Col d'Aspin (Arreau) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

5.6
FIETS
7.4 mi
DISTANCE
2,606 ft
GAINED
6.6 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Erwan Treguier, Brittany, France.

INTRO

The Col d'Aspin has been crossed in the Tour de France 76 times, and has been included in nearly one-half of the Tour de France Grand Tours since 1947. It was first crossed in 1910, and most recently 2023. 

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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.
For those looking to stay in the area we would recommend the Pyrenees Cycling Lodge. Located in the beautiful medieval village of Saint Savin and hosted by Mark & Niamh, the Lodge is run by cyclists for cyclists. It is a great location for any cycling adventure in the Pyrenees with several renowned climbs within 100km of the property and 6 Tour de France climbs within 15km. Visit their website or contact them directly at pyreneescyclinglodge@gmail.com .

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Difficulty: Moderate
4
Road
3
Traffic
3
Scenery

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Dec 7, 2021
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Dec 7, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Col d'Aspin from Arreau is a great place to start climbing in the Pyrenees. It is never too steep and the gradient stays steady. It is also not as long as some of the other climbs in the area. The road goes past many farms along the way up to give you a good feeling for this part of France.
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CLIMB SUMMARY

panoramic view of one-lane mountain road, lush green landscape on mountainside, tall mountains in background, bright white clouds

Cycling Col d’Aspin from Arreau

Ride 12 kilometers gaining 800 meters at 6.6% average grade.

This is one of the more scenic and famous of Pyrenees’ passes, connecting Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and Arreau. The climb has been made quite famous by being featured many times (72 as of 2022) in the Tour de France.

Photo collage of many roadsigns at the start of climb

Signs near the start of the climb, just north of Arreau.

old stone buildings along a canal in the town of La Neste d'Aure, Arrea, colorful flowers in planter box on wall along canal

Left: La Neste d’Aure, Arrea.

Right: View back at Arreau from km 4.7.

cyclist rides on one lane mountain roadway, Pyrenees

sign at the midway point of climb, Col d'Aspin; scenic pastoral landscape

Precisely the midway point.

photo collage of kilometer markers on first 6 km of climb

First 6 km markers.

photo collage of kilometer markers on last 6 km of climb

Final km markers.

PJAMM Cyclist John Johnson stands with bike at summit of Col d'Aspin bike climb

That’s a wrap!

TOUR DE FRANCE HISTORY

PJAMM CYCLING’S TOP 10 MOST FREQUENT CLIMBS OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE -

AND 10 FAMOUS ONES AFTER THAT

Climb name

Mountain Range

Times Featured in Tour de France

Most recent

First included

Col du Tourmalet

Pyrenees

89

2023

1910

Col d'Aspin

Pyrenees

74

2023

1910

Col d'Aubisque

Pyrenees

73

2022

1910

Col de Peyresourde

Pyrenees

68

2021

1910

Col du Galibier

Alps

63

2022

1911

Col de Portet d'Aspet

Pyrenees

58

2021

1910

Col des Aravis

Alps

42

2023

1911

Col d'Izoard

Alps

36

2019

1922

Col de Vars

Alps

35

2019

1922

Col d'Allos

Alps

34

2015

1911

Alpe d'Huez

Alps

32

2022

1952

Col du Télégraphe

Alps

31

2022

1911

Col de la Madeleine

Alps

29

2020

1969

Col de la Croix de Fer

Alps

21

2022

1947

Mont Ventoux

Alps

18

1921

1951

Col du Soulor

Pyrenees

16

2019

1912

Col du Glandon

Alps

14

2015

1947

Puy de Dome

Massif Central

13

2023

1952

Luz Ardiden

Pyrenees

9

2021

1985

Col de l'Iseran

Alps

8

2019

1938

As of 2022 Col d’Aspin has been featured 73  times in the TdF

©  PJAMMCycing.com

This climb is one of the most well known in the world because of the frequency it has been featured in the Tour de France - a staggering 73 times in 109 editions - 67% of all TdFs.

Col d’Aspin was first included in the TdF in 1910 on Stage 10 (326 km; coined the Circle of Death), won by Octave Lapize. This was the first year the Pyrenees (or any mountains) were included in the tour Stage 10 (July 21, 1910) included Col du Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and, finally, Col d’Aubisque and began at 3:30 a.m. due to concern that many riders would need the extra time to finish.  Although Lapize won the stage, he had to walk his bike at times and as he passed over the Aubisque summit shouted “murderers” or “assassins,” and that he would quit at the bottom of the Aubisque to the tour organizers (most notably not race director Henri Desgrange, who apparently anticipated hostility from the route and was not in attendance). Only 10 riders officially completed the stage, Lapize among them.  Octavio Lapize won the 1910 Tour de France but died at the age of 29 in WWI.

