Col de la Core from Castillon-en-Couserans

16 km road cycling route858 m climbing1 h 09 minGPX

Castillon-en-Couserans, France · Road

A mountainous 16 km road cycling route from Castillon-en-Couserans through Ourjout, Les Bordes-sur-Lez and Villargein, with 858 m of climbing over Le Couret and the Ayet climb. Most of it (14.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane.

Routed from the map This classic road was traced on OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

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At a glance

Best for: Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance: 16.2 km; Point to point
Elevation gain: 858 m; 53 m per km
Riding time: 1 h 09 min; moving time, estimated
Difficulty: Moderate
Bike: Road bike; from the mapped surface
Surface: Paved; 99% paved · 0% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic: Mostly main roads; 14.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane
Food & water: Regular; 8 cafés and restaurants · 2 shops · 2 water points · 4 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Best months: May to Oct; Castillon-en-Couserans climate, 10 years
Navigation: GPX download; free, no sign-in
Start → finish: Castillon-en-Couserans

Col de la Core — Photo: Ronde de l'Isard · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent: 858 m
Distance: 16 km

Route description

Castillon-en-Couserans
Le Couretkm 2
Ourjoutkm 2
Les Bordes-sur-Lezkm 3
Villargeinkm 4
Arêtkm 5
Samorteinkm 6
Ayet climbkm 7
Ayetkm 7

The ride starts at Castillon-en-Couserans at 543 m elevation. It passes the hamlet of Hameau de Laffitte shortly after 0.5 km, then begins the first climb at 2 km. This initial ascent covers 4 km with an elevation gain of 191 m at an average gradient of 4.8%, reaching 753 m.

After a brief flat or gentle section, the route tackles the main climb at 6.6 km. This second climb extends for 9.6 km, gaining 638 m with an average gradient of 6.7% and max of 8.8%, reaching the highest point at 1389 m at the finish. The road surface is 99% paved, predominantly on main roads with 14.3 km ridden without a cycle lane, including 12.4 km on road D 17. There is a longest stretch of 5.4 km without access to cafe, shop, or water from 6 to 11.4 km, so prepare accordingly.

Along the route, convenient facilities are clustered near the start: several bakeries, convenience stores, a bar, and bike rental are within the first kilometre. Toilets and drinking water are available near 0 km and again close to 11.3 km. The area also features nearby peaks Le Castera and Couret near the start, and peak 1328 a few km before the finish.

Why ride this route?

Climbs Le Couret (3.9 km at 4.9 %) and the Ayet climb (9.6 km at 6.7 %).
Tops out at 1,389 m, 16.2 km in.

Highlights

Summit at 1389 m Col de la Core
Peak 1328 near 12.7 km
Peaks Le Castera and Couret near start
Main climb 9.6 km at 6.7% average gradient

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

Ourjout 2.2 km
Les Bordes-sur-Lez 2.9 km
Arrien-en-Bethmale 3.9 km
Villargein 4.2 km
Arêt 4.9 km
Bethmale 6 km
Samortein 6 km
Ayet 6.7 km
Le Goualmajou 7.6 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
Climb	Starts at	On this ride	Full ascent	Top on this ride
Le Couret	2 km	4 km · 191 m · 4.8 % · max 6.8 %	3.9 km · 191 m · 4.9 %	753 m
Ayet climb	6.6 km	9.6 km · 638 m · 6.7 % · max 8.8 %	9.6 km · 638 m · 6.7 %	1389 m

High point 1389 m at 16.2 km; low point 543 m. Passes beneath Le Castera, Couret, Le Couret.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Le Couret · full ascent, starts at 2 km

3.9 km at 4.9% · 191 m

< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Ayet climb · full ascent, starts at 6.6 km

9.6 km at 6.7% · 638 m

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 88% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads: 88% main road · 8% minor road · 4% quiet street
Main roads: 14.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Main roads used: D 17 (12 km)
Surface: Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved.
Gradient: 88% climbing · 3% descending · 9% flat
Steep sections: 11.2 km over 5% · 1.3 km over 8%

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 8 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 2 water points, 4 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

0 kmWC Public · toilets · 200 m off route
0.1 kmCarrefour Express · convenience store · on the route
0.1 kmDrinking water · 210 m off route
0.1 kmPharmacie Dubarry · pharmacy · on the route
0.3 kmBoulangerie Pâtisserie Aux délices des 4 vallées · bakery · on the route
0.3 kmEscapade · bike rental · on the route
6 kmCafé · 140 m off route
11.3 kmToilets · 120 m off route
11.4 kmWater tap · 140 m off route

Worth a stop

12.7 km — 1328 (peak)

Start and access

Starts at Castillon-en-Couserans. Mapped within a short walk of the start and finish, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start

Food and coffee: L'Escrive (80 m), Boulangerie Pâtisserie Aux délices des 4 vallées (300 m), Le Picolo (50 m)
Shops: Carrefour Express (50 m), L'echo des montagnes (310 m)

Know before you go

14.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
5.4 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 6 to 11.4 km
Sections of gradient up to 8.8% max
Almost entire route is climbing (88%)

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Ronde de l'Isard · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Vassil · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

About this route

Route line: Routed on OpenStreetMap roads with bicycle routing, then measured like a recorded ride.
Elevation: Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services: Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months: Ten years of ERA5 weather for Castillon-en-Couserans (Open-Meteo).
GPX: Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added: Sunday 30th August 2026
Page last updated: Sunday 13th September 2026

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Col de la Core from Castillon-en-Couserans