28.3
PDI
11.6 mi
DISTANCE
4,369 ft
GAINED
7.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Carl Hansen, Guernsey, UK
INTRO
The Col de la Pierre St. Martin climbs 18.7 km (11.6 mi) from La Mouline, near Arette in France's Pyrénées-Atlantiques, gaining 1,332 m (4,369 ft) at a 7.1% average grade to the 1,762 m (5,781 ft) pass on the Spanish border.
This is the D132, the classic western approach to the La Pierre-Saint-Martin ski station - and the road the Tour de France finally used for a stage finish in 2015, when Chris Froome won Stage 10 (167 km from Tarbes) on his way to his second overall Tour title. It was the first time this side of the mountain had hosted a Tour finish.
The pass has two much older claims to fame. Just below the col, at 1,717 m, is the historic Lépineux shaft, the discovery entrance to the Gouffre de la Pierre Saint-Martin - found in 1950 and, for years afterward, the deepest known cave system in the world, now surveyed to 1,410 m deep with 82 km of passages. And every July 13th since 1375, the pass has hosted the "Tribute of the Three Cows," a border ceremony between the French and Spanish valleys that still takes place today.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The D132 gains 1,332 m (4,369 ft) over 18.7 km (11.6 mi) at a 7.1% average grade to the pass. The steepest 100 meters reaches 15.2%, and the steepest kilometer averages 12.0% - both on the lower slopes out of La Mouline - before the grade settles into a long, steadier middle section. The final kilometers past the ski station to the border are noticeably gentler, closer to the climb's 8.8% average over its hardest 5 km block.
Roadway: The D132 is paved the entire way and in good condition up to the La Pierre-Saint-Martin ski station; the final stretch to the col and the Spanish border is narrower but still paved. Free-range cattle and horses graze the open pasture near the top, so watch for animals - and what they leave behind - on the road. Like every high Pyrenean pass, this road closes with the first snow and typically doesn't reopen until early summer, so check current conditions before an early- or late-season attempt.
Traffic: Very light outside the winter ski season. This is a dead-end climb to the ski station and border rather than a through-route for cars, so traffic thins out well before the pass.
Parking: Arette, at the base, has free parking around the village center. There's also room to pull off along the roadside higher up as the real climbing begins, if you'd rather start partway up.
Provisions: There's a bike shop and a few small shops and cafes in Arette, at the base. There's nothing beyond that until the La Pierre-Saint-Martin ski station, which has a restaurant and other services open through the summer season - top off water there before continuing to the pass.
Gear: Summer in the Pyrenees is normally warm and sunny even at altitude, but the pass sees fast-moving low cloud and noticeably cooler temperatures than the valley - pack a light jacket for the descent, and check our Weather tool before heading up since the finish is nearly 1,300 m above the start.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Arette and Aramits, in the valley below, are the practical bases for this climb - real Béarn villages with places to stay, restaurants, and shops for food. Be sure to try the local sheep's-milk cheese while you're in the area.
If you're visiting on July 13th, the pass itself hosts the "Tribute of the Three Cows" each year - worth timing a rest day around if you want to see a 650-year-old tradition rather than just read about it.
This part of the Pyrenees rewards a multi-day stay: the Col de Marie Blanque and the eastern D113 approach to this same pass, through the remote Soule valley and the village of Sainte-Engrâce, are both close by. See our Routes in the Area tool for what else is within reach.
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carlinguernsey
This is a good remote climb in a lesser known part of the Pyrenees. It includes some tough gradients to keep you interested. Keep going past the ski station to get to the actual col and the border with Spain. The last part of the road is not as well maintained.
