Col de Peyresourde (Bagneres-de-Luchon) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

20.7
PDI
8.2 mi
DISTANCE
3,173 ft
GAINED
7.2 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Carl Hansen, Guernsey, UK

INTRO

Col de Peyresourde has been included in the Tour de France 69 times, making it the fourth most visited climbs TDF history. It was first featured in the 1910 Tour and most recently in 2021. 

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
Roadway: The roadway is in good shape on both sides of the col.

Traffic: There is moderate traffic in the summer.

Parking: You can park in Bagneres de Luchon, Arreau, Avajan and in some other places along the side of the road on both sides of the col. You can also park at the top, and at the Peyragudes ski station near the top.

Summer in the Pyrenees is normally warm and sunny, even at higher elevations. However, there are some periods of low clouds that can make the climbs quite damp. Bring warm clothes just in case. There are bike shops in Bagneres de Luchon and in St Lary Soulon. Water is available in Bagneres de Luchon, Arreau, and some of the smaller villages along the route.
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 Bagneres de Luchon, St Lary Soulon, and some of the smaller villages in the area. Bagneres de Luchon and St Lary Soulon (and some of the other villages) also have restaurants and shops for food.  

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CLIMB SUMMARY

Best bike climb around Bagnere de-Luchon - col sign and bike 

Col de Peyresourde is one of the more famous Pyrenees cols and is fairly challenging from both sides. The Col de Peyresourde is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees along France’s western border with Spain.

FROM BAGNÈRES-DE-LUCHON

Cycling Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon - roadway, trees and km sign

10.9 km at 7.5%.

Climbing Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon by bike - aerial drone photo of hairpin and switchbacks

Nice set of lacets near the start of the climb, and . . .

Biking Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon - aeriial drone photo of switchbacks and hairpin turns at the top

Also at the top.

Steepest kilometer starts at km 8.8  (9.9%)

FROM AVAJAN

Bicycle ride up Col de Peyresourde from Avajan - Lac de Genos Loudenvielle, mountains and clouds

9.6 km at 6.8%.

Lac de Génos-Loudenvielle 

Bicycle climb of Génos-Loudenvielle - roadway with pass in distance

Pleasant enough, but not one of the breathtaking Pyrenees climbs.

Biking Col de Peyresourde from Avajan  - col sign and roadway

Col de Peyresourde as seen from Col d’Azet.

Cycling Col de Peyresourde from Avajan - PJAMM playing game at cafe at the top

Fun and games at the cafe.

Steepest kilometer starts at km 15.6 (10.1%)

TOUR DE FRANCE HISTORY

Biking Col de Peyresourde from Avajan  - col sign and roadway

Be sure to also check out our TdF page for more information.

Col de Peyresourde is one of the longest-standing climbs in TdF history, first having appeared in 1910 and most recently to be included in the 2018 Grand Tour. This Col is one of the most famous in the world due to its frequent inclusion in the Tour de France (78 times since 1910 and 47 in the last 60 years)

1921 Tour de France -- Col de Peyresourde.

Wikipedia notes of Peyresourde’s TdF history:

“The Col de Peyresourde was first used in the Tour de France in 1910 and has appeared frequently since. The leader over the summit in 1910 was Octave Lapize.

Octavio Lapaize (TdF champion 1910; French national champion 1911-1913)

Photo: Wikipedia.

In 2007, the Tour de France crossed the Col de Peyresourde on stage 15, joining the climb at Saint-Aventin (5.5 km from Bagnères de Luchon) after descending from the Port de Balès. This stage was selected for the 2007 L'Étape du Tour, in which amateur and club riders ride over a full stage of the tour.

The col was crossed twice in the 2012 Tour de France, firstly on Stage 16 from Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon, when it was ranked a Category 1 climb, and again on the following day, when it was unranked, with the stage continuing on to the ski station at nearby Peyragudes.It was used again in the 2016 Tour de France on Stage 8, from Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon, which saw eventual race winner Chris Froome make a daring descent attack from the top of the Col that caught many of his main rivals off guard, resulting in a solo stage victory” (
Col de Peyresourde).

