Col du Tourmalet 2115m.a.s.l. from Lourdes, via Sainte-Marie-de-Campan:
1. Directions:
How to get to Lourdes, where to stay, rent a bike or park the car, can be found here
2. Route description with suggestions for meal and/or water refueling stops:
We start the route according to the map;
- 8,6km: we take road D937 - the first small ascent begins (387m.a.s.l.)
- 12km: the ascent ends in Cote de Loucrup (542m.a.s.l.);

The climb profile on Cote de Loucrup can be found on: climbfinder.com

- 14,6km: we reach road D935 (452m.a.s.l.);
- 21,3km: we pass through the center of Bagneres de Bigorre (550m.a.s.l.) - there are 4 cafes to choose from after Place Lafayette;
- 27,3km: we pass through the center of Campan (659m.a.s.l.) - the route is getting steeper;
- 33,1km: we arrive at Sainte-Marie-de-Campan (852m.a.s.l.): the best place to take a break for coffee or lunch, as it is the last town before the end of the route - Col du Tourmalet; there is a small Vival grocery store (next to a bar/cafe) located at the main intersection, closed between 12.30 and 16; the pizzeria Au Panier Gourmand also takes a break between 13.30 and 17.00; there is a drinking water tap at the corner; at the same place, we turn onto road D918, where the proper ascent begins, as indicated by a sign on the road (here there is also a connection with the descent road from Col d'Aspin);

45,9km: 4km before the pass - La Mongie (1745m.a.s.l.) has dining options and a Carrefour store, but it's worth not interrupting the ride and stopping at the next points; there is a public toilet at the Office de Tourisme;
50,1km: Col du Tourmalet (2115m.a.s.l.)- main destination achieved; place for a break: Restaurant du Col du Tourmalet;

The climb profile from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan (33,1km) to Col du Tourmalet (50,1km) is available on: cyclingcols.com and climbfinder.com

61,5km: Bareges (1242m.a.s.l.): dining options and a sports shop;
68,9km: Luz Saint Sauveur (719m.a.s.l.): dining options and a bike shop in the center;
81,1km: Pierrefitte Nestalas (489m.a.s.l.): grocery stores and dining options;
81,8km: (464m.a.s.l.) we enter the comfortable Voie Verte des Gaves bike path; 87km: Argeles-Gazost (433m.a.s.l.) there is a drinking water sourceon the left; we continue riding on the bike path all the way to Lourdes.

- the entire climb from Sainte Marie de Campan to Col du Tourmalet is presented on the Indoor Cycling Training YouTube channel Bike the World
- video from Tour de France (2015 - stage 11): climb to Tourmalet - on YouTube on the RagedMonkey channel;

Statistics about Col du Tourmalet are available on the procyclingstats.com website;

   Download the route in: gpx

Other routes leading to Col du Tourmalet:
- from Argelès Gazost - 101km
- from Lannemezan to Lourdes - 117km
- from Luz-Saint-Sauveur - 37km
- from Luz-Saint-Sauveur - 100km

Statistics of the ascent to Cote de Loucrup:
- start at an altitude of 387m.a.s.l. (8,6km) finish at 542m.a.s.l. (12km)
- total elevation difference: 179m
- length of the climb: 3,4km
- average gradient: 5,4%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 11%

Statistics of the ascent from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan to Col du Tourmalet:
- start at an altitude of 852m.a.s.l. (33,1km) finish at 2115m.a.s.l. (50,1km)
- total elevation difference: 1266m
- length of the climb: 17km
- average gradient: 7,5%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 12%

Col du Tourmalet in Google Street View: