When talking about mysticism and history in cycling, we are talking about the Tourmalet, an iconic peak, the climb that leaves no one indifferent. habitual Tour de Franceis the most important port in the Pyrenees. In 1910 he debuted in the French race, according to legend thanks to a lie by sports journalist Alphonse Steinès, who traveled to the area to find new peaks for the Tour. He couldn’t reach the highest point with his driver either, so he walked the distance (approx. 4 km) and later said he was in excellent condition for the race. Totally wrong, but they listened to him. Since then, The Tour has ended there more than fifty times and has been a port of passage on many other occasions, and for the first time this year it will be held at La Vuelta.
It will take place on September 8th on Stage 13. A total of 18.9 kilometers with an average gradient of 7.4% and maximum ramps of 13%. At the finish line, 2,115 meters above sea level. Numerous Spaniards crossed it in the race at the head: Bahamontes, Julio Jiménez, Lalo Cubino … and it was also there that Miguel Indurain began to consolidate his first Tour in 1991. Now La Vuelta will witness a crucial day in the future of the race, already at the end of the second week.
The ascent is via the Luz-Saint-Sauveur slope, the most popular slope. “You can get your bicycle license here. Not just for toughness, but for fame, history… It’s the toughest pass in the Pyrenees and not far from my house either. I know him well” Sergio Samitier account when detecting the port with AS. The Movistar rider from Barbastro (Huesca) has accumulated more than a dozen ascents on the Tourmalet. “It has an almost unmatched epic touch. It’s a pure climber, skinny and skinny runner port that offers battle and attack options. It’s not explosive and because it’s so long it offers a lot of leeway,” explains Samitier at a very prominent climb in 2023: it was a port of passage in the Tour de France (in stage 6) and the Women’s Tour (final of the stage queen), in addition to the above result in La Vuelta.
“It has an almost unmatched epic touch. It’s a haven for a pure climber.”
“It could be the queen stage of the Vuelta. Perhaps he lacks a little more mileage (he has 134). Then I’d tell you in a cart that distance is ok (between laughs). If you have the Aubisque beforehand, the group can arrive broken and take a break. To have options, one must arrive on foot from the Tourmalet with more than four minutes of rental time., says the man from Huesca before finishing the climb: “The first ramps will form a first important sieve. This section is not to be underestimated, with straight lines that deceive, with a gradient of 9% or 10%. Psychologically they destroy you.
A floating harbor with a life of its own
La Vuelta is struggling to catch up on the stages that fell by the wayside in 2020 due to COVID and the Tourmalet should have been part of the game three years ago. It couldn’t be. With the departure from Formigal there will now be no more problems crossing the border. Samitier continues his explanation: “Once you pass the city of Barèges and get to the so-called Route Fignon, the hardness remains … until it increases to 13%, the maximum we will not have by the finish line.” The last six kilometers are less bumpy, but you arrive with tired legs and you have to face several horseshoe curves. The last stretch to the summit is very demanding again.”
There are harder, longer ports, but the Tourmalet has a life of its own: “There’s something essential about it after watching the best of history go by. It’s a haven of your life. We’ll see if it won’t be easy if someone uploads it in less than 50 minutes. The speed can be between 18 km/h and 20 km/h at 6 W/kg. This is the best.”
Another factor to consider is the altitude: “We are at 2,100 meters and from about 1,700 meters the body suffers and notices the lack of oxygen.” The wear and tear will be much greater. It will be a stage with lots of play. It’s the typical thing Chente would say at Movistar, sending a teammate up front and then laying the groundwork. Because I don’t think the favorites will attack with 15 kilometers to gosays Samitier, who made the ascent together with Iván Pañart, the Movistar rider’s training partner.
“The course is one of the best-performing we’ve ever had, and that’s partly thanks to the Tourmalet,” comment Javier Guillén, director of La Vueltaabout this stage. The latter part was resurfaced in May and the famous sculpture at the top returned to its place after being loaded onto a truck in June. nobody wants to miss anything A day meant to be great.
