Road · France
Ax 3 Domaines from Ax-les-Thermes
A mountainous 8 km road cycling route from Ax-les-Thermes, with 663 m of climbing over Ax-les-Thermes climb (1380 m).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 8.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 663 m
- Riding time
- 36 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Oct
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Ax-les-Thermes
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 663 m
- 8 km
Route description
- Ax-les-Thermes
- Ax-les-Thermes climb (1380 m)
Starting from Ax-les-Thermes at 717 m, the route climbs steadily for 8.4 km to reach 1380 m at Ax 3 Domaines. The climb covers an elevation gain of 663 m with an average gradient of 7.9%, including sustained sections over 5% (7.4 km), 8% (4.9 km), and a maximum gradient of 10.9% over 1.2 km. It follows the mainly minor road D 82 for 7.9 km, which is paved for 99% of the route and almost entirely uphill with 99% climbing and only 1% descending.
There is a notable 6.6 km stretch between km 0.5 and 7.1 without cafés, shops, or water, so riders should prepare accordingly. At the start in Ax-les-Thermes, facilities include multiple restaurants, cafés, a bar, a bakery (Saveurs D'Ariège), and a convenience store (Proxi), all within a few metres of the route. Near the finish, around km 8.3, there is a supermarket (Sherpa), restaurants, and fast food options along with drinking water and toilets close by.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs Ax-les-Thermes climb (1380 m) (8.4 km at 7.9 %).
- Tops out at 1,380 m, 8.4 km in.
Highlights
- Climb to 1380 m at Ax 3 Domaines
- Sustained average gradient of 7.9% over 8.4 km
- Paved minor road D 82
- Start in Ax-les-Thermes with bakery and convenience store
Along the route
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ax-les-Thermes climb (1380 m) | 0.1 km | 8.4 km · 662 m · 7.9 % · max 10.9 % | 8.4 km · 662 m · 7.9 % | 1380 m |
Ax-les-Thermes climb (1380 m) · full ascent, starts at 0.1 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map.
- Roads
- 94% minor road · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads used
- D 82 (8 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 99% climbing · 1% descending · 0% flat
- Steep sections
- 7.4 km over 5% · 4.9 km over 8% · 1.2 km over 10%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 40 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 6 water points and 6 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmLa Fontaine des Neiges · spring · 40 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 0 kmPharmacie Aybram · pharmacy · 90 m off route
- 0.1 kmSaveurs D'Ariège · bakery · on the route
- 0.1 kmProxi · convenience store · on the route
- 8.3 kmLa Troïka · restaurant · on the route
- 8.3 kmSherpa · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 8.3 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 8.4 kmToilets · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.5 km — Ax-les-Thermes (station), 350 m off route
Stay after this ride
- Résidence Goélia Les Balcons d'Ax · apartment · 200 m from the finish
- Aire de bivouac du "Pla del Bau" · campsite · 690 m from the finish
- Résidence Goélia Les Grands Ax · apartment · 2.7 km from the finish
- La Terrasse Bleue · apartment · 2.9 km from the finish
- Aurore Studio · apartment · 2.9 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Saveurs D'Ariège (50 m), Sur le Pouce (100 m), Le P'tit Montagnard (60 m)
- Shops
- Proxi (60 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Le Refuge (40 m), L'Atelier (60 m), Sandwicherie Snack (70 m)
- Shops
- Sherpa (100 m)
Know before you go
- 6.6 km stretch without café, shop, or water between km 0.5 and 7.1
