Col des Bordères, Soulor & Aubisque - Cycling Inspiration & Education

Home to many of the most mythical climbs in Tour de France history, the French Pyrénées are a wonderland of beauty and exploration. Although Stage 19 of the 2018 Tour is a 5 climb monster, featuring the Aspin, Tourmalet, Bordères, Soulor and Aubisque, today we’re taking a closer look at the final three climbs of the stage, starting from Argelès-Gazost.
Although lesser known than its compatriots, the Bordères shouldn’t be overlooked. Its average of 6% is deceptive with many undulations and a stinging pitch up to 16.5%. What it lacks in height (1,156m) it makes up for in length (18.4km) and is the perfect way to start the day as you climb above the Val d’Azun and towards serenity.
In comparison the Soulor and Aubisque need little introduction, both featuring in the 1910 Tour de France (along with the Peyresourde, Aspin and Tourmalet) making them amongst the very oldest in the race and steeped in heritage, history and drama. Although the Soulor’s profile is much more linear than that of the Bordères there are still a couple of steep pitches to watch out for as you make your way up to 1,474 metres elevation and onwards towards the legendary Aubisque.
I remember the first time I saw the Cirque du Litor, a tiny ribbon of road connecting the summit of the Soulor to the summit of the Aubisque. On that day I was actually heading in the other direction but my mind was racing at what lay the other way. Since then I’ve ridden it many times and every time feels just as special. The feeling of being pinned to the edge of the mountain with vertical drops just metres away never fails to get the heart pumping. The Pyrénées are blessed with many beautiful roads but for me this is one of the all time greats and coupled up with the Bordères and Soulor you can’t fail to have a challenging but wonderful day on the bike.
Start: Argelès-Gazost
Distance: 38km
Highest point: 1,709m
Elevation gain: 1,780mm
Max gradient: 16.5%
I very much hope you enjoy our video from the stunning French Pyrénées. If the thought of these peaks is just too much, then why not join us for one of our cycling tours on these very roads. For more details visit thecolcollective.com/cycling-t... and if you want to ride in style, then check out The Col Collective cycling kit, available at teamshop.cuore.ch/the-col-col....
For more help and advice visit our website at thecolcollective.com, become part of our col community and sign up for our free newsletter for monthly updates.
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Stay well, ride safe and thank you for watching.
Mike Cotty
The Col Collective
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[@cyclingbrothers7362]

Did this exact route just two weeks ago during my holiday, of course thanks to Mike. I've enjoyed every single kilometer and the Soulor is a really lovely climb. Great tarmac, good hairpins and save! Getting above the tree line was breathtaking. When I was climbing my way to the d'Aubisque I was impressed by the valley on the right side and had a smile all the way.

[@jasonburke2596]

Superb video that has brought back wonderful memories for me when I rode this very route in 1999. Thanks Mike, vive le velo!

[@GuyPressault]

Images de rêve, ride de rêve. Thanks Mike, one of the best clips among the best

[@xGshikamaru]

I was fortunate enough to ride this exact route last month. Aubisque was actually closed so I went to Ferrieres instead. It's so beautiful I was struck in awe. If you want to have a bit of a rest before tackling the steeper part of the Col des Bordères, don't turn right and go straight to the lac d'Estaing. It's a dead end with a gorgeous lake surrounded by the mountains. I would go back there in a heartbeat if I could.

[@robertkearley3900]

Climbed this in June last year. Amazing... heading back in June this year.

[@yankit26]

Never had someone brought me the perspective and feeling of climbing has this video did, thank!

[@nealm4129]

Brilliant my son and I did the Luz Ardiden for my 60th in 2022 amongst others, smaller cols in the area can’t wait to go back great video

[@TheColCollective]

Amazing! Love hearing this!!!

[@acaciomps]

Thanks for share these magnificent roads, one of the best videos so far.... beutiful.... great job.

[@steph6822]

What a beautiful video !!! here in the south west, we are proud of our beautiful Pyrenees. Thank you for this enhancement.

[@godblessthepope.]

Could watch these videos all day . Brilliant.🚵

[@garethjones3806]

Rode today this exact route. Col Collective videos inspired me to come and you showed me the way. 🤝

[@Esperluet]

Magnifique, merci.

[@louiswassong211]

Another inspiring video! Makes me want to jump on my bike

[@jdk5576]

Truly inspirational video and very well made, as always!

[@tomb2722]

This is incredible, Mike! Some of those panoramas gave me goose bumps! Great job as always

[@peterwilliams7641]

Another awe inspiring video, fantastic. Thanks again Col Collective.

[@Gumwallonly]

this is amazing video,thank you very much!

[@jacksonjxnatti596]

brilliant as always thanks!

[@johnnydoe66]

Stunning views as always!

[@neilwhillans1525]

Thanks for the share. Will be cycling these roads in September...

