Bun-Col Des Borderes-Col Du Soulor-Col D'Abisque

Col des Borderes is a Cat 2 climb in Hautes Pyrénées. The summit is 1157 metres altitude. This is a very beautiful climb. Just continue to follow on the road straight on direction Estaing on D103. The next kilometer after this junction is the hardest of the climb. At Estaing take the right turn signposted Col des Bordéres and Arrens. From here there are 2km @ 10% before it eases off in the last kilometre before the summit. The descent into Arrens is steep and twisty on a narrow road.

Col du Soulor is a Cat HC climb. The summit is 1474 metres altitude. A Tour de France classic it is one of the cols of “The Circle of Death” also one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Bucolic and rustic, it sometimes seems that you have traveled back in time several decades.

All the roads are quiet as with much of the Pyrenees. The road between Soulor and Aubisque (Cirque du Litor) is among the most famous in cycling, the helicopter shots on TV leaving many viewers speechless with awe. This is a must do for any cyclist, a real Tour de France classic which has been crossed over 60 times since 1910. Usually it is part of the route which takes the riders to or from Col d’Aubisque and is not categorized in it’s own right. There are 2 cafes at the summit.

Col d’Aubisque (1,709 m) is in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the Aquitaine region of France. It is approx. 50km south of the city of Pau.The col is on the northern slopes of the Pic de Ger (2,613m.) and connects the towns of Laruns, in the vallée d’Ossau to the west and Argelès-Gazost, in the vallée du Lavedan, via the Col du Soulor. The road between Col d’Aubisque and Col du Soulor crosses the Cirque du Litor, in the upper part of the Ouzom valley. This road is closed from December to May due to snow.

Col d’Aubisque is the second most used climb in Le Tour de France. A true legend, Col d’Aubisque is a must do for anyone who wishes to call themselves a cyclist. No photo can do justice to the beauty of this col, it is truly magnificent.

There is a café at the summit which is open year round. It is a popular lunch destination with cyclists.

Cat 2. From the east you must first climb Col du Soulor (1474m) a Cat HC climb. From Col du Soulor the Col d’Aubisque is just over 10km. Firstly the road descends to Cirque du Litor and then climbs for 7.5km at 4.6% to the summit gaining 350m. Road D918.

This road between Col du Soulor and Col d’Aubisque crosses Cirque du Litor. It is one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Absolutely breath-taking. There are 2 short tunnels on the Cirque. One has a turn in it which makes it very dark, remember to remove your sun glasses and watch out for the sheep. From the Cirque du Litor, the climb is 7.5 km. at 4.6%, a height gain of 350m.

At the summit there is a large carpark in front of 2 cafes and souvenir shops. The cafe on the right is the oldest and most famous, it makes for a great lunch stop.

The summit of the col has a commemorative plaque to André Bach, 1888–1945. A member of Legion of Honour and President of the Cyclo Club of Béarn (governors of Raid Pyreneen.). André Bach lost his left arm in WWI. In 1943 he was deported by the Nazi to the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany. He died on the return journey after being freed in May 1945. Each year the club hold a commemorative ride to the summit, in his honour.

There is also a sculpture of 3 bikes in yellow, green and red polka dot. Outside the cafe is a bust of Lucien Buysse winner of the 1926 Tour. The stage that crossed Col d’Aubisque that year is legendary in the history of Le Tour. Many historians claim that it was the hardest stage ever.


http://velopeloton.com/col-daubisque/

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