October 1, 2022
Sainte Marie de Campan to Adast, Col de Tourmalet
What an incredible day, the sun shone, the temperature got to a high of 20 over lunch, there was little wind and the views were absolutely amazing. And the best part was the climb. The Col de Tourmalet is the high point for us for this trip at 2115 meters, with 1400m of climbing.
We left our hotel at 11 knowing we couldn't check in until 5pm. For me the 17km up is all about the inclines. The average is 7.4% with a maximum of 12%. I divide the climb into three parts, the first 7 were not bad at all, the middle 6km to the ski station La Mongie were hard, and well the last 4 were super tough. Oh, but what scenery. The first part we passed by villages, campgrounds and waterfalls. It was Saturday morning so there were more cyclists and cars on the road then we've seen on any of our cols so far. The vintage Ferrari club were doing the cols today, apart from the noise and smell of old motors, we enjoyed seeing them roar by.
Soon the traffic died off and all was quiet as we continued to climb. The white snow capped peeks began appearing through the trees and soon we were in wide open pasture land. Lunch at La Mongie ski station was a much appreciated break. By this time the mountain peaks are right in front of you, they feel so close. The ski hill is using grazing animals to keep the grass cut in the lower levels, goats, sheep and lamas too. Fortified, we continued our slow climb to the top, stopping often to catch our breath, take pictures and just drink in the view.
The Col du Tourmalet is one of the most famous climbs on the Tour de France. It has been included more than any other pass, since 1910, when the Pyrenees were introduced. For a few minutes we joined in the revelry with other arrivals at the top of the 1400m climb. We took pictures for a group of fit young cyclists at the university in Tarbe who were from Germany, Spain and Columbia. Soon it was time to bundle up and coast down, through the switchbacks past more ski runs and chairs, to the cute village of Bareges with its thermal baths, then on to Luz Saint Sauveur for a celebratory coffee and ice cream. And a little shopping for a souvenir cycle jersey for Ann!
Our accommodations are in Adast, in a beautiful new b&b. We picked up a prepared supper at a traiteur and flew the last 14km downhill through a deep ravine to arrive hungry, yet elated from our day.
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Today's ride: 53 km (33 miles)
Total: 817 km (507 miles)
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