Col du Tourmalet - A cyclist's view

The Col du Tourmalet is the kind of climb that’s as much about mental strength as physical power. At 2,115 meters, it’s the highest paved mountain pass in the French Pyrenees and one of the most iconic ascents in Tour de France history.

Riding it feels like stepping into a cycling legend. The climb is long, steady, and unrelenting—often lasting well over an hour, even for strong riders.

• From Luz-Saint-Sauveur (west side): You face about 19 km at an average of 7.4%. The road winds through villages and forests at first, but once you pass Barèges, the scenery opens into high mountain pastures. The gradient rarely eases—just when you think you’ll catch a break, another 8–9% ramp appears. The final kilometers above La Mongie ski station feel exposed and brutal, with the summit always just out of sight.

• From Sainte-Marie-de-Campan (east side): It’s slightly longer—17.2 km at 7.4%—and starts deceptively gently, almost lulling you into a rhythm. But after Gripp, the climb stiffens, averaging 9–10% for much of the way. The hairpins snake upwards through the forest, and the higher you go, the thinner the air feels. The last 3 km are a battle of willpower—your legs screaming, the road narrowing, the wind often biting.

At the summit, the relief is almost overwhelming. You’re greeted by the famous statue of Octave Lapize, who once cursed “assassins!” at the organisers while pushing his bike over the pass in 1910. From up there, you see the valleys sprawled out far below, the switchbacks you’ve conquered, and fellow cyclists who know exactly what you’ve just endured.

The Col du Tourmalet isn’t just a climb—it’s a rite of passage. Every pedal stroke feels like it carries the weight of cycling history, and when you finally crest the summit, you don’t just feel like a rider—you feel like part of the story.

© davidt 2025