La Hourquette d’Ancizan (South side)
La Hourquette d’Ancizan is a mountain pass in the French Pyrenees, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department between Ancizan (east) and Campan (west). It sits at an elevation of 1,564 meters (5,131 feet). The name "hourquette" likely comes from the Latin word furca, meaning "fork," and is used in the region to describe small passes. The pass is well known in the cycling community and has been featured in the Tour de France multiple times, starting in 2011. Notable moments include Laurent Mangel leading over the summit in 2011, Dan Martin winning the stage in 2013, Chris Froome taking the yellow jersey in 2016, and recent appearances in stages in 2019, 2022, and 2024. The Hourquette d’Ancizan offers a picturesque route through green mountain landscapes, alpine forests, and pasturelands, making it popular with both amateur and experienced cyclists. It is near Lake Payolle and the Col d’Aspin and is part of scenic cycling and hiking routes in the Pyrenees. Additionally, near the climb at Lake Payolle, there is a historic marble quarry whose marble was used in the Palace of Versailles.
Region: Occitanie
City: Guchen
Distance: 11.09 km
Elevation Gain: 800 m
Elevation Loss: 3 m
Difficulty: 669 (Moderate)
FIETS Index: 5.79 FIETS
Avg Grade: 7.24 %
Max cat climb: 1
Min elevation: 765 m
Max elevation: 1565 m
Ride Category: Epic Climb