Bagneres de Bigorre

This is an excellent location to tackle many of the Cols that the Tour de France riders face and really helps you appreciate just what super human athletes they are.

Within relatively easy reach of Leparede are:

Col du Tourmalet
Col d’ Aspin
Col d’ Aubisque
Col du Soulor
Luz Ardiden
Hautacam
Col de Peyresourde

Warm Up: Col du Polomiers
As a warm up to tackling the big climbs try this very picturesque route to the north east of the town. Leave Bagneres via the Police Station, turn right at the R/B D8 to the T/Ls. Straight over then almost immediately Left to start the climb, which is signposted (Col du Polomiers) and should be D84. Follow this road thru Banios picking up the D26 later, thru to Esconnets and Uzer. Join the D938 and back down the hill to Bagneres.
This route is about 25 miles, but is very hilly and will take about two hours.

Bagneres/Tournay/Bagneres

Down past the police station to R/B and turn left ontoD8 heading towards Ordizan and Antist, eventually Tarbes. Turning right after these first two villages (worth a look) and climbing up the D28/D120 to Orignac. Pick up D5/D28 thru Luc and on to Tournay. Drop down into Tournay going under the M/Way and then over the railway crossing. Turn right and right again in a few hundred yards (s/p Mauvezin) taking you back out of town over the M/Way. Follow this rode up a long drag and continue until turning Right onto D938. Immediately on your right should be an Auberge just before the Abb. De l Escaladieu. Have a drink and a break here before you tackle the very long climb out of this valley after which you eventually turn left onto D938/D20 (the main Bagneres to Tournay road. Another very long drag brings you to the top of the hill just outside town. Now only the Leparede hill to contend with and you are back.
This is a very picturesque route with views of the Pyrenees. It is just under 50 miles and will take three hours plus.

Col d’ Aspin

Riding from Leparede, take the route across the back of the town, coming out near the Casino. Pick up the D935, which will be signposted for La Mongie and Payolle, plus the Tourmalet and Aspin.
Climbing starts, albeit slowly, from the moment you leave town. Take the left fork at Ste Marie de Campan D918, which will take you on to Payolle and Aspin. When you have passed thru Payolle and reach the Ski Lift at the first U bend, then the climbing really starts. “Helpful” signs now appear every Kilometre telling you how far you have to go to the top and what the average gradient is during that next kilometre.
The great thing with this climb is that it is down hill just about all the way back to Bagneres. Just that Leparede hill to finish with!

Col du Tourmalet

This of course is one of the most famous climbs used in the Tour de France. It boasts the highest paved road in the Pyrenees @ 2115m.
This can be tackled as a single climb and return to base, or if you feel really good, you can follow my route over the top and onto Lourdes and back. This will give you a ride of about 60 –65 miles.

The ride out to start the climb is the same route as if you were going to Col d’ Aspin. However, at Ste. Marie-de Campan you take a right turn onto the D918 but Tourmalet is well signposted anyway. It’s a long long climb, which is also decorated with the “helpful” information signs. I found the approach too and the ride thru La Mongie quite tough, but then heh, it was all hard work.

Take time at the top to take in the feel of the place. You then have to choose what to do. Do you go over, or drop back down from whence you came, for the freewheel back to Bagneres? I took made the choice to go over and take in the long decent to Argeles-Gazost and on to Lourdes.

Along this valley you then have the opportunity to climb Luz Ardiden, where Lance Armstrong got his handlebars hooked in a spectators carrier bag and fell off, or indeed off to the right, the Hautacam. Unless you are exceptionally fit I would not advise you attempt either of these if you want to make it back to Leparede in one piece and on the same day! You still have a long way to go.

You need to make sure that between Pierrefitte-Nestalas and Argeles-Gazost you get off the D921 and onto the D13 which is to the right of the River (River Gave de Pau) otherwise you will end up on the main dual carriage-way N21 to Lourdes. Cyclists are not allowed on this road as I found out in no uncertain terms.

At the first R/B you come to on the edge of Lourdes, bear right (effectively the ring road) and follow this round for about 2 miles. Take the turning signposted to Bagneres d B that should be the D937.

You are not in easy street yet as you have two strength sapping climbs along this stretch of road until you Turn Right to join the D935 to BdB.

If you then make it all the way up Leparede Hill you are a better man than me. Having said this I did this trip none stop and it took me from 9.45am to about 3.30pm and a little over 60 miles but my computer did play up!

ENJOY – these rides are really great and should be tried.

September 2007