Climb 15 of 22Hautes-Pyrénées, France
Col du Tourmalet
The Col du Tourmalet is a high pass in the Pyrenees of south west France. The Tour de France has crossed it more often than any other pass. This climb starts in Luz-Saint-Sauveur, on the west side.
- km long
- 18.9
- metres up
- 1,355
- steepest part
- 10%
- Flat
- Gentle
- Steady
- Hard
- Steep
How long does it take to ride up Col du Tourmalet?
For a rider who weighs 75 kg, riding at a steady pace with no stops:
- New to exercise: about 4 hr 7 min
- I ride now and then: about 2 hr 49 min
- I ride most weeks: about 2 hr 16 min
Put in your own weight and fitness to see your time.
Ride Col du Tourmalet at home
In Couch to Climb, the plan for Col du Tourmalet is 14 weeks, with 3 rides a week on your smart trainer. It is climb 15 of 22. You start on Box Hill for free, then work up the climbs one at a time.
About the climb
From Luz-Saint-Sauveur the D918 climbs through Barèges to the top at 2,115 m. It is one of the highest passes with a tarmac road in the French Pyrenees. The slope is steady for most of the way, with no long flat parts.
The Tour first came over the Tourmalet in 1910, the year it first went into the Pyrenees. Octave Lapize was first to the top. A large statue of Lapize, gasping for air, now stands at the col.
Riding it for real
In winter the pass becomes part of a ski area, and the D918 is closed to traffic from November to May.
Questions about riding Col du Tourmalet
The Col du Tourmalet is a high pass in the Pyrenees of south west France. The Tour de France has crossed it more often than any other pass. This climb starts in Luz-Saint-Sauveur, on the west side.
Which side of the Tourmalet is this climb?
It is the west side, from Luz-Saint-Sauveur. The other side starts in Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and passes La Mongie.
How high is the Col du Tourmalet?
The top of the pass is 2,115 m above sea level.
Has the Tour de France been over the Tourmalet?
Yes. It first crossed in 1910, and it has used the Tourmalet more than any other pass.
Updated . Written by Next Big Leap Ltd, who make the Couch to Climb app.
Ride up a famous climb on your indoor bike
Couch to Climb is a step by step plan for a smart trainer at home. It takes you from the sofa to the top of a real climb, with no stops. Your first climb, Box Hill, is free.