[@henningvogt6179]

Absolutely inspiring video as always. The quality of your videos is amazing!

[@MrEric5452]

Always liked your clips, nice scenery and inspiration!

[@evictorr]

I rode parts of this route in September this year: on 1 day I rode from my B&B in Saint-Savin to Cols Soulor and Aubisque, down to Laruns, then back the way I came, thoroughly satisfying. Then on another day I rode Cols Bordères and Couraduque, and on another day Cols Spandelles and Soulor (this time from the north). I spent an entire month cycling in the Pyrénées, and really didn't want to come back home :)

[@tyalejandro684]

You prolly dont care but does any of you know a trick to get back into an instagram account..? I stupidly lost the password. I appreciate any help you can give me.

[@maxtontrevor6094]

@Ty Alejandro instablaster ;)

[@tyalejandro684]

@Maxton Trevor i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@tyalejandro684]

@Maxton Trevor it worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much, you really help me out !

[@maxtontrevor6094]

@Ty Alejandro No problem :D

[@plantfuelled8912]

Great video, thanks.

[@pl4free]

Another great video! You guys rock!

[@iainmacleod80]

Heading there in August/September for the week. Can't wait after seeing this.

[@gds5717]

This is the best cycling related KZbin channel! Truly amazing! Epic climbs and places! Thank you very much, Mr. Cotty!

[@alexanderconradie3007]

All of your videos are awesome! Hopefully one day I will be fortunate enough to have a go at those cols...

[@brdski_2238]

Beautiful

[@leedorney]

That end view is something else 👌

[@seryjnymeteopata2162]

Watching your videos through damn winter here, in Poland. Can't wait to get on bike and visit beatifull hills nearby. thank you for wonderful productions.

[@davidchadderton5904]

Thanks for the ride. I’ll ride it on FulGaz from Ballarat.

[@tommyjoj]

Hi Mike. Great video. I did this route today and that is one of the nicest rides I've ever been on on the Mountains. Thanks for the great suggestions. Canadian Tom.

[@red5standingby44]

Rode this route last week. The Col Collective video is stunning, but it is even better in reality, especially the views from the Cirque de Litor. Got to be on everyone's to do list! Borderes and Soulor are much tougher than I realised, but the decent back down the Soulor was pure pleasure!

[@d.r4489]

Great video, great views, great job again :D

[@allan4922]

Thanks

[@sonivex]

Amazing channel! Loved the videos. You got a new subscriber.

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

That scenery tho ❤️

[@stefanjepp6612]

Great video. I was there two weeks agp. Lots of fog, but great cols

[@johnevanko3797]

Another stunning video from the col collective it was awesome to see this when I woke this morning made my day as always. Can't wait to ride it with you in July.

[@MikeCotty]

John Evanko so looking forward to it John!

[@bebbeec600]

Increíble ver estas imágenes.Cada 2 años se celebra la prueba Luchon bayonne.consta de 326 kilómetros en una o dos jornadas. Fue una etapa pionera del tour de Francia. Se suben pereysourde Aspin Tourmalet soulor Aubisque y oskitz con un total de 6000 m de desnivel. Yo cuandolllego al críquets de litor suelo ir tan cansado que no puedo apreciar las preciosas imagenes.muchas gracias por hacerme revivir esos momentos

[@fulviopolce9785]

Bravo.Complimenti.

[@TheColCollective]

🙏🏻🐮

[@evictorr]

As irishrover99 just said: great timing, Mike! :) I'll be riding in that area in just over 3 months, as part of a 4 week cycling trip of the Pyrénées, and the wait has been long...

[@robertkearley3900]

Did this 2 days ago…… amazing again 🎉

[@TheColCollective]

Well done Robert!!!!!

[@frankswildy]

So, how about a new Col Collective video? They are excellent and it has been a while!

[@kurtobermeyer3356]

Why would anyone give this a thumb's down? Beautiful.

[@tawanga]

"Le Viscos" at 1:29 is an amazingly good restaurant.

[@irishrover99]

Great timing mike. I've a big spin tomorrow so this helps with some much needed motivation. Such a pity these videos aren't seen by more people but a video on how to change a puncture gets a million views.

[@petercort3566]

bit easier to search 'fix tire puncture' than 'Col des Bordères bike' ;) It'll get there, production quality is too high. Plus for all the late comers it'll give them more to watch when they finally show up.

[@dtmcool]

Another beautiful video Mike, thanks. What do you at the top? This is the second time you have ended at night time (last at Iseran). Motorhome with the crew?

[@TheColCollective]

Thanks for the recommendations! @Edwin Jansen

[@TheColCollective]

@@dtmcool If the sun finally beats us then it'll be a case of jumping in the hire car to get back down to the valley.....sorry to report there's no lavish motorhome waiting at the top ;-)

[@dickmartino9933]

What about a "changing a tire on the Col D'Aubisque video?"

