Port de Larrau
Encyclopedia
Port de Larrau (el. 1573 m.) is a mountain pass
on the France
– Spain
border in the western Pyrenees
between the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
, France and Navarre
, Spain. The climb from the French side was used in the 2007 Tour de France
.
The true summit of the pass is at 1585 m. and is near the Pic d’Orhi (2018 m), the most westerly mountain over 2000m in the Pyrenees. In the Basque language
the pass is known as Uthurzehetako Lepoua.
and the summit the climb passes over the Col d’Erroymendi at 1362m.
Starting from Ochagavía
(Navarre, Spain), the Puerto de Larrau is 19.3 km long with a 100 m. tunnel near the summit. Over this distance, the climb is 815 m. (an average of 4.2%) with a maximum of 8%.
, when it became the final Tour de France climb to be ridden by five-times race winner Miguel Indurain
, who lost out heavily here.
The climb from the south featured in the 2007 Tour de France
on the 218.5 km stage 16 from Orthez
to Gourette
Col d'Aubisque
. This was probably the hardest climb in the 2007 Tour, sustaining almost the same gradient as the Col de Menté
, but twice as long.
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...
on the 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...
– Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
border in the western Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
between the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...
, France and Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Spain. The climb from the French side was used 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...
.
The true summit of the pass is at 1585 m. and is near the Pic d’Orhi (2018 m), the most westerly mountain over 2000m in the Pyrenees. In the Basque language
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
the pass is known as Uthurzehetako Lepoua.
Details of the climb
The pass is situated south east of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Starting from Auberge de Laugibar (north east), the Port de Larrau is 15.3 km long. Over this distance, the climb is 1205 m. (an average of 7.9%) with long sections at over 10% and the maximum gradient of 13% near the summit. Between the village of LarrauLarrau
Larrau is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It is located in the former province of Soule.-External links:*...
and the summit the climb passes over the Col d’Erroymendi at 1362m.
Starting from Ochagavía
Ochagavía
Ochagavía or Otsagabia is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain. Ochagavia can be found in the north of the Valley of Salazar, near the Irati forest and not far from the border with France....
(Navarre, Spain), the Puerto de Larrau is 19.3 km long with a 100 m. tunnel near the summit. Over this distance, the climb is 815 m. (an average of 4.2%) with a maximum of 8%.
Tour de France
The climb first appeared in the Tour de France in 19961996 Tour de France
The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day ....
, when it became the final Tour de France climb to be ridden by five-times race winner Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
, who lost out heavily here.
The climb from the south 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...
on the 218.5 km stage 16 from Orthez
Orthez
Orthez is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It lies 40 km NW of Pau on the Southern railway to Bayonne. The town also encompasses the small village of Sainte-Suzanne thus residents of the town are called either Orthéziens or Sainte-Suzannais...
to Gourette
Gourette
Gourette is a winter sports resort in the French Pyrenees. It is located in the commune of Eaux-Bonnes in the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on the D918 road which passes through the Col d'Aubisque mountain pass...
Col d'Aubisque
Col d'Aubisque
The Col d'Aubisque is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees 30 km south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques , in the Aquitaine region of France....
. This was probably the hardest climb in the 2007 Tour, sustaining almost the same gradient as the Col de Menté
Col de Menté
The Col de Menté is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees in the department of Haute-Garonne in France. It is situated on the D44 road between Saint-Béat and the D618...
, but twice as long.
Appearances in Tour de France
| Year | Stage | Category | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
16 | 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... |
Orthez Orthez Orthez is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It lies 40 km NW of Pau on the Southern railway to Bayonne. The town also encompasses the small village of Sainte-Suzanne thus residents of the town are called either Orthéziens or Sainte-Suzannais... |
Gourette Gourette Gourette is a winter sports resort in the French Pyrenees. It is located in the commune of Eaux-Bonnes in the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on the D918 road which passes through the Col d'Aubisque mountain pass... -col d'Aubisque Col d'Aubisque The Col d'Aubisque is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees 30 km south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques , in the Aquitaine region of France.... |
José Vicente García José Vicente García José Vicente García Acosta is a former Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rode his entire career for the team last known as . In his career, he has won a stage of the Tour de France, two stages in the Vuelta a España and the GP Eddy Merckx with Abraham Olano... |
| 1996 1996 Tour de France The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd Tour de France, starting on June 29 and ending on July 21, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day .... |
17 | 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... |
Argelès-Gazost Argelès-Gazost Argelès-Gazost is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.The Parc animalier des Pyrénées is located in Argelès-Gazost.-References:*... |
Pamplona Pamplona Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions... |
Richard Virenque Richard Virenque Richard VirenqueRichard Virenque's name is pronounced Ree-shah Vee-rahnk. Virenque considers himself a man of the South but pronounces his name in standard French. Confusion is caused by the southern habit of pronouncing "en" as "ang" or "eng", making it Vee-rank. But Virenque says Vee-rahnk or... |
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes