From Les Cabannes (1,752 ft / 534 m) to the Plateau de Beille (5,860 ft / 1,786 m) it’s 9.9 miles (15.9 km) at an average of 7.9%, with 4,108 ft (1,252 m) of climbing. The road, the D522, climbs to a cross-country ski area and is a dead end.
What the climb is like
- The first 1.2 miles (2 km). As soon as you leave the square in Les Cabannes, a very steep ramp takes you up toward the Château de Gudanes. Then come kilometers at 7-9%.
- Kilometers 2 to 8. The hardest block: grades of 8.5-10% with almost no break, under the trees. Wikipedia warns that the pavement gets grainier and slows you down.
- Kilometers 8 to 12. The forest continues with grades of 7-10.5%, and a few short breathers, such as the 4.5% stretch by the Pierrefite hut.
- The last 2.5 miles (4 km). You leave the forest for pasture, where cows sometimes cross, and the grade drops to 7-9%, finishing at 4% on the plateau.
A note on the numbers
CyclingCols gives 9.9 miles (15.9 km) and 4,108 ft (1,252 m), or 7.9%; Climbfinder, 9.9 miles (16 km) and 4,101 ft (1,250 m), or 7.8%; and Wikipedia, 9.8 miles (15.8 km) from 1,755 ft (535 m) to 5,873 ft (1,790 m). The steepest pitch ranges from 10.8% (Wikipedia) to 12% (CyclingCols).
History
The Tour de France first came here in 1998 and has returned often since. According to Wikipedia, in its first four finishes the stage winner also won the Tour: Marco Pantani in 1998, Lance Armstrong in 2002 and 2004 (titles stripped in 2012) and Alberto Contador in 2007. In 2024, Tadej Pogačar won here in the yellow jersey.
When to go, water and traffic
The road leads to a cross-country ski area, so the upper section is snow-covered in winter. In summer there’s very little traffic. Drink in Les Cabannes: there are no services on the climb, and on the plateau things are only open in season. On hot days, the forest shade helps.
What gearing to use
For the 9-10% section, fit a 34x30 or 34x32. At 3 W/kg (watts per kilo of body weight) and 159 lb (72 kg), you’ll ride about 5.6 mph (9 km/h) on 10%: 63 rpm with a 34x30 and 67 with a 34x32. Fine-tune your numbers in the gear calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb the Plateau de Beille?
A 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 1 h 26 min at 3 W/kg (216 W), 1 h 42 min at 2.5 W/kg and 1 h 06 min at 4 W/kg. Work out your own time with your weight and power in the calculator on this page.
Where is the hardest part of the Plateau de Beille?
In the first half: as you leave Les Cabannes there's a very steep ramp and then several kilometers at 9-10%. The last 2.5 miles (4 km), through pasture, ease to 7-8%.
Who has won at Plateau de Beille?
Marco Pantani (1998), Alberto Contador (2007), Jelle Vanendert (2011), Joaquim Rodríguez (2015) and Tadej Pogačar (2024), among others. Lance Armstrong was stripped of his 2002 and 2004 wins.