France · virtual cycling route

Ride Col du Tourmalet Indoors

Western Tourmalet approach rises through Barèges toward broad high-mountain summit. Tour de France history is everywhere, but route itself is straightforward: sustained climbing with little flat ground.

Distance
about 19 km from Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Elevation
about 1,400 m gain
Difficulty
Very hard

Outdoor climb figures are rounded reference profiles. Exact VirtualRide distance depends on selected endpoints and available Street View path.

VirtualRide Street View interface used for Col du Tourmalet indoor route
Use real-road imagery and trainer output to set your own indoor pace.

Route character and pacing

Average grade sits near 7.4%. Lower valley lets you establish rhythm before exposed upper road. Keep early effort controlled and reserve gear for final ramps near summit.

Landmarks to watch for

Spa town Barèges breaks lower approach, ski lifts appear near Tournaboup, and open upper slopes lead to giant cyclist statue near summit. Pic du Midi dominates skyline in clear imagery.

Indoor session idea

Split climb into three blocks: steady valley, tempo through ski area, then strongest sustainable effort on exposed finale. If time is short, start at Barèges and keep summit as fixed finish.

Street View setup

Use Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Col du Tourmalet as endpoints or choose quick start. High pass may have seasonal imagery gaps; preview before long session.

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