An appointment with history on Superbagnères

The third racing weekend in the Tour de France opens with fireworks, as nearly 5000 meters of elevation gain are made in the Pyrenees with a finish in the ski area of Superbagnères. This takes us far back in history, as that climb was last included almost forty years ago. Since then, course builders have left the climb aside. Yet only big names have won here: Robert Millar was the last in 1989, preceded by Greg Lemond (1986), Bernard Hinault (1979), and the Spanish climbing ace Federico Bahamontes (1962), among others. This is the seventh time the Tour peloton will ride up there.

Pau is the familiar starting place for this Pyrenean stage of 183 kilometers. The French city has served this role 66 times before, and there's a reason for that. Pau is THE gateway to the Pyrenees and has good logistical facilities. This function as a gateway to the Pyrenees has been Pau's role for centuries - if not millennia. Enthusiasts know after all these years: as soon as Pau appears in the road book as a starting place, climbing is the order of the day.

But anyway, back to this edition's stage. The first 70 kilometers are relatively calm, with a flat approach to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, at the foot of the legendary Col du Tourmalet, which must then be conquered - for the 89th time in Tour de France history. The Pyrenean giant of 19 kilometers at 7.4% brings the riders to an altitude of 2115 meters. At the top lies the Souvenir Jacques Goddet, as a tribute to the Tour's second race director. This is always placed on the Tourmalet, provided it's included in the route. The first rider to cross the summit receives 5000 euros.

After the descent toward Sainte-Marie-de-Campin, it's time to conquer the Col d'Aspin. Although this climb is shorter than the Tourmalet, at 5 kilometers with 7.6%, it is certainly no less famous than its bigger brother. It has been included in the Tour no fewer than 71 times - with the first time being in 1910 - out of the 111 previous editions. This is because the Aspin connects the Tourmalet and the Col de Peyresourde, a triptych that the Tour likes to include. That is also the case now, because after a descent to Arreau, they begin the Peyresourde. This 7.1-kilometer long climb has an average gradient of 7.8% and is the penultimate climb of the day.

The final challenge of this stage is the climb to Superbagnères, a ski area that was last visited in the Tour back in 1989. Why there was such a long wait for a return is not entirely clear. Superbagnères does hold a Tour record, however. In 1971, the shortest road stage ever was finished here from Bagnères-de-Luchon: 19.6 kilometers. The climb characterizes itself by an irregular nature with a very steep end.

Date	19 July 2025
Start	Pau
Finish	Luchon-Superbagnères
Distance	182.3 km
Elevation gain	4950 m
Type	Individual Road Race
Average Speed	37.26 km/h
Overall Profile	Mountain
Finish Profile	Mountain

Tour de France

Men Elite - 2.UWT