Cycling the Col du Tourmalet from Luz Saint Sauveur via Vote Laurent Fignon

Cycling the Col du Tourmalet from Luz-Saint-Sauveur via the Voie Laurent Fignon is an iconic 18.3-kilometer Hors Catégorie (HC) climb in the French Pyrenees. Key Route Details & Specs • Length: 18.3 km (approx. 11.4 miles) • Start Elevation: ~711 m (Luz-Saint-Sauveur) • Summit Elevation: 2,115 m • Total Elevation Gain: 1,401 m • Average Gradient: 7.7% • Steepest Section: 11.7% (over the steepest 100m) • Recommended Gearing: 34/32 compact setup or lower What is the Voie Laurent Fignon? • Car-Free Variant: Past Barèges and the ski station car park, the route splits from the modern D918 road onto the historic old road named after French cycling legend Laurent Fignon. • No Motorized Traffic: This 2.4-to-4 km dedicated section is completely closed to cars and motorbikes. • Road Conditions: The tarmac is rougher, older, and can occasionally have loose gravel or stones because it is no longer maintained for regular vehicle traffic. • Scenery & Vibe: It features classic hairpin turns, sweeping views looking down over the main valley and switchbacks, and faded Tour de France road grafitti. It reconnects with the main road about 4 kilometers before the summit.