Hautacam, above Argelès-Gazost, has become over some thirty years one of the most feared summit finishes in the Pyrenees, regularly used by the Tour de France to separate the best climbers.
The profile from Argelès-Gazost
From Argelès-Gazost, expect about 17.3 km and 1,170 m of climbing, averaging 6.8% — a figure that hides a harsher reality: the final ramps exceed 15-16% in places, on a road that offers no real respite until the station. The landscape, wooded at first, opens up progressively onto the Pyrenean peaks as the altitude increases.
Getting the ride right
Don’t be fooled by the steady-looking average: the steepest sections, concentrated in the second half of the climb, mean it’s better to keep something in reserve rather than going out too hard on the more rolling lower slopes. A compact or triple chainset is strongly recommended.
When to go
June to September, with good conditions from early summer onward. On the days the Tour de France passes through, when it does, large crowds gather on the final kilometres.
Good to know
Argelès-Gazost, a small spa town in the Hautes-Pyrénées, offers a full range of accommodation, with Lourdes about fifteen kilometres away for varied stays and convenient access to other great Pyrenean passes such as the Tourmalet or the Aubisque.
