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: (635m.a.s.l.) - turn right onto D618;
- 0,5km: (630m.a.s.l.) - exit the roundabout onto D125E (signposted Moustajon);
- 4,5km: (599m.a.s.l.) - continue straight onto D125;
- 11,2km: (573m.a.s.l.) - turn left onto D44 (signposted Guran);
- 18,7km: (479m.a.s.l.) - turn left again onto D125;
- 19,7km: (482m.a.s.l.) - continue straight onto D825;
- 23,1km: (461m.a.s.l.) - turn left onto D924;
- 29,1km: Mauléon-Barousse (595m.a.s.l.) - turn left onto D925;
- 29,2km: there is a restaurant with outdoor seating at Place de Palauman - a good place to have coffee and replenish fluids before the climb; as you descend from our route onto D22, 150m further on the right is Snack-Bar Pizzeria - a good place to eat; La Belinoise bakery is 100m past the pizzeria; after the break we start the climb;
- 48,5km: Port de Balès (1755m.a.s.l.) - destination reached - in season there is a small gastronomic point Le Petit Refuge;

The climb profile from Mauléon-Barousse (29,2km) to Port de Balès (48,5km) can be found on: climbfinder.com and cyclingcols.com

- 56,1km: Cirès (1248m.a.s.l.) on the left is the gastronomic point "El Almacèn de Cirès";
- 64km: turn left onto D618 and arrive at the parking lot in Bagnères-de-Luchon;


- the climb from Mauléon-Barousse to Port de Balès is presented on the SeBeTeam YouTube channel;

statistics regarding Port de Balès can be found on procyclingstats.com

   Download the route in: gpx

Statistics of the ascent from Mauléon-Barousse to Port de Balès:
- start at an altitude of 595m.a.s.l. (29,2km) finish at 1755m.a.s.l. (48,5km)
- total elevation difference: 1160m
- distance: 19,7km
- average gradient: 6,2%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 13%

Port de Balès in Google Street View: