Pyrenees, France · from Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Luz Ardiden
Luz Ardiden climbs from Luz-Saint-Sauveur to a dead-end ski station through a beautiful ladder of hairpins, with the gradient hovering around 8% through the middle half. As a pure summit finish with no through traffic, it is one of the quietest famous climbs in the Pyrenees.
Summit elevation: 1715 m
How fast would you climb Luz Ardiden?
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).
Luz Ardiden and the Tour
The Tour first finished at Luz Ardiden in 1985 and has returned regularly since; the climb has a habit of hosting decisive late-Tour mountain battles, usually in combination with the Tourmalet immediately before it.
In 2021 Tadej Pogačar won atop Luz Ardiden to seal his second Tour, the most recent of the station's summit-finish showdowns.
Get a km-by-km pacing guideRiding it yourself
When to go
Generally open May to October. The hairpin section is east-facing and pleasant in the morning; afternoons can bring valley heat at the bottom and wind at the station.
Base & logistics
Luz-Saint-Sauveur sits at the junction of the Tourmalet and Gavarnie roads, making it a superb base: Luz Ardiden, the western Tourmalet and the Gavarnie valley all start from town. Water at the fountain in Sazos on the lower slopes.
FAQ
How long is the Luz Ardiden climb?
From Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the climb is about 13.6 km with roughly 1042 m of elevation gain at 7.7% 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 Luz Ardiden?
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.
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 Luz Ardiden?
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 30 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.