20.9
PDI
4 mi
DISTANCE
2,347 ft
GAINED
11.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Simon DeForni, France
INTRO
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. Ichtauzko covers 6.4 km (4.0 mi) and gains 715 m (2,347 ft) in total, rising from 255 m (835 ft) in Banca to 968 m (3,177 ft) at the finish, at an average grade of 11.3%.
Almost the whole climb is steep: the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) average 11.1%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 14.3%, the steepest kilometer (0.6 mi) 14.6% and the steepest 500 m (0.3 mi) 15.2%. The steepest 91 m (100 yd) reaches 16.7%.
Because the average is so high and the climb is short, the best approach is to find a gear you can hold for 6.4 km (4.0 mi) from the first ramp. Going out hard early on this one tends to end with a long grind to the top.
Roadway: Our surface data shows the route paved from start to finish. It is a local lane rather than a through road. The steepest pitches can be slippery when wet, and descending demands good brakes and care on a gradient that averages 11.3%.
Traffic: Traffic is light - the road serves farms and hillside pastures rather than through traffic, so livestock or a farm vehicle is the likeliest thing to slow you down.
Parking: There is no dedicated cyclist lot at the start; park in Banca village and ride the short distance to the Hargintoa lane. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, about 15 km (9.3 mi) away, has more services if you prefer to use it as a base.
Provisions: Banca is a small village, so stock up in Saint-Etienne-de-Baigorry or Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port before you head up the valley.
Gear: With 11.3% average and ramps up to 16.7%, a compact crankset and the biggest cog you own (32 teeth or larger) is the sensible choice. Wider tires and a light layer for the descent are worth having, since the finish is higher and cooler than the valley, and the Basque Pyrenees can turn damp quickly.
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.
Banca sits in the Aldudes valley on the Nive des Aldudes, and its heritage is industrial rather than alpine. The village grew from an 18th-century revival of copper mining, was known as 'La Fonderie,' and the 19th-century mine and blast furnace still stand at the entrance to the village. The Redoute de Lindus (1813) and the peaks of Lindus (1220 m / 4,003 ft) and Aurigna (1278 m / 4,193 ft) lie within the commune.
Our other climbs from this valley, including Monte Lindus, start close by. The next village up the valley, Aldudes, is known for its revival of Basque pig breeding and for the gourmet pork products of the Pierre Oteiza firm - a more local post-ride detour than the Irouleguy vineyards and the sheep's-milk cheese covered on our Col d'Elhursaro page.
See other climbs nearby, or build a custom route from here, with our Routes in the Area tool.
ROUTE MAP
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