case.

 

There's not much to see at the summit, but on the very fast descent to Bossost in Spain there is a superb view of the valley below. Check out the waterfalls on the way up from Bagneres-de-Luchon.

 

 

Route: D925/D51 Bourg-d'Oueil to Mauleon-Barousse - 24 miles

 

Ridden: 19/07/2010

 

The Port de Bales (or Col de Bales) is located between the Oueil valley in the south and the Barousse valley in the north. It isn't necessarily a pass you would ride unless you go out of your way to include it in a ride out, however, like many Pyrenean passes it offers stunning views and pretty scenery. It would certainly be a worthwhile addition to your bagging list if you have the time.

 

It was virtually impassable until as recently as 2006 when it was resurfaced for inclusion as a part of the 15th stage in the 2007 Tour de France. It made a second appearance in the Tour de France in 2010, again as a part of the 15th stage, when Alberto Contador controversially took the yellow jersey from leader Andy Schleck.

 

Starting in the south from Bagneres-de-Luchon the climb is 12 miles long and over this distance climbs 1,125m at an average percentage of 5.7 %, but with several sections over 11%.

 

Starting in the north from Mauleon-Barousse the climb is also 12 miles long and over this distance climbs 1,185m at an average percentage of 6.3 %, with the steepest sections at over 11%.

 

If you ever find yourself based in Bagneres-de-Luchon it's only a few miles to the southern end of the climb at Bourg-d’Oueil - simply follow signs to Col de Peyresourde and take a right at Bourg-d’Oueil. From there the climb starts and the landscape changes from a grassy plateau at the head, to a steep sided, pine tree lined valley before drifting into green, rolling fertile hills. Mauleon-Barousse, 24 miles later, marks the base of the northern end. From there it's a fast, open road back to Bagneres-de-Luchon.

 

 

Route: D933 & N135 St. Jean Pied a Port to Pamplona - 47 miles

 

Ridden: 02/07/2007

 

The D933/N135 links St. Jean Pied a Port in France with Pamplona in Spain and crosses this pass. The 47 miles between the two points is a really good biking road, particularly the middle 30 mile section between Arneguy in France and Zubiri in Spain.

 

 

Route: D918 Laruns to Argeles Gazost - 29 miles

 

Ridden: 01/07/2007

 

The Col d'Aubisque is the second most visited pass in Tour de France history - after the Tourmalet - and joins Laruns - also the start point for the Col du Pourtalet - with Argeles Gazost via the D918. When crossing the Aubisque the Col du Soulor is also crossed and whilst it rightly finds fame in cycling circles this is not pass we'd recommend. The road surface was dreadful, very narrow and deformed, and in our opinion it is best left to the cyclists.

 

 

Route: D918 Ste. Marie de Campan to Luz St. Saveur - 22 miles

 

Ridden: 01/07/2007 & 22/07/2010

 

The Tourmalet lies on the D918 linking Ste. Marie de Campan in the east with Luz St. Saveur to the west. The western ramp, from Luz St. Sauveur, is 11.8 miles long, climbing 1,404m at an average of 7.4 % with a maximum of 10.2% near the summit. The eastern ramp from Ste. Marie de Campan, is 10.7 miles long, gaining 1,268m, an average 7.4% with a maximum of 10%. The climb is graded HC or “Hors Categorie” - exceptionally hard. The grading system was based on which gear of the car was needed to get to the top. Thus a category 1 climb required the driver to get down to 1st gear and a category 2 climb could be climbed in 2nd gear and so on. An HC climb was so steep that cars of that era - pre WWII - couldn’t get up it at all.

 

The Tourmalet has been climbed more times than any other Col in the history of the Tour de France and has also featured in the Vuelta d’Espana. There is a statue at the top to Oscar Lapize who was the first rider over the pass in 1910 and a memorial to Jacques Goddet, the director of the Tour from 1936 to 1987.

 

From a biker’s viewpoint it’s a great road to ride but care needs to be taken on the final stretch up from Luz St. Saveur - this is very tight with some bits of poor road surface. There are some good views from the top and a nice cafe with decent food. You can also make friends with the Vicunas that roam around near the cafe.

 

 

Route: D918 Laruns to Argeles Gazost - 29 miles

 

Ridden: 01/07/2007 & 21/07/2010

 

This Col forms the eastern side of the Col d’Aubisque, meaning you need to pass the Soulor in order to climb the Aubisque from there. There are two ways to do this, either from Etchartes in the north or from Argeles in the east. The north side is very regular, but quite steep and more technical than the east side.

 

The road surface between the d’Aubisque and the Soulor is terrible and not a road we'd go out of our way to ride again.

 

 

Route: D918 Arreau to Ste. Marie de Campan - 16 miles

 

Ridden: 01/07/2007, 20/07/2010, 21/07/2010 & 22/07/2010

 

Just north from Arreau, at the end of the Col du Peyresourde, you take the left turn onto the D918 which takes you over the d'Aspin to Ste. Marie de Campan, and the start of the Col du Tourmalet. Although it isn’t high we would recommend this road, as it’s nice to ride and the scenery is worth it.

 

The eastern ramp up from Arreau is quite tight and there are some blind bends but it opens up towards the summit. The western ramp is equally enjoyable, with both open and tight sections.

 

 

Route: D918 Bagneres de Luchon to Arreau - 20 miles

 

Ridden: 01/07/2007, 18/07/2010, 19/07/2010 & 23/07/2010

 

The D618 links Bagneres de Luchon to the east with Arreau to the west and crosses this Col, another long time Tour de France favourite. Unlike the d’Aubisque we would recommend this for bikers as it’s a pleasant ride on both sides although the western ramp had been spoiled on the day we rode it by the French method of resurfacing - let’s throw a ton or two of loose gravel at the road and see what sticks.

 

 

Route: C28 Vielha to Esterri d'Aneu - 26 miles

 

Ridden: 30/06/2007

 

The C28 links Vielha to the west with Esterri d’Aneu to the east and crosses this pass - Puerto in Spanish, Port in French. The eastern ramp is quite tight and was being extensively resurfaced and widened when we were there in 2007 - presumably to improve access for skiing. However, when completed we expect that this will be a very nice biking road. At the top of the pass there is an old and pleasant hostal - an auberge in French. The western ramp to/from Vielha had a very deformed road surface, possibly due to the volume of heavy vehicles used in the construction of the ski resorts such as Pla Beret, and the volume of heavy traffic taking skiers to and from the resorts. Over all enjoy the scenery, but don’t cross it expecting a sublime biking experience.

 

 

Route: N260 Adrall to Sort - 29 miles

 

Ridden: 30/06/2007

 

The N260 between Adrall, south of Andorra and Sort to the west is one of the finest biking roads you will ever have the pleasure to ride. In the course of the 29 mile ride you pass over the Coll del Canto. It’s not a particularly noticeable pass - the road climbs and then descends - so it doesn’t have a succession of hairpin bends or a noticeable summit. However, this is a must ride 5 star biking road.