Cambasque

Plateau de Cambasque is 19km from Saint Savin, altitude 1376m. Cycle 3 km down hill to Pierrefitte-Nestalas and then up hill all the way. The 3 km section above Cauterets is very steep.

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3d image from Google Earth. Download KML file here.

Cambasque the gondolas from Cauterets to the ski station at Cirque de Lys.

Cambasque looking east Pic de Luz Ardiden. Richard Virenque won the tour de France stage finish here in1995, it was the stage on which Fabio Casartelli died.
“I was a hero, and a second afterwards it was all over. Casartelli was dead so what I had achieved was worth nothing.” — Richard Virenque

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH1zMxGwJJ0

Miguel Indurain won here in 1989. It has also been a stage finish for the Vuelta a España in 2003 won by Michael Rasmussen.

Cambasque looking up to Cirque de Lys.

There is a 3 kilometre section above Cauterets that never goes below 10%.

16% gradient between Cauterets and Cambasque.

16% gradient between Cauterets and Cambasque.

View of Cauterets from the climb to Cambasque.