Luz Ardiden


Luz Ardiden is a ski resort in the Pyrenees. It is situated in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the Occitanie Region. The ski resort lies at a height of 1720 meters and was opened on January 16, 1975. In recent years the road to Luz Ardiden has served as an occasional stage finish for the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.

Details of climb

Starting from Luz-Saint-Sauveur, the climb to Luz Ardiden is 14.7 km long. The elevation gain over this distance is 1010 m. The maximum gradient is 10%.

Cycling

Luz Ardiden has been the finish-line for Tour de France and Vuelta a España stages several times.

Tour de France stage finishes

During the 2003 Tour de France, Lance Armstrong was riding with Iban Mayo at the start of the climb to Luz Ardiden when Armstrong crashed, bringing Mayo down with him. The fall was caused when Armstrong caught the handlebar of his bike on the strap of a spectator's bag. Jan Ulrich, who was riding just behind Armstrong and Mayo, avoided the crash, and in an act of chivalry he slowed to wait for the fallen riders. Armstrong would go on to win by his smallest ever margin.

Vuelta a España stage finishes