Luz Ardiden
The last two kilometers before the summit
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Luz Ardiden is a ski area up to 2500 m above sea level in the French Pyrenees. It belongs to the tourist resort of Luz -Saint -Sauveur in the département of Hautes -Pyrénées. The Luz Ardiden is known in German-speaking countries, especially as cycling increase, since it was included in the Tour de France in 1985 for the first time as a stage stop the Hors Category ( highest peak rating ).
The ski area
The ski resort was built in 1974. According to our guide, it is particularly visited by snowboarders. The ski area consists of the parts Aulian and Bederet, the ( 2168 m) and Arriu Né spread upon the mountains of COUM Aulhères. In total, marked 60 km of slopes. 4 Green, 15 Red, 4 Blue and 4 black runs. This ski resort is located near the French Pyrenees National Park.
Tour de France
The 13.4 km long stretch of Luz -Saint- Sauveur to Luz Ardiden has a height difference of 1036 m and is called " The Queen Stage ", "The curve Labyrinth" or "The Mountain of the Spaniards " called. From far eight tour stages, which ended here were obtained from five Spaniards. The goal of the valley station of the ski resort, is situated on 1720 meters above sea level. The profile is relatively uniform, the average gradient is 7.7 %, at most it amounts to 12%. The last two kilometers are ideal for spectators, as the section spreads like an arena. Unlike most major climbs of the Tour, the road is not a mountain pass, but a dead end.
In the anniversary edition of 2003 was the then 15th stage in the Luz Ardiden stage was the goal decisive for the outcome of the tour. The ailing Lance Armstrong led with 15 seconds ahead of Jan Ullrich crashed and eleven kilometers from the finish, because he caught the brake lever on the pocket of a spectator with it. With it, the driving behind him Basque Iban Mayo went down. Ullrich was able to evade and used not from the situation. He waited for the counterparty, as these two years earlier., In a similar situation But the fallen yellow jersey gathered again: He won the stage and was able to dissociate his colleagues.