Col de Spandelles
For decades, the Col de Spandelles sat quietly in the shadow of its neighbors.
The Tour rode past and cyclists followed the obvious roads. Until 2022.
Bike Rebel Without a Cause
Cyclopaat, an alter ego with a twist
Category French Pyrenees
Posts with information about regions and climbs in the French Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautacam
Hautacam is a dead-end road to a ski resort, but unlike Luz Ardiden, where repetition dominates, Hautacam is a climb that refuses to give you rhythm.
Luz Ardiden
Luz Ardiden is a dead-end summit road, climbing directly above Luz‑Saint‑Sauveur to a ski station, making it an ideal Tour de France summit finish.
Hourquette d’Ancizan
The Hourquette d’Ancizan is a relatively new addition to the Tour de France, something quieter, sharper, and arguably better than the Aspin.
Col d’Aubisque
The Col d’Aubisque is one of the great Pyrenean passes and a visual centrepiece — a climb where the terrain itself becomes part of the experience.
Col d’Aspin
The Col d’Aspin forms a key links in the classic Pyrenean chain between the Tourmalet and Peyresourde.