Johnny VenomPyrénées 2024 - Day 12: Col d'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet (east approach). 128km / 2724m
If there was a queen stage this trip, for me this was it - my only two-col day, plus some serious heat. I headed out early on an approximate reverse loop of our Day 7 Tourmalet ride: Leaving Argelés-Gazost, and heading north down the valley towards Lourdes, then east across a lovely and deserted windy road to the adjacent valley. The mission: to climb the other (east) side of Tourmalet, which for some is the more "official" or exciting ascent. But before that, an added bonus of Col d'Aspin. Felix headed out after me but soon caught up and we made our way up Col d'Aspin. It was great and quiet, not much car or bike traffic and another beautiful winding road. Aspin isn't huge (600 or 900 meters depending where you count from, and around 4%) and the sun was still low to the temps were manageable and the climb enjoyable. Then came the main event, back down Aspin and settling in to the mighty Tourmalet once again. This side is a monster, 1250m at average 7.5%. And by now the sun was blazing with nowhere to hide. Felix was long up the road, and I took my time up to the top. 35 water refills later I made it, enjoyed a cheese and baguette sandwich and a Coke, then Felix and I headed back down towards home. The descent was pretty insane - it's long (maybe 40km back to home, almost all downhill), and with every meter back down it got hotter and hotter. We were well cooked by the time we got back, and celebrated with another visit to the swimming hole and a walk into town for pizza in the evening. 5 star day. I'm dead ☠️.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12010119333
#cycling #pyrenees #hautepyrenees #france #biketooter #coldutourmalet #coldaspin #pizza #swimming #rivegave
If there was a queen stage this trip, for me this was it - my only two-col day, plus some serious heat. I headed out early on an approximate reverse loop of our Day 7 Tourmalet ride: Leaving Argelés-Gazost, and heading north down the valley towards Lourdes, then east across a lovely and deserted windy road to the adjacent valley. The mission: to climb the other (east) side of Tourmalet, which for some is the more "official" or exciting ascent. But before that, an added bonus of Col d'Aspin. Felix headed out after me but soon caught up and we made our way up Col d'Aspin. It was great and quiet, not much car or bike traffic and another beautiful winding road. Aspin isn't huge (600 or 900 meters depending where you count from, and around 4%) and the sun was still low to the temps were manageable and the climb enjoyable. Then came the main event, back down Aspin and settling in to the mighty Tourmalet once again. This side is a monster, 1250m at average 7.5%. And by now the sun was blazing with nowhere to hide. Felix was long up the road, and I took my time up to the top. 35 water refills later I made it, enjoyed a cheese and baguette sandwich and a Coke, then Felix and I headed back down towards home. The descent was pretty insane - it's long (maybe 40km back to home, almost all downhill), and with every meter back down it got hotter and hotter. We were well cooked by the time we got back, and celebrated with another visit to the swimming hole and a walk into town for pizza in the evening. 5 star day. I'm dead ☠️.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12010119333
#cycling #pyrenees #hautepyrenees #france #biketooter #coldutourmalet #coldaspin #pizza #swimming #rivegave
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