Piau Engaly
By Will • Sep 10th, 2012 • Category: Climbs, Cycling, pyrénéesFor an overview map and details on every route I have cycled in the Pyrenées see here.
Please note, this post is just for the first climb on the map above. I’ll post about the amazing Lac de Cap de Long soon.
Deep in the French Pyrenées, the little ski station of Piau Engaly has hosted just one Tour de France stage – in 1999, a stage won by the Spaniard Escartin with Armstrong in yellow on the way to his 1st Tour.
From Saint-Lary-Soulan, the route follows a main (but quiet) road through a gorge with high mountains in all directions. It’s steadily up but rarely steep for the first 13 kilometres.
At La Plan, the road turns off before the tunnel to Spain and the real climb begins. For the final 7 kilometres, it’s very quiet, plenty of hairpins, and ends surrounded by a cirque of montagnes.
Soon after La Plan:
Reaching the summit:
Quite nice.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2013 Challenge is to cycle a 150 Cols (mountain passes), slowly -- and to just enjoy.
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Looks amazing!!
Love,
Jelly
[...] Please note, this post is for the second and main part on the map above. Details on the first climb, Piau Engaly, is here. [...]
[...] Deep in the quiet valley above St-Lary-Soulan, a quiet climb to a small ski station – detail here. [...]