Col du Portalet (North side)
Distance: 36.77 km
Elevation Gain: 1291 m
Elevation Loss: 448 m
Difficulty:
854 (Hard)
FIETS Index: 5.77 FIETS
Avg Grade: 4.54 %
Max cat climb: HC
Min elevation: 529 m
Max elevation: 1800 m
Ride Category:
Climb
The Col du Pourtalet, the border pass between the Ossau valley in France and the Tena valley in Spain, takes its name from the Gascon for “little pass”. From Laruns the road climbs 29 km at an average of 4.5%. The Tour de France in 1991 and the Vuelta in 2023 both came down this side, but the Quebrantahuesos sportive climbed it in 2022.
This ride starts at Villa Caprice, south of Laruns, and climbs through the gorge to Eaux-Chaudes, then on to Gabas, the last village in the valley. Beyond it the road passes the Fabrèges reservoir, where a cable car leads to the Artouste train. The narrow-gauge line opened in 1920 to carry materials for a dam, and it now takes visitors up to 1,940 metres. From the col there are views of the Pic du Midi d’Ossau. The ride crosses the border and drops into Spain towards Formigal.
