Llabays (Col de) by Bicycle - Velo

Col De Labays

This pass is great for cyclists who like climbing for climbing's sake. There is barely a far view to distract from agonizing about the steepness data, displayed along the road. People who like to follow green tunnels along streams also get their due share. The canyon on the lower east side is as cool and peaceful as you can get with pavement.

1.START-END NORTH-1: jct D918-D241, just west of Issor
2.jct with D241, coming down from Col d'Issor
3.jct with route coming down from Col de Bouesou
4.TOP: Col de Llabays, 1354m
5.START-END NORTH-1: same as point 1

Approaches

From East. It is really this approach that is being talked about when cyclists comment on the Col de Labays. Leaving Idios, there is an informational tablet about the pass. ... And I do love informational tablets about passes for cyclists, but dare I say, this one is a bit misleading. It shows the average grade for each km, but does not account for variability in grade or even drops during the climb. And the extreme variability of the slope is what makes this road so interesting and challenging.

Actually I think my favorite part of this climb is the beginning - where the road bounces around a stream through roller coaster tunnel of green vegetation. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures there. These first few kms are considered easy by the informational tablet, because of the "average grade". I suggest you form your own opinion.

Eventually the green tunnel leaves the stream, then after the first intense switchback workout meets up with the road from Col de Bousesou. Here again the road looses some elvation. A grueling workout later, there is barely even a single (okay - there is a single view ) of the peaks to west, just before the pass at the junction with D132.

From North. The other aproach to Col de Labays is on D132, which is wide main road, serving a ski area, but not with much traffic at least in the summer. It also serves as approach to Col de Soudet and Col Pierre-St-Martin. Both of these are higher. But the profile does turns down at this point.

Also, all the interesing scenery is really further up towards these two higher summits. Going down is a fast ride where the trees take over after about a km. Ramps and switchbacks and long valley descends eventually lead to Arete, and onwards to Oloron.