Luz Ardiden, in the Hautes-Pyrénées, is one of the most legendary climbs of the Tour de France, famous for its roughly thirty hairpins rising from the Gave de Pau valley up to the ski resort of the same name.
The profile from Luz-Saint-Sauveur
From Luz-Saint-Sauveur, expect about 14.7 km and 1,010 m of climbing, averaging 6.9%. The road climbs through around thirty tight hairpins, with steeper sections around 10% in the final third, approaching the resort.
Getting the ride right
The uneven gradient, alternating gentler stretches with steeper ramps, calls for keeping something in reserve for the surges in the final third. A compact or triple chainset makes it much easier to handle these rhythm changes on an otherwise well-surfaced road.
When to go
June to September, as the road generally stays rideable through this period before the resort’s winter closure. The hairpins, exposed in places, can get hot in midsummer — early morning is worth aiming for on July-August rides.
Good to know
Luz-Saint-Sauveur, a small spa town at the foot of the climb, offers a good choice of accommodation and direct access to other legendary Pyrenean climbs such as the Col du Tourmalet, just a few kilometres away.