Octave Lapize -- the first rider (hiker?) over Tourmalet, 1910 - after Peyresoure and Aspin and before Aubisque.

Photo:  Cycling Passion, Octave Lapize walks over the Col du Tourmalet.

Tour de France history since 1947 (from Wikipedia):  

Year

Stage

Category

Start

Finish

Leader at the summit

2018

19

1

Lourdes

Laruns

 Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)

2016

7

1

L'Isle-Jourdain

Lac de Payolle

 Steve Cummings (GBR)

2015

11

1

Pau

Cauterets

 Dan Martin (IRL)

2012

16

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Thomas Voeckler (FRA)

2010

16

1

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Anthony Charteau (FRA)

2009

9

1

Saint-Gaudens

Tarbes

 Franco Pellizotti (ITA)

2008

9

1

Toulouse

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

 Sebastian Lang (DEU)

2006

11

1

Tarbes

Val d'Aran-Pla-de-Beret

 Fabian Wegmann (DEU)

2004

12

1

Castelsarrasin

La Mongie

 Michael Rasmussen (DEN)

2003

15

1

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

Luz-Ardiden

 Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)

2001

14

1

Tarbes

Luz-Ardiden

 Bobby Julich (USA)

1999

16

1

Lannemezan

Pau

 Mariano Piccoli (ITA)

1998

10

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Rodolfo Massi (ITA)

1997

9

2

Pau

Loudenvielle

 Pascal Hervé (FRA)

1995

15

1

Saint-Girons

CauteretsCrêtes du Lys

 Richard Virenque (FRA)

1994

12

1

Lourdes

Luz-Ardiden

 Richard Virenque (FRA)

1991

13

2

Jaca

Val-Louron

 Claudio Chiappucci (ITA)

1990

16

1

Blagnac

Luz-Ardiden

 Claudio Chiappucci (ITA)

1989

10

2

Cauterets

Superbagnères

 Robert Millar (GBR)

1988

15

1

Saint-Girons

Luz-Ardiden

 Samuel Cabrera (COL)

1986

13

1

Pau

Superbagnères

 Dominique Arnaud (FRA)

1985

17

2

Toulouse

Luz-Ardiden

 José Del Ramo (ESP)

1983

10

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Patrocinio Jiminez (COL)

1982

13

1

Pau

Saint-Lary-SoulanPla d'Adet

 Michel Laurent (FRA)

1980

13

1

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Raymond Martin (FRA)

1979

3

1

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 René Bittinger (FRA)

1978

11

2

Pau

Saint-Lary-SoulanPla d'Adet

 Michel Laurent (FRA)

1977

2

2

Auch

Pau

 Luis Balague (ESP)

1976

15

2

Saint-Lary-Soulan

Pau

 Gerben Karstens (NED)

1975

11

2

Pau

Saint-Lary-SoulanPla d'Adet

 Lucien Van Impe (BEL)

1974

17

2

Saint-Lary-Soulan

La Mongie

 Jean-Pierre Danguillaume (FRA)

1973

14

2

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 José Manuel Fuente (ESP)

1972

8

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Roger Swerts (BEL)

1971

16A

2

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Gouretteles-Eaux-Bonnes

 Lucien Van Impe (BEL)

1970

18

1

Saint-Gaudens

La Mongie

 Primo Mori (ITA)

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

 Guy Ignolin (FRA)

1962

12

3

Pau

Saint-Gaudens

 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)

1961

17

2

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Marcel Queheille (FRA)

1960

11

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Kurt Gimmi (SUI)

1959

11

2

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

Saint-Gaudens

 Jean Dotto (FRA)

1958

14

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Federico Bahamontes (ESP)

1956

12

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Nino Defilippis (ITA)

1955

17

2

Toulouse

Saint-Gaudens

 Charly Gaul (LUX)

1954

12

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Louison Bobet (FRA)

1953

11

2

Cauterets

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Jean Robic (FRA)

1952

17

2

Toulouse

Bagnères-de-Bigorre

 Raphaël Géminiani (FRA)

1951

14

2

Tarbes

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Fausto Coppi (ITA)

1950

11

2

Pau

Saint-Gaudens

 Kléber Piot (FRA)

1949

11

2

Pau

Bagnères-de-Luchon

 Apo Lazarides (FRA)

1948

8

2

Lourdes

Toulouse

 Jean Robic (FRA)

1947

15

1

Bagnères-de-Luchon

Pau

 Jean Robic (FRA)

(Information from Wikipedia - Col d’Aspin.)

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