CYCL – MONTÉE DU COL DU PORTILLON DEPUIS LUCHON

Steps

Step 1

From Luchon, follow the signs for Spain. The climb up the Col du Portillon begins just outside the village of Saint-Mamet.

Step 2

For 3 km, the gradient varies between 4 and 6 per cent before steepening rapidly to between 7.5 and 8 per cent.

Step 3

The toughest section is at the Sidonie waterfall, with a 500-metre straight incline at a gradient of nearly 14 per cent.

Step 4

After that, the road runs through woodland and becomes more winding, with some fairly tight hairpin bends. The gradient, between 8 and 9 per cent, remains steady right up to the summit.