The Col de Portet d'Aspet (elevation ) is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees in the department of Haute-Garonne in France. It is situated on the D618 road between Aspet and Saint-Girons and connects the Ger and Bouigane valleys, on the slopes of the Pic de Paloumère ().
Details of climb Starting from Audressein, in Ariège, the climb is long. Over this distance, the climb is at an average gradient of 3.1%. The climb proper starts at Saint-Lary, and from the summit (at 6.8%), with the steepest sections being at 10.8% near the summit.
Starting from Aspet, in Haute-Garonne, the climb is long. Over this distance, the climb is at an average gradient of 4.2%. The climb proper starts at the D618/D44 junction (also the start of the climb to the Col de Menté), / from the summit (at 9.6%), with several sections in excess of 11%; the maximum gradient is 12.8%, from the summit.
Appearances in Tour de France The Col de Portet d'Aspet was first used in the Tour de France in 1910 and has appeared regularly since. The leader over the summit in 1910 was Octave Lapize.
Since 1947, the Col has featured 36 times including on stage 15 of the 2024 race.
YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit2024151LoudenviellePlateau de Beille2021162El Pas de la CasaSaint-Gaudens2018162 Carcassonne Bagnères-de-Luchon2015122 Lannemezan Plateau de Beille2014162 Carcassonne Bagnères-de-Luchon201392 Saint-Girons Bagnères-de-Bigorre2011142 Saint-Gaudens Plateau de Beille2010152 Pamiers Bagnères-de-Luchon2007152 Foix Loudenvielle2005152 Lézat-sur-Lèze Pla d'Adet2004132 Lannemezan Plateau de Beille2003142 Saint-Girons Loudenvielle2002122 Lannemezan Plateau de Beille2001132 Foix Pla d'Adet1998112 Bagnères-de-Luchon Plateau de Beille1997102 Bagnères-de-Luchon Andorre Arcalis1995152 Saint-Girons Cauterets1988152 Saint-Girons Luz-Ardiden1984111 Pau Guzet-Neige1973133 Bourg-Madame Bagnères-de-Luchon197292 Bagnères-de-Luchon Colomiers1971143 Revel Bagnères-de-Luchon1969163 Castelnaudary Bagnères-de-Luchon1967163 Toulouse Bagnères-de-Luchon1966122 Bagnères-de-Luchon Revel1965102 Bagnères-de-Bigorre Ax-les-Thermes1964153 Toulouse Bagnères-de-Luchon1963122 Bagnères-de-Luchon Toulouse1962142 Bagnères-de-Luchon Carcassonne1960122 Bagnères-de-Luchon Toulouse1958152 Bagnères-de-Luchon Toulouse1957173 Ax-les-Thermes Saint-Gaudens1956132 Bagnères-de-Luchon Toulouse1951153 Bagnères-de-Luchon Carcassonne1947142 Carcassonne Bagnères-de-Luchon
In the 1973 tour Raymond Poulidor almost died on the descent from the Portet d'Aspet when he plunged off the road into a ravine, taking a serious blow to the head and crawling out with the help of the race director, Jacques Goddet.
Fabio Casartelli
On 18 July 1995, during the fifteenth stage of the 1995 Tour de France, Fabio Casartelli and a few other riders crashed on the descent of the Col de Portet d'Aspet. Casartelli sustained heavy facial and head injuries and lost consciousness. While being transported via helicopter to a local hospital, he stopped breathing and after numerous resuscitation attempts was declared dead. The Société du Tour de France and the Motorola team placed a memorial stone dedication to Casartelli on the spot where he crashed.
References
Further reading
External links Camping on top