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Challenging Cycling Tours In Europe

Cycling Climbs: Col d’Agnes

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A brief look at the Col d’Agnes in the French Pyrenees.

col-d-agnes
“Col d’Agnés” by bebb83 – Own work. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Col_d%27Agn%C3%A9s.jpg#mediaviewer/ File:Col_d%27Agn%C3%A9s.jpg

High in the French Pyrenees, situated between the Col de Latrape and the Port de Lers, lies the beautiful Col d’Agnes. At 1570 meters high, the col typically ranks as a Category 1 climb when used in the Tour de France and is rightfully challenging. The eastern approach is notably more tame with the beginning starting off along a pleasant river valley. In contrast, the western side hits your hardest shortly out of Aulus-les Bains.

The Col d’Agnes is generally open from May through November.

Fast Facts

Westward Climb
Start in Aulus-les Bains
Distance: 10.1 km
Average Grade: 8.1%
Max Grade: 11%

Eastward Climb
Start in Massat
Distance: 17.6 km
Average Grade: 5.3%
Max Grade: 8%

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Cycling The Col du Soulor, French Pyrenees. Where To Chat With Other Cyclists

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As part of our Bike Tour in the French Pyrenees, we climb the Col du Soulor and Col d’Aubisque on our last full day of riding. Are you looking for a good place to celebrate and chat with other cyclists and swap stories? We have a suggestion for you.

summit of col du soulor
Hanging out at the top of the Col du Soulor.

Right at the top of the Col du Soulor, at the intersection of the roads of Soulor and the Col d’Aubisque sits a great little restaurant called “Les Marmottes“. It’s a family run restaurant and bar with a front patio, rear deck, and a cozy interior. If the sun is shining and the spectacular views of the peaks stretch out before you, sitting on Les Marmottes’ rear deck is a great location to celebrate conquering the climb you just rode.

As a matter of practicality, we’d typically recommend that you ride both the Col du Soulor and the Col d’Aubisque before sitting down at Les Marmottes, because even if the Aubisque is not as challenging from the Soulor side, it still has a decent pitch in the last few kilometers. Why not wait until your climbing for the day is over before celebrating. Besides, if you’re returning towards Argelès-Gazost, your ride is almost all downhill from the top of the Soulor anyway.

Check out the other climbs we also ride on our Bike Tour in the French Pyrenees.

 

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