Tourmalet

durhamwasp

Anyone know what time of year this col opens? any good restaurants/bars nearby to park out camper for the night and do the climbs the next day? Whats the restaurant at the top like, and is it open most of the year? considering a trip at the end of May.

Thanks in advance

mercia_man

Last time I went, the Tourmalet was still closed in early June. Some years it does open in May. All depends on the weather.

marcusjb

Late May/Early June - so you're right on the cusp. I think the Geant is put back on his pedestal early June if possible and that sort of marks the 'official' opening of the pass.

Restaurant at the top is fine - opens at 9am, not sure of closing time. It's warm and out of the wind, so can feel like the best restaurant in the world!

whoof

As above regarding opening. Done it twice in early-mid June once in beautiful sunshine, once it was snowing with 6 foot snow banks either side of the road.


If you want to park your camper for free here is a link to the Aire Camping places in France

http://en.airecampingcar.com/

There is a campsite in Luz Saint Sauveur on the Western side on the mountain.

ecrinslodge

Last year the climb from Saint Marie de Campan opened late May, but the climb from Luz St Sauveur didn't open until late June because of damage to the road.

If you are there late May, you might be interested that on every first saturday of June, the statue of Octave Lapize is transported from its winter resting place in Gerde, Bagneres de Bigorre, to its famous prominent summer position on the Col du Tourmalet. It's a big celebration and the lorry carrying the statue and band is followed by hundreds of cyclists.

There is an Aire i.e. free campavan parking in Saint Marie de Campan (direction Col d'Aspin) and a couple of restaurants in walking distance.

durhamwasp

Thanks for the reply!

Love the French Aires, that's exactly what I was thinking about! So, is the date confirmed for the monument being taken up there, first Saturday in June is the 6th then... We have a baby due on the 8th :P

VeloPeloton

The aim for 2015 is to have the road open on Friday 15th May. The ski station closes tomorrow, 6th April.
It really depends on the weather this next 6 weeks. If enough snow melts it is safe for the snow ploughs to open the road, if not then the risk of avalanche is too great. Last year I rode to the summit on 17th May. In 2013 it was not passable until July. In 2012 I rode to the summit on 8th May.
You can check this page for updates http://velopeloton-cycling-pyrenees.bik ... alet-open/
My favourite time of year to do it is September and October.

The statue of Le Géant du Tourmalet will be returned to the col on Saturday 6th June, departing Pierrefitte-Nestalas at 09:30.

durhamwasp

Great info, thanks!

tubaonwheels

I rode it last year on May 31st. Road was still closed to traffic but managed ok on bike, dodging debris and snowfalls in places.
It was crap weather when I did it but still glad I persevered.

Steve.

fish156

VeloPeloton wrote:

The aim for 2015 is to have the road open on Friday 15th May. The ski station closes tomorrow, 6th April.
It really depends on the weather this next 6 weeks. If enough snow melts it is safe for the snow ploughs to open the road, if not then the risk of avalanche is too great. Last year I rode to the summit on 17th May. In 2013 it was not passable until July. In 2012 I rode to the summit on 8th May.
You can check this page for updates http://velopeloton-cycling-pyrenees.bik ... alet-open/
My favourite time of year to do it is September and October.

The statue of Le Géant du Tourmalet will be returned to the col on Saturday 6th June, departing Pierrefitte-Nestalas at 09:30.

Great resource of info on riding the local cols on your site Paddy.

I see you finished the 100 Hautacam.

The first 97 were the hardest. It got easier after that.

calvjones

VeloPeloton wrote:

The aim for 2015 is to have the road open on Friday 15th May. The ski station closes tomorrow, 6th April.
It really depends on the weather this next 6 weeks. If enough snow melts it is safe for the snow ploughs to open the road, if not then the risk of avalanche is too great. Last year I rode to the summit on 17th May. In 2013 it was not passable until July. In 2012 I rode to the summit on 8th May.
You can check this page for updates http://velopeloton-cycling-pyrenees.bik ... alet-open/
My favourite time of year to do it is September and October.

The statue of Le Géant du Tourmalet will be returned to the col on Saturday 6th June, departing Pierrefitte-Nestalas at 09:30.

Cheers Amigo - I'm passing through w/end of 15th May and have set aside 2 days cycling in the valley. Your page is now pinned to my start screen

ugo.santalucia

Restaurant at the top? It is a cafe' full of memorabilia of the Tour de France, don't expect gourmet food... the coffee is dreadful like pretty much anywhere in France outside Paris (not that Paris is any good).

The only top of the col cafe' where it's worth eating is the Peyresourde... they make nice and extremely cheap pancakes... it's only two cols away from the Tourmalet and definitively open in May/June

durhamwasp

Col des Aravis has some nice restaurants

calvjones

Um... but it's about 500 miles away...

VeloPeloton

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Restaurant at the top? It is a cafe' full of memorabilia of the Tour de France, don't expect gourmet food... the coffee is dreadful like pretty much anywhere in France outside Paris (not that Paris is any good).

The only top of the col cafe' where it's worth eating is the Peyresourde... they make nice and extremely cheap pancakes... it's only two cols away from the Tourmalet and definitively open in May/June

Agree. Cafe on the Tourmalet is very expensive and not very good. Col d'Aubisque has an excellent cafe, I highly recommend the garbure. Crepes on Col de Peyresourde is one of life's little pleasures.

calvjones

VeloPeloton wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Restaurant at the top? It is a cafe' full of memorabilia of the Tour de France, don't expect gourmet food... the coffee is dreadful like pretty much anywhere in France outside Paris (not that Paris is any good).

The only top of the col cafe' where it's worth eating is the Peyresourde... they make nice and extremely cheap pancakes... it's only two cols away from the Tourmalet and definitively open in May/June

Agree. Cafe on the Tourmalet is very expensive and not very good. Col d'Aubisque has an excellent cafe, I highly recommend the garbure. Crepes on Col de Peyresourde is one of life's little pleasures.

I'm assuming it's a pretty nice climb too?

VeloPeloton

Col d'Aubisque is epic!

ugo.santalucia

While the Col d'Aubisque is indeed stunning, I disagree that the cafe' at the top is anything to go by... we got there frozen to the bone, whilst it was raining and all they had was some rather horrid cafe' au lait and nothing to eat... that was the summer of 2010, things might have changed. as well as not

calvjones

VeloPeloton wrote:

Col d'Aubisque is epic!

It better be... I've just booked in with you for 2 nights

VeloPeloton

I was at Col du Tourmalet today. It's not officially open, but it is passable.
http://velopeloton-cycling-pyrenees.bike/col-du-tourmalet-open/

VeloPeloton

Col du Tourmalet will be opened at 16:30 this afternoon, Wednesday 13th May 2015.