Col du Marie Blanque

Col du Marie Blanque – 1041m Altitude.

Col du Marie Blanque, 2 km from the summit.

First ridden by the Tour de France in 1978, this col has gained a fearsome reputation.
This is what Tour King of the Mountains, Fernando Escartine, had to say about it:
“As far as these Pyrenean climbs go, I think the Marie Blanque is one of the hardest there is. It’s only 10km long but there are 4 or 5kms that really make you suffer. You will need a 19 to 23 to get up this one, a 21 is no good.” A 23 for  Escartine means the rest of us probably need a granny ring.

18% gradient 1.5km from the summit.

Profile of the climb from the west (Escot).

Profile of the climb from the east (Bielle).

Eastern side of Col du Marie Blanque.

View in Google Earth:

This is the route from Saint Savin via Col du Soulor and Col d’Aubisque.
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87717

This is the route ridden by some of our guests from the Netherlands in August 2009. 168km, 4300m accent in 9 hours. Col du Spandells, Col du Laguns, Col du Marie Blanque, Col d’Aubisque, Col du Soulor and Col du Bordéres.
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=87720

Arriving at the summit.

100m to go.

Escot. Start of the climb from the west.

Col du Marie Blanque,  from west.

Col du Marie Blanque, climbing from the west.

Western slope, 16%

Western slope, 16%

Ouch! Col de Marie Blanque, you know thats going to hurt.

Col du Marie Blanque, Summit

Marie Blanque Summit.

Marie Blanque Summit.

Eastern slope looking towards Col d’Aubisque.

Near Bielle on the eastern slope looking towards Col d’Aubisque.

The climb near Bielle.