Arudy

07.50

Rain all day, often torrential. Very cold with thick low cloud at top of climbs. Just light at this time and in this weather.

Louvie Juzon

08.00

110

413

Fast run gently up to Laruns, following river. Soaked by heavy rain and by surface water.

Bielle

08.05

2.5(4)

5 mins

426

Laruns

08.29

08.45

5(8)

24 mins

531

Clothing stop. Market setting up.

Col d’Aubisque

10.30

11.00

11.25(18)

1 hr 45 mins

1709

Climb starts from turn onto D918. Quiet road. Kms and ave. gradient markers all the way: easy at first (<5%); very steep through Eaux-Bonnes’ one-way system! 10% at halfway point (9km) and steep at the top. Speed c.7 mph, down to 5mph on steeper sections. Climbed in waterproofs, base layer and longs needed at top. Café and Carnet stop. No view and too cold and wet to take a picture!

Col du Soulor

11.30

11.45

6.25(10)

30 mins

1464

Nothing to worry about. At least going up keeps you warm!

Arrens

12.00

5(8)

15 mins

878

Very cold and difficult descent in the wet.

Argelès-Gazost

12.22

8.4(11.5)

22 mins

463

Fast run from Aucun to Argelès

Luz-St-Saveur

13.19

14.37

10.6(17)

57 mins

711

Lunch and warming up stop. Self-service café with many other cyclists looking pretty miserable. Bank.

Col du Tourmalet

16.39

17.00

11.25(18)

2 hrs 2 mins

2115

Climb starts from Luz (town slightly difficult to get out of). Quiet road. Generally steeper and slower than Aubisque with an unrelenting gradient between 7-9%. Focusing on keeping above 5mph. 5.5% at 11km; feels almost level with 2km to go, then rears up to 10+% for the last 1km. Rained all the way up, so climbed in jackets and longs. Post card, photo and carnet stop at the top.

La Mongie

2.5(4)

1750

Difficult descent from summit with rain and limited visibility. Straight on through ugly ski resort La Mongie.

Ste Marie de Campans

17.23

8.1(13)

23 mins

857

Down hill all the way to Ste Marie.

Col d’Aspin

18.39

8.1(13)

1 hr 16 mins

1489

Climb starts from Ste Marie. It felt easier, despite tired legs, with gentler gradients: 5% down to 1.5%, steeper towards the top (one section at 9%). Easier descent with long straight sections into hairpins. Downhill all the way to Arreau.

Arreau

19.04

8.1(13)

25 mins

8 hrs 31 mins

704

Pretty town with all amenities (shops closing as we arrived). Pre-booked the Hotel d’Angleterre 2* (Fax 00 33 5 62 98 69 66) at southern end of town centre (right on the road to Bordères)- excellent. Plush, with a bar, restaurant and large garage. Ate at the hotel (closed at 9pm), early breakfast (pre-8am) by arrangement. Popular with cyclists.

91.47 miles @10.7mph