Col d'Aspin
View from the pass towards the east ( Arreau )
The Col d' Aspin is a French mountain pass in the Pyrenees. The 1489 -meter-high transition is located in the Midi -Pyrenees ( Hautes - Pyrénées) and connects Bagneres -de- Bigorre and Sainte -Marie -de- Campan in the valley of Campan with Arreau in the Aure valley.
Route
The North -Western approach to the Col d' Aspin start in Bagneres -de- Bigorre 555 meters. The D 935 follows twelve kilometers long the course of the Adour to Sainte -Marie -de- Campan at 840 meters above sea level. There, Coming meets the road on the D 918, route des Cols of La Mongie and the Col du Tourmalet. After seven kilometers with a moderate climb the 1100 meter high lift station Payolle is achieved, which belongs to the municipality Campan. To the south there branches a partially paved road on the Hourquette de Ancizan from (1538 meters). The driveway to the Aspin will be steeper ( up to 8.5 %) and contains some sweeping. It leads almost entirely by forest. From the pass you can enjoy a nice view of the steep eastern ramp of the Aspin and the valley of the Neste d' Aure.
The eastern ramp of Arreau out is much more demanding. The first two kilometers it follows a small stream where a small alternative route via the village of Aspin -Aure branches. The main route now climbs a steep mountain wall. They changed direction several times. The eighth kilometer is 8.7%, the steepest. The road is quite narrow, two campers can happen only with difficulty each other.
Tour de France
The Col d' Aspin was 67 times on the Tour de France program, making it the third most frequented pass of the tour. In general, it is traveled in combination with the Col du Tourmalet or the Col de Peyresourde. For the first time crossed the Tour de France the Aspin 1910, most recently in 2012 in the course of the 16th stage (as of 2012). In the 1950 tour it was on the pass to blows, as a consequence of the Italian team with Gino Bartali and Magni Fiorenzo, who at this point in the overall standings leader, resigned.