A regular fixture of the Tour de France’s Ariège stages, Col de la Core connects the valleys of Seix and Audressein through some of the quietest, most forested corners of the Pyrenees.
A short, steady climb through the forest
From Seix, it’s 13.8 km for 885 m of elevation gain, averaging 6.4%, with the steepest section touching 8%. Much of the route climbs through beech and fir forest before opening onto pasture near the 1,395 m summit.
A Tour de France regular
Col de la Core has featured in the Tour de France eight times since 1984, most recently in 2021, when Patrick Konrad crested the summit first en route to a stage win. It’s rarely climbed alone, usually paired with neighbouring cols like Latrape or Portet d’Aspet.
Getting the ride right
A puncture repair kit is worth having close at hand — the forested lower slopes can leave debris on the road after wind or rain.
When to go
May to October — the road is well maintained but narrow, and best avoided in poor visibility given the wooded, winding lower sections.
Good to know
From Audressein, a longer and gentler alternative reaches the same summit, useful for riders wanting to pace a bigger day through the Ariège rather than tackle the steeper, shorter Seix side.
