Col de Menté owes its fame to one of the most dramatic episodes in Tour de France history, which unfolded on its descent during a memorable storm in 1971.
A sustained forest ascent
From Saint-Béat, it’s 9.2 km for 801 m of elevation gain, averaging 8.7%, on a narrow forest road that climbs through steady switchbacks up to the summit at 1,349 m.
Ocaña’s crash, 1971
During stage 14 of the 1971 Tour de France, Luis Ocaña held a lead of over seven minutes when Eddy Merckx attacked on the descent of Col de Menté in torrential rain. Merckx crashed and brought Ocaña down with him; the injured Spaniard had to abandon, and Merckx went on to win that Tour. Ocaña would have to wait until 1973 to finally claim overall victory.
How to approach the ride
Well-maintained brakes matter as much as fitness here: the forest road can stay wet long after rain, a reminder of the caution needed on the col’s historic descent.
When to climb it
April to October: the road is rideable from spring, but can stay slick under the tree canopy after a storm — a fitting echo of the episode that made it famous.
Good to know
Col de Menté pairs naturally with the nearby Col de Portet-d’Aspet for a demanding loop through the Comminges, linking two landmark sites in Pyrenean cycling memory.
