Road · France
Col d'Aspin from Arreau
A mountainous 11 km road cycling route from Arreau through Aspin-Aure, with 780 m of climbing over Cap d'Arrouye. Most of it (8.6 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 11.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 780 m
- Riding time
- 49 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Oct
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Arreau
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 780 m
- 11 km
Route description
- Arreau
- Cap d'Arrouye
- Aspin-Aure
The ride starts in Arreau at 701 m and heads to Pailhac after 0.6 km. From there, the main climb begins and continues for 10.8 km gaining 774 m to reach the Col d'Aspin at 1482 m. The route mainly follows the D 918 road for 8 km of the climb, with 8.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane, and 2.7 km on minor roads. The road surface is mostly paved (98%) with a very small 2% portion of gravel or unpaved sections.
Climbing dominates the profile, with 95% of the route uphill, including 9 km above 5% gradient, 3.6 km above 8%, and 0.7 km above 10%, reaching maximum gradients of 11.5%. After Aspin-Aure village at 4.2 km, there is a longest stretch of 7.2 km with no café, shop or water. Arreau offers several facilities near the start including supermarkets, bike shop, bakery, cafés, and toilets. Peaks near the road include Cap d'Arrouye at 10.6 km, beneath which the road passes.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Cap d'Arrouye (10.8 km at 7.2 %).
- Tops out at 1,482 m, 11.4 km in.
Highlights
- Start in Arreau with supermarkets and cafés
- Climb passes through Aspin-Aure at 4.2 km
- Peak near road: Cap d'Arrouye at 10.6 km
- Summit at Col d'Aspin at 1482 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap d'Arrouye | 0.6 km | 10.8 km · 774 m · 7.2 % · max 11.5 % | 10.8 km · 774 m · 7.2 % | 1482 m |
Cap d'Arrouye · full ascent, starts at 0.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 75% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 75% main road · 23% minor road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 8.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Main roads used
- D 918 (8 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 95% climbing · 1% descending · 4% flat
- Steep sections
- 9 km over 5% · 3.6 km over 8% · 0.7 km over 10%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 10 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 5 water points, 1 petrol station, 4 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmRNESTE · bakery · 120 m off route
- 0 kmBiocoop · supermarket · on the route
- 0 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 0 kmPharmacie des Lys · pharmacy · 30 m off route
- 0.1 kmToilets · on the route
- 0.1 kmManivelle · bike shop · on the route
- 0.1 kmCarrefour Contact · petrol station · 270 m off route
- 4.2 kmWater tap · on the route
Worth a stop
- 0.2 km — Château de Camon (castle)
- 11.4 km — Col d'Aspin (attraction, 1489 m)
Stay after this ride
- Camping Les 4 Véziaux · campsite · 3.8 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Manivelle (70 m)
- Food and coffee
- Gourmandises Montagnardes (80 m), RNESTE (120 m), Café de Londres (150 m)
- Shops
- Biocoop (40 m)
Know before you go
- 7.2 km without café, shop or water from 4.2 to 11.4 km
- 8.4 km on main roads without cycle lane
- Short gravel or unpaved section (2%)
