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Confirm the event is running before booking; if it is, pace the first Tourmalet and save energy for Hautacam.
Best for
Watch out for
D-Score™
D+
Epic
Entry
Historically open online registration with no lottery
or Défi du Tourmalet
Route
177 km
5,700 m climbing
Terrain
Mountain
Smooth mountain tarmac
Month
Late August (historical)
Historical event; current status needs verification
Temperature
Approximately 8-29 °C
Valley to summit
Roads / Format
Public mountain roads; closure arrangement needs verification
Point-to-point start in Argelès-Gazost with summit finish on Hautacam
Participants
Needs verification
Per edition
An extreme and attractive Pyrenean route, but its uncertain current status is the first and most important planning issue.
Do not book travel until a live registration flow and current event date are confirmed.
No Marmotte Granfondo Pyrénées-specific tours listed yet
Explore Pyrenees cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.
| Route | Distance | Climbing | D-Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Défi du Tourmalet | 122 km | 4,200 m | D4 |
| Granfondo | 177 km | 5,700 m | D+ |
The Granfondo crosses Tourmalet twice with two additional passes in between, then finishes uphill on Hautacam. There is no easy descent back to base after the final effort.
Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.
| Climb | Length | Avg gradient | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Col du Tourmalet — western side | 17.2 km | 7.4 % | First Tourmalet crossing from the western side. |
| Hourquette d’Ancizan | 10.3 km | 7.5 % | First intermediate pass between the Tourmalet crossings. |
| Col d’Aspin | 12.0 km | 6.6 % | Second intermediate pass on the full route. |
| Col du Tourmalet — eastern side | 16.9 km | 7.4 % | Second Tourmalet crossing from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan. |
| Hautacam | 13.6 km | 7.8 % | Irregular summit finish on tired legs. |
Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.
Gearing
Bike Speed & Gear Calculator
bikespeedgear.com
Estimates your climbing speed from power, weight and gradient, then helps you pick gearing that keeps cadence in a comfortable range.
Gear Calculator
gear-calculator.com
Compares chainring and cassette combinations to show resulting gear ratios and speed at a given cadence, for fine-tuning your drivetrain.
Fuelling
DIN Calculator
dincalculator.com
Upload your GPX route (or use quick mode) for an hour-by-hour carb, fluid and sodium plan based on the ride's actual climbs and descents.
Precision Hydration Planner
precisionhydration.com
Questionnaire-based tool that builds a personalised fuel and hydration strategy, including electrolyte needs, based on your sweat profile and event details.
Best base
Argelès-GazostNearest airports
Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées · Pau · Toulouse-Blagnac
Car hire
Useful for the point-to-point start and summit finish
Book ahead
Hold off until current event status is confirmed
Argelès-Gazost is the historical hub; Lourdes offers more rooms. Confirm shuttle and baggage transport from Hautacam.
Late-summer Pyrenean storms can build quickly, with cool windy summits above warm valleys.
Event size
Needs verification
Field level
Experienced mountain riders
Atmosphere
Serious Tour-climb-focused event
International mix
Needs verification
Bunch intensity
High early, low on mountains
First-timer
Choose the Défi route only after confirming the event, and avoid the full route without substantial mountain experience.
Repeated climbing endurance
Prepare for two efforts up the Tourmalet.
Descending confidence
Practise long, fast Pyrenean-style descents.
Pacing discipline
Ride the first Tourmalet conservatively to preserve Hautacam legs.
Nutrition planning
Plan for a long day and widely spaced feed stops.
Hard-finish comfort
Train steep, irregular climbing late in long rides.