Col d’Aspin

Col d’Aspin is a Cat 1 climb in Hautes Pyrenees. The summit is 1489 metres altitude. It connects Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, in the upper Adour valley to the west, with Arreau, on the River Neste into Aure Valley to the east. Col d’Aspin has a big reputation and is one of the better known climbs of Le Tour de France. However it reputation is far greater than it merits. It has appeared in Tour de France over 70 times since 1910, it’s reputation is largely gained from it’s giant neighbour, Col du Tourmalet. If Tour de France crosses Tourmalet is usually has to cross Aspin also. In recent years the organisers of Le Tour have discovered a new climb La Hourquette d’Ancizan, which runs parallel to Col d’Aspin and is more difficult. For me it is a climb worth doing if you happen to be there, but it’s not worth going to do. All that being said, there is a wonderful view from the summit in both directions.

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Climb Col d’Aspin

Cat 2 from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan (west), the ascent is 12.8 km @ 5% gaining 642 metres in height. The last 5km average almost 7.5%. Road D918.
This is the easier side with the real climbing only starting at payolle (1100m) 5km from the summit. From there it is very nice climb through the forest. The first seven kilometres of the climb have little difficulty, there is one kilometre @ 6% starting at 8 km from the summit. But after passing the ski station at Payolle (1100m) it kicks up dramatically with one kilometre averaging 10%. From there to the summit is much more difficult with a winding ascent in a coniferous forest and an average of 7.5% for the remainder of the climb. The final kilometre is 6.5% and the mountains opens up to pastureland land. There are always lots of cattle up here so watch out for any bovine biological hazards on the road and keep a minimum of 3 metres distance from them. You should double that for any cows with calves.

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Cat 1 from Arreau (east), the climb is more difficult; over 12 km @ 6.5% gaining 779 metres in height. Road D918.
From this side the climb is more difficult than it’s 6.5% average would suggest and it gets steeper towards the top. This road can get busy at the height of the summer tourist season. The first 2 kilometres are rather rolling, 4% and 3% respectively. The slope becomes more serious with one kilometre @ 8% after the junction with the small road on the left, leading to Aspin-Aure . This side of the Col d’Aspin is characterised by the winding road and a mixture of hardwood forests and pastoral meadows. Five kilometres from the summit begins a steep kilometre @ 9.5%. The final kilometres have an average of 8% and a few portions of straight road.The views from the top back down the climb you have just done are fantastic.

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Tour de France

1910 : Lapize
1911 : Duboc
1912 : Mottiat
1913 : Thys
1914 : Lambot
1919 : H. Barthélémy
1920 : Lambot
1921 : Heusghem
1922 : J. Alavoine
1923 : Jacquinot
1924 : Bottecchia
1925 : Huysse
1926 : L. Buysse
2009 : Pellizotti
1927 : Frantz
1933 : Trueba
1934 : A. Magne
1935 : F. Vervaecke
1936 : Y. Marie
1937 : Berrendero
1938 : Bartali
1939 : Vissers
1947 : Robic
1948 : Robic
1949 : A. Lazaridès
1950 : Piot
1951 : F. Coppi
1952 : Géminiani
1953 : Robic
1954 : L. Bobet
1955 : Gaul
1956 : De Filippis
1958 : Bahamontes
1959 : Dotto
1960 : Gimmi
1961 : Queheille
1962 : Bahamontes
1963 : Ignolin
1964 : J. Jimenez
1969 : Galera
1970 : Mori
1971 : Van Impe
1972 : Sweerts
1973 : Fuente
1974 : J.P. Danguillaume
1975 : Van Impe
1976 : Karstens
1977 : Balagué
1978 : M. Laurent
1979 : Bittinger
1980 : R. Martin
1982 : M. Laurent
1983 : P. Jimenez
1985 : Del Ramo
1986 : Arnaud
1988 : Cabrera
1989 : Millar
1990 : Chiappucci
1991 : Chiappucci
1994 : Virenque
1995 : Virenque
1997 : P. Hervé
1998 : Massi
1999 : Piccoli
2001 : Julich
2003 : Chavanel
2004 : Rasmussen
2006 : Wegmann
2008 : Lang
2010 : Charteau
2012 : Voeckler

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Col d’Aspin Photo Gallery