Col de Port and Col d’Agnes

For an overview map and details on every route I have cycled in the Pyrenées see here.

I am in the Pyrénées mountains for the first time ever. Currently the weather is perfect.

For the first ride, I cycled the last two big climbs that will be included in stage 8 of the upcoming 2009 Tour de France – Col de Port and Col d’Agnes.

83 kms and 2000 metres ascent – map at bottom (whisper: this was just my morning ride).

This amazing loop starts/ends in Tarascon – site of some big caves including a couple with 12,000 year old cave paintings.

Col de Port is a pleasant 16 km, 750 metres ascent (2500 feet) climb, never too steep – averaging around 5% – a perfect way to start!

A fun descent and then a left turn to start climbing Col d’Agnes. One knows it is cycling country when every climb has start signs as well as kilometre markers with altitude and % grade.

If Col Agnes is any indication, this will be a fun trip. This is a beautiful climb. It starts in a narrow river valley and winds its way up to great views. There is a little fishing lake 5 kms from the top. From here I did a there back to the Col from the make and then joined the next climb Col du Port de Lers (the last spike in the elevation chart) – while watching lots of parapenters flying off the mountain. Then just a very fast 25 kms back to Tarascon.