Col du Pourtalet

Streckendetails

The Col du Pourtalet at 1794 m connects Laruns with Escarrilla over around 42.6 km and offers a long, varied drive over the pass. The asphalt is mostly in good condition, the route is mostly two-lane without a structu…

The Col du Pourtalet at 1794 m connects Laruns with Escarrilla over around 42.6 km and offers a long, varied drive over the pass. The asphalt is mostly in good condition, the route is mostly two-lane without a structural center divider and generally marked with a center line; the width of the road allows relaxed passing, but narrows in places at higher altitudes. The mix of bends ranges from wide, flowing radii in the valley to more compact Hairpins near the Pass summit, with a harmonious rhythm overall. Individual short ramps with gradients of up to 25% require a clean gear selection and anticipatory riding, and good braking management downhill. This puts the route in the medium difficulty range: easily manageable for experienced beginners with cornering experience, a pleasurable, rhythmic line for experienced riders.

As an international border pass between France and Spain and a direct link between the Ossau and Tena valleys, the Col du Pourtalet is very important for traffic. The volume of traffic can therefore increase significantly, particularly at weekends and during vacation periods; in addition to regional through traffic, a high volume of tourists can be expected. Outside of peak times, traffic is usually quiet to moderate.