Cycling Col Du Portet Summer21Cycling Col Du Portet Summer21
©Cycling Col Du Portet Summer21|nbirrien

to go or not to go

to cycle up the Col du Portet

By Bruno BOUBIN

“When, in a moment of intense late-night emotion, I stupidly blurted out: tomorrow, I’m riding my bike up the Col du Portet!”

You’ll need to be in good physical condition, and you’ll be able to win…

CYCLING NEWS

To know more

Dear cyclists,

The Col du Portet road is reserved for you in July and August.

It will be closed to all motorized vehicles from 8.30am to 6pm, from Saturday July 6, 2024 to Sunday September 1, 2024; (except for those entitled to use the pass, declared to the Mairie, and vehicles on the descent).

Parking on the pass is restricted to authorized areas only. 50 vehicles.

The Col du Portet can be accessed by the Télécabine d’Espiaube (arrival at Tourette) from 06/07 to 01/09. See rates.

A janitor will be present at the start of the Route in Espiaube, every day from 8.30am to 6pm from 06/07 to 01/09 2024.

You'll need courage

I should have known better. Especially when my partner challenged me, with a smile, with a “T’es pas cap” while committing to accompany me on my electric bike. That’s when I should have realized that, once you’ve reached a certain age, playing the “go or no go” game can be childish. Let’s be clear from the outset! Either you’ve already got a thousand kilometers of cycling under your belt and you’re just going to suffer, or… you’re going to cry. The Col du Portet climb is 16 kilometers long, with an average gradient of 8.7%. Just looking at the sign at the start of the village of Vignec, you’ll be sweating and close to an acne breakout. Don’t let yourself be impressed. Just get used to the idea that you’re going to be riding a very small chainring and a very large sprocket. Pack some energy gels and fill your water bottle. Sign your name if you’re a believer and take the first ramp up to the Poulidor bend. Don’t get carried away. By then, you’ll already be hot. Essential detail: don’t be intimidated by the fact that your partner, riding an electric bike, will admire your effort with that little smile that inevitably makes you want to curse her.

First objectivethe village of Soulan

The profile of the first five kilometers is between 9 and 10%. Your first objective is to get to the village of Soulan without feeling like you’re in a constant state of apnoea. You can zigzag once or twice on the road to relax your legs on the steepest slopes and take advantage of the little lucidity you have left to admire the scenery. Don’t be surprised when your speedometer tells you that you’re progressing at between 7 and 8 km/h, and don’t forget to warmly greet all the cyclists who drop you off with a compassionate smile. As for the woman who keeps asking you “How are you feeling? “think of all the happy moments you’ve already shared. When you get to the village of Soulan, don’t forget to fill your water bottle at the fountain. It’s the last water point up to the Col.

Second objectivedeparture for Col du Portet

Take advantage of the little flat spot at the end of Soulan to wind down a little. It’ll lift your spirits and take your mind off the 10% kilometer ahead. This one has the particularity of seeming endless. This is certainly the moment when you’re going to ask your partner to go ahead. Otherwise, you run the stupid risk of forgetting “all those happy moments you shared”. Tell yourself that after this kilometer, you still have a choice. When you get to the crossroads, you can give up with dignity and just turn left to get to Pla d’Adet, otherwise… it’s to the right. Once you’ve reached the sign indicating that you’ve only got 8 kilometers to go at an average speed of 8.6%, take a selfie with the woman you’ve finally made up with, and enjoy a well-deserved break.

Last goalfinish at all costs

The trap in starting this climb to the Col du Portet is to think you’ve done the hard part. You forget that you’ve already got a few kilometers of climbing in your legs. All those that remain will gradually seem … extremely long. That’s when you need to enjoy the scenery … and think about the descent. That moment when your companion, not very comfortable in this exercise and with a bike weighing a ton, will suddenly lose that unbearable little smile. I’m not going to lie to you, that’s when I had the hardest time. You feel like you’ve got less slope, but you don’t have enough leg strength to accelerate. Keep a low profile and keep telling yourself that you have to finish “whatever it takes”.

AdmireSheep and cows on the mountain pastures

Think of yourself as being in a pastoral area, so cast an amused glance at the flocks of sheep and the few cows. You’ll be able to read the encouragement in their eyes. Once you’ve mastered the twists and turns, you’ll find yourself back on a slightly gentler slope all the way to the tunnel. A word of friendly advice: as you pass through the tunnel, don’t try to make friends with the sheep or cows that sometimes take refuge there. And if you start trying to strike up a conversation with one of these four-legged creatures, swallow all the gels you’ve got left – you’re hypothermic. During the last kilometer, don’t hesitate to talk about the descent with your companion, giving her that little smile that should definitely calm her down.

You didn't do Quintana, but you got there

Once you’ve passed the sign indicating that you’ve just made your bet, remember never to play “cap or no cap” again. But, given that you’ll lose feeling in your legs, turn red with drool on your chin and feel like you’re on the verge of apoplexy, you should remember that. Well, you didn’t do Nairo Quintana, who won the first stage finish of the Tour de France on the Col du Portet in 2018, but you did it. Take a selfie with your partner overlooking the Saint-Lary resort, and don’t forget to take one of her head at the bottom of the descent. You can always use it. For more information on how to get to the Col du Portet, go to the cyclo colduportet.fr website or the Saint-Lary website.

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