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
![Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon - KM sign Cycling Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon - roadway, trees and km sign]()
10.9 km at 7.5%.
![Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon 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 . . .
![Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon - switchbacks at top Biking Col de Peyresourde from Bagneres-de-Luchon - aeriial drone photo of switchbacks and hairpin turns at the top]()
Also at the top.
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Steepest kilometer starts at km 8.8 (9.9%)
FROM AVAJAN
![Col de Peyresourde from Avajan - Lac de Genos-Loudenvielle 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
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![Col de Peyresourde from Avajan Bicycle climb of Génos-Loudenvielle - roadway with pass in distance]()
Pleasant enough, but not one of the breathtaking Pyrenees climbs.
![Col de Peyresourde from Avajan Biking Col de Peyresourde from Avajan - col sign and roadway]()
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Col de Peyresourde as seen from Col d’Azet.
![Col de Peyresourde from Avajan - at col Cycling Col de Peyresourde from Avajan - PJAMM playing game at cafe at the top]()
Fun and games at the cafe.
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Steepest kilometer starts at km 15.6 (10.1%)
TOUR DE FRANCE HISTORY
![Col de Peyresourde from Avajan 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)
![Col de Peyresourde from Avajan]()
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.
![Col de Peyresourde from Avajan]()
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).