From Mauléon-Barousse (1,870 ft / 570 m) to the Port de Balès (5,758 ft / 1,755 m) it’s 11.9 miles (19.1 km) at an average of 6.2%, with 3,891 ft (1,186 m) of climbing. This is the north side, the one the Tour de France uses most, and its two halves are nothing alike.
What the climb is like
- Kilometers 0 to 8 (the first 5 miles). After about a mile (1.5 km) at 6-7% leaving the village, you follow the Ourse valley through Ferrère on very gentle grades of 1-4%. Roll along calmly.
- Kilometers 8 to 11. Past the Granges de Crouhens the road narrows and the grade jumps all at once: kilometers at 9, 11 and 9%.
- Kilometers 11 to 13. A false flat at 2-5% that lets you recover.
- Kilometer 13 to the top. The forest gives way to pasture and the hard kilometers return: 9.5, 10 and 10.5% before the Saubette refuge, a short breather and a finish at 7.5-11%, with 13% ramps, up to the pass.
A note on the numbers
CyclingCols gives 11.9 miles (19.1 km) and 3,891 ft (1,186 m), or 6.2%; Climbfinder, 11.9 miles (19.2 km) and 3,924 ft (1,196 m), also 6.2%; and cols-cyclisme and Wikipedia, 11.7 miles (18.9 km). The steepest pitch ranges from 13% to 14.4% depending on the source.
History
According to Wikipedia, for decades there was only a narrow track on the north side. It was paved in the 1980s, deteriorated until it was almost impassable and was repaved in 2006, partly at the request of the Tour de France, which first used it in 2007. It has returned often since then: riders first over the top include Kim Kirchen (2007), Thomas Voeckler (2010), Alejandro Valverde (2012), Steve Cummings (2017) and Nans Peters (2020).
When to go, water and traffic
Snow closes it for much of the winter. In summer there are hardly any cars: it’s one of the quietest climbs in the Pyrenees. Fill your bottles in Mauléon-Barousse or Ferrère; there are no services at the top. The other side descends toward Bagnères-de-Luchon, where you can climb Superbagnères or the Peyresourde.
What gearing to use
For the 10-11% kilometers, 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. Run the numbers in the gear calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb the Port de Balès?
A 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 1 h 24 min at 3 W/kg (216 W), 1 h 40 min at 2.5 W/kg and 1 h 05 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 Port de Balès?
In the last 6.8 miles (11 km): past the Granges de Crouhens, the grade jumps to 9-11% and, apart from a breather near the Saubette refuge, doesn't drop below 7-8% until the top.
Since when has the Tour de France climbed the Port de Balès?
Since 2007, after the road was repaved in 2006. Since then it has come back every two or three years.