Plateau de Beille 1785m.a.s.l. from Ax-Les-Thermes and Carrière de Trimouns from Luzenac:
1. Directions:
How to get to Ax-Les-Thermes, 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;
- 2,3km: (683m.a.s.l.) - turn right onto D719 road (signposted Perles et Castelet);
- 5,1km: (645m.a.s.l.) - turn right onto N20 road;
- 7,8km: Luzenac (601m.a.s.l.) - turn right onto D2 road, cross over the railway tracks and continue straight towards Vernaux;
- 8km: Luzenac (598m.a.s.l.) - turn left (signposted D55 - Vernaux); at the intersection, there is a public toilet and a drinking water tap; this is the start of the climb towards our first destination;
- 11,2km: Vernaux (777m.a.s.l.) water tap on the right-hand side - a good place to refill water bottles during the climb;
- 13km: (898m.a.s.l.) continue straight at the intersection (signposted Carrière del Talcs);
- 22,7km: Carrière de Trimouns (1535m.a.s.l.) first destination reached;

The climb profile from Luzenac (8km) to Carrière de Trimouns (22,7km) can be found on: climbfinder.com and cyclingcols.com

Continue on D613 road, descending towards Col de Marmare;
- 32,4km: (898m.a.s.l.) - turn right onto D20 road (signposted Axiat);
- 41,6km: (886m.a.s.l.) - sharp left turn onto D120 road (signposted Les Cabannes);
- 46,9km: Les Cabannes (538m.a.s.l.) turn right towards the town center;
- 47,1km: centrum Les Cabannes (Place des Platanes) (551m.a.s.l.) there are 2 drinking water taps in the square - water can be refilled in the water bottles; food points and grocery store; turn left onto D522 road (signposted Plateau de Beille) - this is the start of the climb; after 100m, there is a public toilet on the right-hand side;
- 63,1km: Plateau de Beille (1785m.a.s.l.) - second destination reached; a good place for coffee or lunch: Restaurant-Boutique de la ferme en Ariège-Pyrénées;

The climb profile from Les Cabannes (47,1km) to Plateau de Beille (63,1km) can be found on: climbfinder.com and cyclingcols.com

Descend the same road towards Les Cabannes;
- 79,1km: Les Cabannes (551m.a.s.l.) food points and shops - turn right onto Rue Principale; in the Place des Platanes, on the right-hand side, we can refill the water in the bottles from the 2 drinking water taps;
- 80,3km: (544m.a.s.l.) enter the busy N20/E9 road towards Ax Les Thermes;
- 89km: (645m.a.s.l.) turn left onto D719 road using the left turn lane (signposted Perles et Castelet) and continue;
- 91,8km: (683m.a.s.l.) turn left onto N2020, heading towards Savignac-les-Ormeaux and back to the starting point in Ax-Les-Thermes.

- climb from Les Cabannes to Plateau de Beille - presented on the U-552 YouTube channel;
- The climb from Les Cabannes to Plateau de Beille, presented on the YouTube channel A Cyclist's Guide to the Pyrenees

Statistics for Plateau de Beille can be found on the website procyclingstats.com

   Download the route in: gpx

Statistics of the ascent from Luzenac to Carrière de Trimouns:
- start at an altitude of 598m.a.s.l. (8km) finish at 1535m.a.s.l. (22,7km)
- total elevation difference: 960m
- distance: 14,7km
- average gradient: 6,7%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 16,5%

Carrière de Trimouns in Google Street View:

Statistics of the ascent from Les Cabannes to Plateau de Beille:
- start at an altitude of 551m.a.s.l. (47,1km) finish at 1785m.a.s.l. (63,1km)
- total elevation difference: 1236m
- distance: 16km
- average gradient: 7,8%
- max gradient on a 100m stretch: 12,3%

Plateau de Beille in Google Street View: