22.5
PDI
8.2 mi
DISTANCE
3,307 ft
GAINED
7.6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Carl Hansen, Guernsey, UK
INTRO
Luz Ardiden climbs 13.2 km (8.2 mi) from Luz-Saint-Sauveur to the ski station at 1714 m (5,624 ft), gaining 1008 m (3,307 ft) at a 7.6% average grade. It's our favorite of the Pyrenees' famous ski-station finishes, and one of the Tour de France's most storied: nine stage finishes since 1985, most recently Tadej Pogačar's win on Stage 18 of the 2021 Tour, its first return since 2011.
The road leaves Luz-Saint-Sauveur, eases through the village of Sazos around km 2, then gets down to business: from km 3 to km 7 it holds close to 9% through forest, including the steepest kilometer at 9.9%. Above the trees the last 4 km (2.5 mi) climb a stack of open hairpins on the bare mountainside, with the Luz valley opening up below at every turn. Outside ski season traffic is very light, and the road is often still painted with riders' names from Tour days.
Pedro Delgado won the first finish here in 1985, the day Greg LeMond was misled about Bernard Hinault's deficit and held back. In 1990 LeMond paced Miguel Induráin up the final climb to all but seal his third Tour, and in 2003 Lance Armstrong's handlebar caught a spectator's bag at the foot of the climb, bringing down Iban Mayo, before Armstrong got back up to win. Richard Virenque (1994), Roberto Laiseka (2001) and Samuel Sánchez (2011) have also won here.
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. Luz Ardiden averages 7.6% over 13.2 km (8.2 mi), and after a gentle start it rarely lets up. The first 2 km (1.2 mi) out of Luz-Saint-Sauveur average about 5%, with an easier stretch through Sazos around km 2.
The hard part starts at km 3. From there to km 7 the grade sits at 8-9%, and this forested section holds the steepest 500 m (10.5%), the steepest kilometer (9.9%), the steepest 2 km (9.0%) and the steepest 5 km (8.7%). Km 8 is the one real breather at about 6%, before the open hairpins of the final 5 km (3.1 mi) settle in at 6.5-8.5%. The steepest 10 km average 8.3%.
Roadway: The road is paved all the way to the ski station and in good shape, and riders consistently describe a well-kept surface - a 2021 report found it freshly resurfaced. The upper road is a ski-station access road, so expect snow in winter and the station buildings at the top to be shut outside the ski season.
Traffic: There is almost no traffic in the non-ski season once you get beyond Sazos and Grust, the villages lower on the climb. The road is also part of the Hautes-Pyrénées' Pyrénées Cycl'n Trip car-free mornings: on 15 July 2026 it was closed to motor traffic from 9am to noon, alongside the Tourmalet, so watch for the next edition's dates if you want the road to yourself.
Parking: The climb starts on the western edge of Luz-Saint-Sauveur, where the Route de Luz Ardiden leaves town, so the easiest option is to park in Luz and ride straight to the start. You can also park at the ski station at the top if you'd rather start there and ride the climb as a descent first.
Gear: A compact crankset with a 28-30 tooth low cog handles the long 8-9% forest section comfortably. Summer in the Pyrenees is normally warm and sunny, even at higher elevations, but periods of low cloud can make the climbs quite damp, so bring warm clothes just in case - the top is about 1000 m (3,281 ft) above Luz.
Provisions: There are bike shops and water in Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Take whatever you need with you, since there's nothing open at the ski station in summer, though riders have found a water tap at the station.
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.
There are places to stay in Luz-Saint-Sauveur and the smaller villages around it, and Luz also has restaurants and shops for food. It's also easy to ride over from Argelès-Gazost and the surrounding villages. Off the bike, Luz's Église des Templiers is worth a look: despite the name, this 12th-century church was fortified in the 14th century by the Knights Hospitaller of St John, and it still has its battlements, loopholes and two towers, with a small museum of sacred art in its 17th-century chapel. Across the valley, the ruined Château Sainte-Marie, built by the Counts of Bigorre, sits on a rocky spur above Esquièze-Sère and makes a good half-day hike from town.
For a quieter way up, our Luz Ardiden (Viscos) page covers the back road that joins this one for the final kilometers, and the Col du Tourmalet starts from the same town. The ski station sits about 1000 m above Luz and cloud can roll in quickly, so check conditions before you go with our Weather tool.
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carlinguernsey
Luz Ardiden does not seem as difficult as some of the other climbs in the area. Maybe it is the shorter length. It is still a tough climb. There is not much open at the top in the summer, but Luz St Saveur has everything you need.
Willdebeast
This was my first HC climb, so it will always hold a special place. With its iconic switchbacks, it's a Pyrenean jewel that shouldn't be missed. The light traffic was a pleasant bonus, and the views distract from the suffering, as each turn takes you higher and with a more stunning view of the valley below. Enjoy a break at both the bottom at the top: Luz Saint Sauveur is a picturesque town with friendly citizens, and the mountaintop Ardiden ski resort is during the warm months a wildly steep pasture where mountain sheep roam idly.
