The French Pyrenees are a gift for cyclists. They are a cycling playground, a place to escape from the hustle and bustle, get on a bike, reconnect with nature, and ride. Studies have shown that subjects perform 50% better on problem-solving tasks after three days of active wilderness exposure. According to Eva M. Selhub, Harvard professor and author, “Nature turns off the stress response which means you have lower cortisol levels, lower heart rate and blood pressure and improved immune response.”
The very first Tour de France mountain stage included the Col d'Aubisque. It was considered the stuff of nightmares. Today it's a cycling playground, The Col d'Aubisque has been described as the most beautiful road in Europe, if not the world. I don't know about the world, but if you only ride one road in these Pyrenean mountains, this is the road to ride.
Col d'Aubisque - Pictures and Prints
Stage 10 of the 1910 edition of the Tour de France took on the Tourmalet. The first high mountain pass to be included in the Tour. It’s been going up it ever since, sometimes twice, it is the most visited of all the mountain passes the Tour visits.
Col du Tourmalet - Pictures and PrintsThe Col d'Aspin was the second climb included in the very first Tour de France mountain stage of 1910, climbed after the Col de Peyresourde and before the Col du Tourmalet, with the Col d'Aubisque finishing up a colossal 326 kilometres stage.
Col d'Aspin - Pictures and Prints
The Port de Pailhères has all the characteristics a mountain climb should possess. Buried deep in the Pyrenees far from the tourist trail, you'll see more cows than people. A constantly changing landscape with clouding rolling in one minute, and rolling out the next leaving blue skies and sunshine.
Port de Pailhères - Pictures and PrintsThe Col du Soulor is the 22-kilometre, unsung bridesmaid of the Tour de France. It is often used as the warmup act to a mountaintop finish on the Tourmalet or the lead into the Col d’Aubisque.
Mark Cavendish said he had never had time to look at the scenery during the Tour de France, which is a shame. This one is for you, Mark.
