The Col de Peyresourde, a mandatory crossing point between the Luchon valley and the Aure valley, is one of the passes most regularly used by the Tour de France in the Pyrenees. Less extreme than its neighbours the Tourmalet or the Aubisque, it remains a demanding climb and makes an excellent starting point for discovering the range by bike.
The profile from Bagnères-de-Luchon
From Luchon, expect 15.3 km and 939 m of climbing, averaging a fairly steady 6.1% across the whole ascent, with no section over 9%. The road winds first through forest before opening onto clear alpine pasture in the final third, with the view widening gradually toward the surrounding peaks up to the pass at 1,569 m.
Getting the ride right
The steady gradient allows a constant rhythm without any particular effort management, unlike Pyrenean passes with more irregular sections. The final kilometres, more exposed to wind, still deserve some reserve.
When to go
May to October, with June and September preferred, quieter than the height of summer. The road stays rideable earlier in the season than passes topping 2,000 m.
Good to know
Bagnères-de-Luchon, a well-known spa town, offers a wide choice of accommodation and direct access to several other major Luchon-valley passes (Peyresourde, Val Louron-Azet, Portillon) for building a multi-day trip.
