Legendary climbs of the Pyrenees: Col d'Aubisque - Col D'Aubisque: Historic climb of the Tour de France

The route travelled east-west from Luchon over the Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, Soulor and Aubisque passes to Bayonne. On the summit of the Col d'Aubisque, the leader and later overall winner Octave Lapize is said to have hurled the legendary words "Murderers you are, yes murderers!" at the organisers. Since then, the Aubisque has been on the route more than 70 times. As with the Tourmalet to the east (2,115 m; see TOUR 7/2013->), the crest of the Aubisque also follows the longitudinal course of the Pyrenees. Otherwise, there are hardly any similarities, although a ski resort also spoils the landscape on the Aubisque. However, the satellite resort of Gourette on its western side does not reach the dreariness of La Mongie on the Tourmalet. With an average gradient of 6.6 per cent and an altitude difference of almost 1,200 metres, the western ascent from the valley town of Laruns belongs to the "Hors Catégorie", the most difficult category of the Tour de France.

You can find the entire passport profile as a PDF download below.

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