Col d'Aspin


Col d'Aspin is a mountain pass in the French Pyrenees in the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées. It connects Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, in the upper Adour valley, with Arreau, on the River Neste.

Details of the climbs

From Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, the ascent is in length, gaining in height, at an average of 5%. In comparison with its neighbour, the Col du Tourmalet, this is considered an "easy" climb, with only the last five kilometres, at about 8%, being difficult.
From Arreau, the climb is more difficult; over the climb averages 6.5%, gaining in height.
On both sides of the Col de l'Aspin mountain pass cycling milestones are placed every kilometre. They indicate the height of the summit, the distance to the summit, the current height, and the average slope in the following kilometre. Such signposting for cyclists has become common in most major mountain passes in the French Pyrenees and Alps.

Tour de France

The pass has been part of the Tour de France 71 times, largely because it is the middle link in a chain of three road climbs, the other links being the Col du Tourmalet and Col de Peyresourde. The first time the Col d'Aspin was crossed was in 1910, when the leader over the summit was Octave Lapize.
In the 1950 Tour, there was an altercation at the pass, with bottles and stones being thrown at the riders, and the Italian team with Gino Bartali and Fiorenzo Magni, the leaders at the time, withdrew from the Tour at the end of the stage from Pau to Saint-Gaudens.
It was included in Stage 16 of the 2012 tour.

Appearances in Tour de France since 1947

YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit
2018191LourdesLaruns
201671L'Isle-JourdainLac de Payolle
2015111PauCauterets
2012161PauBagnères-de-Luchon
2010161Bagnères-de-LuchonPau
200991Saint-GaudensTarbes
200891ToulouseBagnères-de-Bigorre
2006111TarbesVal d'Aran-Pla-de-Beret
2004121CastelsarrasinLa Mongie
2003151Bagnères-de-BigorreLuz-Ardiden
2001141TarbesLuz-Ardiden
1999161LannemezanPau
1998101PauBagnères-de-Luchon
199792PauLoudenvielle
1995151Saint-GironsCauterets–Crêtes du Lys
1994121LourdesLuz-Ardiden
1991132JacaVal-Louron
1990161BlagnacLuz-Ardiden
1989102CauteretsSuperbagnères
1988151Saint-GironsLuz-Ardiden
1986131PauSuperbagnères
1985172ToulouseLuz-Ardiden
1983101PauBagnères-de-Luchon
1982131PauSaint-Lary-Soulan–Pla d'Adet
1980131PauBagnères-de-Luchon
197931Bagnères-de-LuchonPau
1978112PauSaint-Lary-Soulan–Pla d'Adet
197722AuchPau
1976152Saint-Lary-SoulanPau
1975112PauSaint-Lary-Soulan–Pla d'Adet
1974172Saint-Lary-SoulanLa Mongie
1973142Bagnères-de-LuchonPau
197282PauBagnères-de-Luchon
197116A2Bagnères-de-LuchonGourette–les-Eaux-Bonnes
1970181Saint-GaudensLa Mongie
1969172La MongieMourenx
1964162Bagnères-de-LuchonPau
1963112Bagnères-de-BigorreBagnères-de-Luchon
1962123PauSaint-Gaudens
1961172Bagnères-de-LuchonPau
1960112PauBagnères-de-Luchon
1959112Bagnères-de-BigorreSaint-Gaudens
1958142PauBagnères-de-Luchon
1956122PauBagnères-de-Luchon
1955172ToulouseSaint-Gaudens
1954122PauBagnères-de-Luchon
1953112CauteretsBagnères-de-Luchon
1952172ToulouseBagnères-de-Bigorre
1951142TarbesBagnères-de-Luchon
1950112PauSaint-Gaudens
1949112PauBagnères-de-Luchon
194882LourdesToulouse
1947151Bagnères-de-LuchonPau