Col de Portet d'Aspet


The Col de Portet d'Aspet is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees in the department of Haute-Garonne in France. It is situated on the D618 road between Aspet and Saint-Girons and connects the Ger and Bouigane valleys, on the slopes of the Pic de Paloumère.

Details of climb

Starting from Audressein, in Ariège, the climb is long. Over this distance, the climb is at an average gradient of 3.1%. The climb proper starts at Saint-Lary, and from the summit, with the steepest sections being at 10.6% near the summit.
Starting from Aspet, in Haute-Garonne, the climb is long. Over this distance, the climb is at an average gradient of 4.2%. The climb proper starts at the D618/D44 junction, / from the summit, with several sections in excess of 11%; the maximum gradient is 12.8%, from the summit.

Appearances in Tour de France

The Col de Portet d'Aspet was first used in the Tour de France in 1910 and has appeared regularly since. The leader over the summit in 1910 was Octave Lapize.
Since 1947, the Col has featured 32 times including on Stage 12 of the 2015 race.
YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit
2015122LannemezanPlateau de Beille
2014162CarcassonneBagnères-de-Luchon
201392Saint-GironsBagnères-de-Bigorre
2011142Saint-GaudensPlateau de Beille
2010152PamiersBagnères-de-Luchon
2007152FoixLoudenvielle
2005152Lézat-sur-LèzePla d'Adet
2004132LannemezanPlateau de Beille
2003142Saint-GironsLoudenvielle
2002122LannemezanPlateau de Beille
2001132FoixPla d'Adet
1998112Bagnères-de-LuchonPlateau de Beille
1997102Bagnères-de-LuchonAndorre Arcalis
1995152Saint-GironsCauterets
1988152Saint-GironsLuz-Ardiden
1984111PauGuzet-Neige
1973133Bourg-MadameBagnères-de-Luchon
197292Bagnères-de-LuchonColomiers
1971143RevelBagnères-de-Luchon
1969163CastelnaudaryBagnères-de-Luchon
1967163ToulouseBagnères-de-Luchon
1966122Bagnères-de-LuchonRevel
1965102Bagnères-de-BigorreAx-les-Thermes
1964153ToulouseBagnères-de-Luchon
1963122Bagnères-de-LuchonToulouse
1962142Bagnères-de-LuchonCarcassonne
1960122Bagnères-de-LuchonToulouse
1958152Bagnères-de-LuchonToulouse
1957173Ax-les-ThermesSaint-Gaudens
1956132Bagnères-de-LuchonToulouse
1951153Bagnères-de-LuchonCarcassonne
1947142CarcassonneBagnères-de-Luchon

In the 1973 tour Raymond Poulidor almost lost his life on the descent from the Portet d'Aspet when he plunged off the road into a ravine, taking a serious blow to the head and crawling out with the help of the race director, Jacques Goddet.

Fabio Casartelli

On 18 July 1995, during the fifteenth stage of the 1995 Tour de France, Fabio Casartelli and a few other riders crashed on the descent of the Col de Portet d'Aspet. Casartelli sustained heavy facial and head injuries and lost consciousness. While being transported via helicopter to a local hospital, he stopped breathing and after numerous resuscitation attempts was declared dead. The Société du Tour de France and the Motorola team placed a memorial stone dedication to Casartelli on the spot where he crashed.