Appearances in Tour de France (since 1947): Wikipedia - Col de Peyresourde

Year

Stage

Category

Start

Finish

Leader at the summit

2018

17

Not categorised

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Saint-Lary-Soulan Col de Portet

 Tanel Kangert (EST)

2017

12

1

Pau

Peyragudes

 Mikel Nieve (ESP)

2016

8

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Chris Froome (GBR)

2014

17

1

Saint-Gaudens

Pla d'Adet

 Vasil Kiryienka (BLR)

2013

9

1

Saint-Girons

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

 Thomas De Gendt (BEL)

2012

17

Not categorised

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Peyragudes

 Alejandro Valverde (ESP)

2012

16

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Thomas Voeckler (FRA)

2010

16

1

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Sylwester Szmyd (POL)

2008

9

1

Toulouse

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

 Sebastian Lang (DEU)

2007

15

1

Foix

Loudenvielle

 Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)

2006

11

1

Tarbes

Pla-de-Beret

 David de la Fuente (ESP)

2005

15

1

Lézat-sur-Lèze

Pla d'Adet

 Laurent Brochard (FRA)

2003

14

1

Saint-Girons

Loudenvielle

 Gilberto Simoni (ITA)

2001

13

1

Foix

Pla d'Adet

 Laurent Jalabert (FRA)

1999

15

1

Saint-Gaudens

Piau-Engaly

 Alberto Elli (ITA)

1998

10

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Rodolfo Massi (ITA)

1995

15

1

Saint-Girons

Cauterets-Crêtes du Lys

 Richard Virenque (FRA)

1994

12

1

Lourdes

Luz Ardiden

 Roberto Torres (ESP)

1993

16

1

Andorra

Pla d'Adet

 Claudio Chiappucci (ITA)

1989

10

1

Cauterets

Superbagnères

 Robert Millar (GBR)

1988

15

1

Saint-Girons

Luz Ardiden

 Steven Rooks (NED)

1986

13

1

Pau

Superbagnères

 Bernard Hinault (FRA)

1983

10

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Robert Millar (GBR)

1981

6

1

Saint-Gaudens

Pla d'Adet

 Bernard Hinault (FRA)

1980

13

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Raymond Martin (FRA)

1979

3

2

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Bernard Hinault (FRA)

1976

14

1

Saint-Gaudens

Pla d'Adet

 Luis Ocaña (ESP)

1974

16

2

La Seu d'Urgell

Pla d'Adet

 Vicente López Carril (ESP)

1972

8

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Lucien Van Impe (BEL)

1971

16a

2

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Gourette-Eaux-Bonnes

 Lucien Van Impe (BEL)

1970

18

2

Saint-Gaudens

La Mongie

 Raymond Delisle (FRA)

1969

17

2

La Mongie

Mourenx

 Joaquim Galera (ESP)

1964

16

2

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Julio Jiménez (ESP)

1963

11

2

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)

1962

12

2

Pau

Saint-Gaudens

 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)

1961

17

2

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Imerio Massignan (ITA)

1960

11

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Kurt Gimmi (SUI)

1959

11

1

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

Saint-Gaudens

 Valentin Huot (FRA)

1958

14

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)

1956

12

Not categorised

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Jean-Pierre Schmitz (LUX)

1955

17

2

Toulouse

Saint-Gaudens

 Charly Gaul (LUX)

1954

12

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)

1953

11

2

Cauterets

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Jean Robic (FRA)

1952

17

2

Toulouse

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

 Antonio Gelabert (ESP)

1951

14

2

Tarbes

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Fausto Coppi (ITA)

1949

11

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Jean Robic (FRA)

1948

8

2

Lourdes

Toulouse

 Jean Robic (FRA)

1947

15

1

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Jean Robic (FRA)