Details of The Climb
From the west, the climb to the Aubisque starts in Laruns. From there, the Aubisque is 16.6 km. and rises 1,190m, an average of 7.2%. The first kilometres, to the spa resort of Eaux-Bonnes, are fairly easy. After the Cascade de Valentin comes a section at 13%. From there to the top, the climb is 8 km. at 8% average, passing the ski resort of Gourette at 1,400m.
The east side is climbed after the Col du Soulor (1,474 m). Starting from Argelès-Gazost, the Soulor is 19.48 km. It rises 1,019m, an average 5.2%. It gets tough after Arrens-Marsous with 10% and more. From the Soulor, the climb is 10.6 km., gaining a further 235m. The road from the Soulor runs along cliffs in the Cirque du Litor, where there are two short, narrow tunnels. From the Cirque du Litor, the climb is 7.5 km. at 4.6%, a height gain of 350m.
Writing in Vélo, Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle said:
The Aubisque is one of those hors catégorie cols that make the legend of the Tour. The climb is in three parts. The first is fairly easy. The road is good and the specialists use 39 × 19 or 53 × 21. Then, at Eaux-Bonnes, you turn left and get to the real climb. This part, as far as Gourette, is a lot more difficult. The hardest part swings between eight and ten per cent from the seventh kilometre until Pont-du-Goua at the ninth kilometre and you need 39 × 21. Then, after 300m of flat in Gourette, a hairpin goes up to the Hôtel des Crêtes Blanches. Riders use 39 × 17 over four kilometres before going into 39 × 16 in the last two kilometres.
Read more about this topic: Col D'Aubisque
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