Col du Tourmalet 2115m.a.s.l. from Argeles Gazost, via Col de Lingus and Sainte-Marie-de-Campan:
1. Directions:
How to get to Argeles Gazost, 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're starting the route according to: the map;
- 1km: (425m.a.s.l.) we enter the comfortable bike path Voie Verte des Gaves, which we follow all the way to Lugagnan;
- 9,1km: Lugagnan (397m.a.s.l.) - we turn right off the bike path and through the parking lot, onto D13 Rue;
- 9,5km: (409m.a.s.l.) we turn right onto D26 (there are signs);
- 10,8km: Saint Creac (437m.a.s.l.) - fork in the road - keep to the right (flattened) side, which is the main road: here begins a small climb to Col de Lingus;
- 13,2km Juncalas (491m.a.s.l.) - at the large cross, we go straight ahead (no information signs ahead, only a sign to the left for Justous);
- 16,8km (578m.a.s.l.) Col de Lingous - warm-up hill conquered, we turn right off D7 onto D26 to continue uphill;

The climb profile from Saint Creac (10,8m) to Col de Lingous (16,8km) can be found on: climbfinder.com

- 20,4km: we travel on a winding narrow road D26 passing by Arrodets-ez-Angles (727m.a.s.l.);
- 27,3km: (517m.a.s.l.) - at the intersection, we go straight ahead (there are signs for Trebonz-Pouzac);
- 31,4km: Pouzac (521m.a.s.l.) - we turn right onto D935;
- 34,2km: we pass through the center of Bagneres de Bigorre (550m.a.s.l.) - after Place Lafayette, there are four cafes to choose from;
- 40,1km: we pass through the center of Campan (659m.a.s.l.) - the route is increasingly uphill;
- 46km: 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 destination - Col du Tourmalet; at the main intersection, there is a small Vival grocery store (next to a bar/cafe) closed between 12:30 pm and 4 pm; the pizzeria Au Panier Gourmand also has a break between 1:30 pm and 5 pm; at the same place, we turn onto D918, where the proper climb begins, as indicated by the sign by the road (here is also the connection to the downhill road from Col d'Aspin);

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

58,8km: 4km before the pass - La Mongie (1745m.a.s.l.) has gastronomic points and a Carrefour store, but it is worth not stopping and continuing to the next points;
63km: Col du Tourmalet (2115m.a.s.l.)- the main goal achieved; a place to take a break: Restaurant du Col du Tourmalet;
74,4km: Bareges (1242m.a.s.l.): gastronomic points and a sports store;
81,9km: Luz Saint Sauveur (719m.a.s.l.): gastronomic points and a bike shop in the center;
94,8km: Pierrefitte Nestalas (464m.a.s.l.) we enter the comfortable bike path "Voie Verte des Gaves" which we follow all the way to Argeles Gazost.

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

Statistics about Col du Tourmalet can be found on procyclingstats.com

   Download the route in: gpx

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

Statistics of the ascent to Col de Lingous:
- start at an altitude of 437m.a.s.l. (10,8km) finish at 578m.a.s.l. (16,8km)
- total elevation difference: 162m
- length of the climb: 6km
- average gradient: 2,7%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 9,2%

Statistics of the ascent from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan to Col du Tourmalet:
- start at an altitude of 823m.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: