Port de Balès 1755m.a.s.l. from Bagnères-de-Luchon:
1. Directions:
How to get to Bagnères-de-Luchon, 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;
- 0,2km: (639m.a.s.l.) - turn left onto D618 and start the ascent;
- 3,8km: (826m.a.s.l.) - turn right onto D51 (signposted: Port de Balès);
- 11,7km: Cirès (1248m.a.s.l.) - El Almacèn de Cirès restaurant on the right;
- 19,2km: Port de Balès (1755m.a.s.l.) - destination reached - there is a small restaurant called Le Petit Refuge open in season; descend via the same road;

The climb profile from Bagnères-de-Luchon (0,2km) to Port de Balès (19,2km) can be found on: climbfinder.com and cyclingcols.com

- 27,4km: Cirès (1248m.a.s.l.) El Almacèn de Cirès restaurant on the left;
- 34,6km: turn left onto D618 and reach the parking area via the same road;

- The entire ascent from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Port de Balès is presented on the Indoor Cycling Training YouTube channel Bike the World
- The ascent from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Port de Balès is presented on Gonzalo de las Heras YouTube channel;

Port de Balès statistics can be found on the procyclingstats.com website;

   Download the route in: gpx

Statistics of the ascent from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Port de Balès:
- start at an altitude of 639m.a.s.l. (0,2km) finish at 1755m.a.s.l. (19,2km)
- total elevation difference: 1116m
- distance: 19km
- average gradient: 5,8%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 12,5%

Port de Balès in Google Street View: