Port de Balès
Encyclopedia
The Port de Balès is a high mountain pass
in the central Pyrenees
in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées
in France
. It connects the village of Ferrère
(to the north) to that of Bourg-d'Oueil
, Haute-Garonne
(south-east).
The Port de Balès was featured in the 2007 Tour de France
(15th stage) and the 2010 Tour de France
(15th stage). It is generally closed by snow for long periods during the winter but remains popular with bikers during the summer.
, it was served only by one narrow track from the north until the beginning of the 1980s. Then several forest tracks were opened above Ferrère to serve the mountain pastures. A few years later, another track was built from Bourg d'Oueil. This track was continued to the Col de Pierrefite giving access to the Bareilles and Louron valleys.
These tracks were only suitable for agricultural and forestry vehicles, or cars equipped with 4-wheel drive, but the main route over the col was given a treatment of tarmac in the 1980s. By the end of the 1990s this had deteriorated severely, and remained virtually impassable until resurfaced during the summer of 2006. This was partly done at the instigation of the Tour de France
organisers, who were looking for new challenges with which to confront the tour riders. The 2007 Tour de France
crossed the col for the first time on stage 15 (on 23 July). This stage was selected for the 2007 L'Étape du Tour
, in which amateur and club riders ride over a full stage of the tour. In the 2010 Tour de France
the col was crossed during stage 15 (on 19 July). The stage began in Pamiers
and ended in Bagnères-de-Luchon
.
, the climb is 18.87 km (11.7 mi) long. Over this distance, the climb is 1185 m (3,887.8 ft) at an average percentage of 6.3 %, with the steepest sections at over 11%.
Starting from Bagnères-de-Luchon
, the climb is 19.66 km (12.2 mi) long. Over this distance, the climb is 1125 m (3,690.9 ft) at an average percentage of 5.7 %, but with several sections over 11%. At its southern end, the climb starts on the foot of the climb to the Col de Peyresourde
which has been used many times in the Tour de France.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the central Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in southwestern France. It is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.-History:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It connects the village of Ferrère
Ferrère
Ferrère is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-References:*...
(to the north) to that of Bourg-d'Oueil
Bourg-d'Oueil
Bourg-d'Oueil is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Garonne river. Its main city is Toulouse.-History:Haute-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc.The...
(south-east).
The Port de Balès was featured in the 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
(15th stage) and the 2010 Tour de France
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
(15th stage). It is generally closed by snow for long periods during the winter but remains popular with bikers during the summer.
History
The Port de Balès was for a long time ignored by the modern world. Located between the Barousse valley to the north and the Oueil valley above Bagnères-de-LuchonBagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon , also referred to as Luchon, is a spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:...
, it was served only by one narrow track from the north until the beginning of the 1980s. Then several forest tracks were opened above Ferrère to serve the mountain pastures. A few years later, another track was built from Bourg d'Oueil. This track was continued to the Col de Pierrefite giving access to the Bareilles and Louron valleys.
These tracks were only suitable for agricultural and forestry vehicles, or cars equipped with 4-wheel drive, but the main route over the col was given a treatment of tarmac in the 1980s. By the end of the 1990s this had deteriorated severely, and remained virtually impassable until resurfaced during the summer of 2006. This was partly done at the instigation of the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
organisers, who were looking for new challenges with which to confront the tour riders. The 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
crossed the col for the first time on stage 15 (on 23 July). This stage was selected for the 2007 L'Étape du Tour
L'Étape du Tour
L'Étape du Tour is an organised mass participation cyclosportive event that allows amateur cyclists to race over the same route as a Tour de France stage...
, in which amateur and club riders ride over a full stage of the tour. In the 2010 Tour de France
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
the col was crossed during stage 15 (on 19 July). The stage began in Pamiers
Pamiers
Pamiers is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Although Pamiers is the largest city in Ariège, the capital is the smaller town of Foix...
and ended in Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon , also referred to as Luchon, is a spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:...
.
Details of climb
Starting from Mauléon-BarousseMauléon-Barousse
Mauléon-Barousse is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-References:*...
, the climb is 18.87 km (11.7 mi) long. Over this distance, the climb is 1185 m (3,887.8 ft) at an average percentage of 6.3 %, with the steepest sections at over 11%.
Starting from Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon , also referred to as Luchon, is a spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:...
, the climb is 19.66 km (12.2 mi) long. Over this distance, the climb is 1125 m (3,690.9 ft) at an average percentage of 5.7 %, but with several sections over 11%. At its southern end, the climb starts on the foot of the climb to the Col de Peyresourde
Col de Peyresourde
The Col de Peyresourde is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of the department of Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées in France. It is situated on the D618 road between Bagnères de Luchon and Arreau.-Details of climb:...
which has been used many times in the Tour de France.
Appearances in Tour de France
| Year | Stage | Category | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 Tour de France The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996... |
15 | HC Hors Categorie Hors catégorie is a French term used in cycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs in cycling are designated from Category 1 to Category 4 , based on both steepness and length... |
Pamiers Pamiers Pamiers is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Although Pamiers is the largest city in Ariège, the capital is the smaller town of Foix... |
Bagnères-de-Luchon Bagnères-de-Luchon Bagnères-de-Luchon , also referred to as Luchon, is a spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:... |
|
| 2007 2007 Tour de France The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain... |
15 | HC Hors Categorie Hors catégorie is a French term used in cycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb. Most climbs in cycling are designated from Category 1 to Category 4 , based on both steepness and length... |
Foix Foix Foix is a commune, the capital of the Ariège department in southwestern France. It is the least populous administrative centre of a department in all of France, although it is only very slightly smaller than Privas... |
Loudenvielle Loudenvielle Loudenvielle is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.Its inhabitants are called Loudenviellois.Located in the Louron Valley, Loudenvielle is a popular tourist resort, with a lake, campsite, thermal spa and waterpark... |
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes