The iconic climb to Luz Ardiden

Luz Ardiden is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.720m (5,643ft) located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of south-western France. It has featured several times as a summit finish in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España races.

Luz Ardiden

Set high in the Pyrenees mountain range, the road to the resort, which was opened on 1975, is totally paved. It’s a collection of hairpins with a steep slope. The station has been climbed by the Tour de France and Vuelta a España bicycle races many times. The road has a dead end, so it’s never too busy. It offers some stunning views from the top. It is a favourite of cyclists due to its picturesque scenery.

Starting from Luz Saint Sauveur, the ascent is 14.7 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.010 meters. The average percentage is 6.9 %. The maximum slope is 10 %. And starting from Viscos, Saligos, the ascent is 14.27 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.059 meters. The average percentage is 7.4 %. The maximum slope is 16 %.