Pyrenees, France · from Arreau
Col d'Aspin
Tour de France 2026 · Stage 6 →The Aspin from Arreau is the gentler gateway between the Aure and Campan valleys, climbing through beech forest to an open, cow-grazed summit facing the Pic du Midi. It is rarely decisive on its own, but as the warm-up act for the Tourmalet it has shaped a century of Pyrenean stages.
Summit elevation: 1490 m
Route overview
Col d'Aspin · from Arreau
Schematic road geometry from the routed track, with 8 detected hairpins marked (filled markers are tighter than 15 m radius). Use it to see the shape of the climb, not for navigation.
Measured road detail
Taken from the Col d'Aspin track used by the 3D flyover: from Arreau · 573 road points
- Measured ascent
- 799 m
- Elevation range
- 699 → 1490 m
- Hairpins detected
- 8
- Tightest hairpin
- 10.1 m radius
- Surface
- paved
Tightest hairpins on Col d'Aspin
- 2.6 km · 786 mLeft · 10.5 m
- 4.1 km · 929 mRight · 12.3 m
- 4.5 km · 964 mLeft · 12.5 m
- 4.8 km · 990 mRight · 10.1 m
- 5.3 km · 1025 mLeft · 10.1 m
- 9.7 km · 1370 mLeft · 17.2 m
Hairpins and elevations are derived from the routed track; road data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
How fast would you climb Col d'Aspin?
Enter your power and weight. A physics engine calculates your estimated time against the gradient profile.
Predict your
performance.
See how power and weight affect your time on a real climb.
*Demo simulation uses standard road bike physics (CdA 0.32, Crr 0.004).
Col d'Aspin and the Tour
The Aspin was part of the very first Pyrenean stage of the Tour de France in 1910, together with the Peyresourde, Tourmalet and Aubisque, and has been crossed more than 70 times since — putting it among the most visited climbs in Tour history.
Because it almost always precedes the Tourmalet, the Aspin is where the day's breakaway is formed rather than where Tours are won. In 2026 it plays exactly that role again, as the first major pass of stage 6 on the way to Gavarnie.
Tadej Pogačar set a new Tourmalet ascent record of 43:12 from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, attacked with 43 km remaining, rode solo to Gavarnie-Gèdre and reclaimed yellow.
Part of Lapize's legendary 1910 Pyrenean stage, the day that made Aspin-Tourmalet-Aubisque Tour mythology.
Riding it yourself
When to go
Usually rideable from May to October; the summit is below 1,500 m, so it opens earlier and stays open later than its bigger neighbours. Summer afternoons can be hot on the exposed upper section.
Base & logistics
Arreau, a pretty market town at the junction of two valleys, is the base for this side. The natural combination is the classic Tour traverse: Aspin then Tourmalet via Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, or a loop back over the quieter Hourquette d'Ancizan.
FAQ
How long is the Col d'Aspin climb?
From Arreau, the climb is about 13.4 km with roughly 794 m of elevation gain at 5.9% average gradient (based on the simplified profile used by this simulator; published figures vary slightly by source).
How long does it take to cycle up Col d'Aspin?
It depends almost entirely on your power-to-weight ratio. Use the simulator on this page: enter your FTP and weight, and a physics model (air resistance, rolling resistance, gravity) estimates your time on the gradient profile.
Can I see Col d'Aspin in 3D before riding it?
Yes. The route overview on this page has a 3D flyover that follows the real road: 573 routed points covering from Arreau, with terrain, gradient and the road's own bends. It runs in the browser, no account needed.
How many hairpins does Col d'Aspin have?
8 hairpin bends are detected on the routed track, the tightest turning inside a 10.1 m radius. They are marked on the 2D sketch and ridden in order in the 3D flyover.
How accurate is the time simulation?
The simulator uses a simplified segment profile and standard road bike assumptions (CdA 0.32, Crr 0.004, 8 kg bike). It does not model wind, drafting, altitude, surface or pacing errors, so treat the result as a realistic estimate, not a guarantee.
How should I train for Col d'Aspin?
Sustained climbs reward steady threshold and sweet spot work plus a power-to-weight improvement over weeks, not days. TrainCraft builds structured cycling training plans and adapts them when you miss sessions, using fatigue science (CTL/ATL/TSB).
More famous climbs
Preparing for this climb?
A climb like this is won weeks in advance. TrainCraft builds a structured plan around your FTP and available hours, and adapts it when you miss a workout.
Start Training FreeThe profile is simplified into 47 segments for simulation; real gradients vary metre by metre. Stats shown are derived from this simulated profile and closely match commonly published figures. Time estimates assume standard road bike physics and no wind.
Training for a climb like this?
TrainCraft builds structured training plans and adapts them when life gets in the way — real fatigue science (CTL/ATL/TSB), visual workout builder, Strava & Garmin sync. Free to start.