Port de Balès and Peyresourde from Luchon
88 km · 2,300 m · Bagnères-de-Luchon
- Base
- Bagnères-de-Luchon
- Distance
- 88 km
- Elevation gain
- 2,300 m
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Type
- Loop
- Highest point
- Port de Balès, 1,755 m
- Cols
- Port de Balès (1,755 m), Col de Peyresourde (1,569 m)
- Season
- June–October
The Balès is a younger Tour col (first used in 2007) but a real gem: from Mauléon-Barousse, 18.9 km and 1185 metres of climbing on a narrow road through beech forest and up over remote pastures, with several ramps of 10–14 per cent in the middle section. The descent goes through the quiet, almost forgotten Oueil valley. This is where Andy Schleck's chain came off in 2010 and he lost the yellow jersey to Contador. The loop ends with the Peyresourde from the Luchon side, up and back down again.
TipsRide clockwise: the transfer out to Mauléon along the valley is flat (avoid the N125; take the back roads via Antignac and Saléchan). Eat in Mauléon-Barousse before the climb; after that there's nothing until the crêperie on the Peyresourde. The Balès is closed in winter, roughly November–May. Skip the Peyresourde for a shorter ride (about 68 km, 1500 hm), or add Superbagnères (1800 m) from Luchon on another day.
Nearby
- Bagnères-de-LuchonSpa and mountain town, often a TdF finish
Port de BalèsA narrow, wild climb – views towards the Aneto- Bourg-d'OueilVallée d'Oueil, Haute-Garonne
Col de PeyresourdeTdF country just west of Luchon
PeyragudesA finish on the airfield
SuperbagnèresGondola or bike up from Luchon
LoudenvielleThe lake and outdoor activities of the Vallée du Louron- BalnéaThe largest thermal spa in the Pyrenees
Cycling rides
- Gavarnie from Luz-Saint-Sauveur40 km · 700 m · Easy
- Cerdagne loop over the Col de la Perche55 km · 800 m · Easy
- Aubisque and Soulor from Laruns55 km · 1,550 m · Moderate
- Col de Marie-Blanque loop from Arudy60 km · 1,000 m · Moderate
- Col du Pourtalet to Formigal and Sallent82 km · 1,800 m · Moderate
- Port de Larrau and Pierre-Saint-Martin, French–Spanish loop127 km · 3,000 m · Very hard
- The Tourmalet from both sides72 km · 2,700 m · Hard
- Hautacam and Luz Ardiden102 km · 2,550 m · Hard
- Peyresourde and Aspin from Luchon88 km · 2,650 m · Hard
- The Tour's 65-kilometre stage: Luchon–Col de Portet65 km · 3,000 m · Hard
- The big Comminges loop: Ares, Balès, Menté and Portet d'Aspet133 km · 3,300 m · Very hard
- Col de Port and Mur de Péguère from Foix74 km · 1,750 m · Hard
- Latrape, Saraillé and Col d'Agnes from Aulus76 km · 1,950 m · Hard
- The Pailhères from both sides and Ax 3 Domaines75 km · 2,850 m · Hard
- Coll d'Ordino and Beixalís from Andorra la Vella62 km · 1,700 m · Moderate
- Port de la Bonaigua from Vielha46 km · 1,150 m · Moderate
- The queen stage Pau–Luchon (the Circle of Death in reverse)197 km · 4,800 m · Very hard