Col de Marie-Blanque (elevation ) is a mountain pass in the western Pyrenees in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France. The pass is situated south-east of Oloron-Sainte-Marie and connects the valleys of the Aspe and the Ossau rivers.
Details of the climb The western side of the climb, starts from Escot on the N134. The climb is long at an average gradient of 7.75% (height gain – ). Although relatively short, there are several long sections with gradients in excess of 13%.
From Louvie-Juzon (east), the climb is long. Over this distance, it gains at an average gradient of 4.1%. The climb proper starts at Bielle on the D934 from where it is long, gaining at an average gradient of 5.1%, with a maximum of 8.5% near the start. En route, the climb passes the Plateau de Bénou.
Tour de France The pass was first used in the Tour de France in 1978 and has been crossed 15 times by the tour, most recently in the 2023 Tour de France.
Appearances in Tour de France
YearStageCategory StartFinish Leader at the summit 202351 Pau Laruns202091 Pau Laruns2010171 Pau Col du Tourmalet 2007161 Orthez Gourette–Col d'Aubisque 2006101 Cambo-les-Bains Pau 2005161 Mourenx Pau 2000101 Dax Hautacam 1996172 Argelès-Gazost Pamplona 1995162 Tarbes Pau Stage neutralised199221 San Sebastián Pau 1990171 Lourdes Pau 198991 Pau Cauterets1987141 Pau Luz-Ardiden1987131 Bayonne Pau 1986121 Bayonne Pau 1978102 Biarritz Pau
References
External links Preview Stage 17 2010 Tour de France with Cycling Profile for Marie-Blanque Profiles and Tour de France appearances