Above Saint-Lary-Soulan, the road climbing to the Pla d’Adet ski resort is a regular Tour de France mountaintop finish, the stage for some of the race’s most memorable Pyrenean duels.
A steady climb up to the resort
From Vignec, it’s 10.7 km for 861 m of elevation gain, averaging around 8%, with sections beyond 12% in the upper hairpins. The road tops out at 1,680 m, on the resort’s ski-station esplanade.
A Tour de France classic
A regular fixture of the Tour de France since the 1970s (most recently in 2024), Pla d’Adet owes its reputation to finishes decided by sprints or gaps, the most famous being the 1974 duel between Raymond Poulidor and Eddy Merckx, settled on the final hairpin. In recent stages the climb is often paired with the nearby Col de Portet or Col d’Azet.
When to go
Late May to October — outside this window the road is closed or hazardous, given the snow typical of high Pyrenean ski resorts.
Good to know
Vignec and Saint-Lary-Soulan, at the foot of the climb, make a good base for linking up with the area’s other great climbs, with thermal baths, a range of accommodation and direct access to the central Pyrenees.
