Col de Portet d'Aspet (Audressein)

Start Town	Altitude	Elevation Gain	Length	Gradient	Difficulty	Rating
Audressein	1,069m	557m	18.1 km	3.1%	297	***

Climb Description

Col de Portet d'Aspet is one of the classic Tour de France climbs in the Ariège Pyrenees, having been used over thirty times in the race. Since its first appearance in 1910, some of the greats of cycling have led the peloton over the summit, including Gino Bartali and Federico Bahamontes.

Unfortunately, the Portet d'Aspet was also the scene of a cycling tragedy in 1995, when Italian rider Fabio Casartelli crashed heavily on a descent and lost his life. There is a large memorial 4km from the top of the climb on the Aspet side - featuing a bicycle wheel being borne away on giant wings.

The climb from Audressein is a long and gentle ascent with no real difficulties for most cyclists. It is a pleasant climb through typically green and forested Ariège scenery, but the views are not the most spectacular in the Pyrenees. It is a really nice climb to include on a longer route rather than one to do by itself.

Col de Portet d'Aspet is open throughout the year, subject to the weather.

Roads & Traffic

The road surface is typical of the Arièges Pyrenees. It is fine for road cycling and has no cracks or holes, but it is a bit bumpy and not the most comfortable to ride.

There is little traffic on the climb.

Alternative Routes

Col de Portet d'Aspet can also be climbed starting from Aspet.

Nearby Climbs

Col de Menté

Col de la Core

Guzet Neige

Col d'Agnes

Port de Lers

Col des Ares

Port de Balès

Cycling Holidays

We climb to the Col de Portet d'Aspet on our Pyrenees Coast to Coast cycling holiday.

Check out the information below for details of this and some of the other tours that we run in high mountains.