[@naldridge95]

Amazing video as usual! You should cover an epic climb in the UK sometime. Something like the Great Dun Fell or Bealach na Ba.

[@sander2244]

Nice cornering Cotty

[@CrescentRollCarl]

These are some of the best videos on KZbin. I'm fairly new to cycling, and these videos get me so excited about the possibilities. Keep up the good work.

[@dickmartino9933]

Amazing. Never any traffic on your rides.

[@MrAurel40]

I climbed the Soulor/aubisque for my first time the 19 th august. It was great. But difficult with a 34x28 when the road climb up to 9%

[@matalebi]

Great channel! My recent favourite channel on KZbin! Just a question, what is the theme music here? Keep up the good work mate!

[@ahmettopal6301]

Amazing... More clim videos please ;)

[@dtmateo]

Wow

[@jeffcolameco7706]

Wow another inspiring video, loved the tie-in with old Tour footage. Like many riders from the States I hope to someday get to Europe and ride some of the Italian and Swiss Alps. There seems to be some debate here as to what is better, bring your own bike over or rent one from one of the shops there. Have you ever thought about doing a video about which of those two options you would choose. thanks again for great videos and any input.

[@roadyeti3697]

Jeff, I've done both. I prefer to have my own bike as it fits juuuuust riiiight and I set it up moto, front brake on the right. If I'm going for more than 2 weeks I usually take my own but shorter trips I have rented. Making the adjustment to right rear is no big deal but takes some attention as you don't want to get it wrong on a fast descent. The things you have to consider are cost( ~$200 US each way to transport across the pond for me), and admittedly traveling with a bike in a case is a pain as you have to disassemble partly to pack the bike in a case(and I've become pretty good at it), the rental car has to be large enough to fit the case with the bike in it, then you have a case to deal with after you've unpacked and reassembled your bike(I usually have a destination as a basecamp where I leave the case and then transport the bike in the rental to the various climb locations). You have to pack the bike well as you do run the risk of damage to( or losing) your expensive baby. Baggage handlers aren't the most gentle types, bless their hearts. : ) You can find decent rentals for ~€30-40/day but this puts a limit on your flexibility since you have to pick up and return the bike at the arranged rental periods(and the bike really isn't YOURS( I always take my own seat and pedals),you know what I mean)) Unless you are able to find a decent rental at the location for the time you're there, eg L'alpe d'Huez, Mont Ventoux. Just some things to think about. Hope this helps. Either way, don't put it off. Spain,France Italy. Repeat

[@evictorr]

Will you be making any more videos in this area? Last year I rode up to Col de Tentes / Port de Boucharo, and I'll be riding up to Cirque de Troumouse via the Barrage des Gloriettes in September, and they're probably both worth a video ;)

[@julianflorez7559]

I will like see a mountain of America

[@angelolgagarciajimenez8249]

Fantastic videos. Can you download the tracks on any page? Thank you.

[@florijndegraaf5369]

Very inspirational. Whats the name of the openingstune

[@johnzarn3367]

Tour Fever here in the U.S.

[@st-py9pf]

Beautiful! Cirque du Litor = number 1 bucket list climb. How did you manage to catch it so deserted Mike?

[@1peterbrooks]

It is amazing. Did it last week, in other direction, followed by tourmalet.

[@leedorney]

I'd like to know, what training Mike does, what climbs he'd like to do and what about a expose on those shoes 👌

[@nicholasmontoya5369]

You should do a climb in Colombia! Preferably Alto de Letras!!!

[@syamsulabdullah861]

Mike ! How to get hold of that Coll collective tail light ? Looks great

[@TheColCollective]

Hi Syamsul, we had a few Exposure Lights custom etched with The Col Collective logo. If you come on one of our cycling tours then every guest gets a Trace and TraceR custom Col Collective light kit....no how's that for an incentive ;-) Otherwise you can buy the standard TraceR here exposurelights.com just without the special laser etch. Hope that helps, thanks for watching! Mike

[@relax-tn1hx]

Well done Mike and team; great video. The Aubisque is the last classic on the French side I have yet to conquer! Your videos really are inspiring. Yet what advice would you give to a cyclist struggling with the fear of using the road because of cars and other vehicles? I went 'offroad' with a mountain bike for many years and have only just recently started using quieter back roads? Also my sister had a non serious collision with a car and has struggled for over a year with using the roads. Anyway; keep up the good work. Cheers :D

[@dirkbeauboir8521]

if you are concerned with traffic on the road give the garmin varia tail light a try. It will track approaching cars, motorcycles etc. via radar and indicate them on either a garmin head unit, or a separate display for your cockpit. It's incredible how much it increases your riding experience on roads with frequent traffic

[@busterthomas3563]

a mirror works for me

[@bertrandjeremy6347]

Hi, which model of wheel do you have ?

[@boethiusm8438]

This job would be high up on a ‘best jobs in the world’ list

[@Esperluet]

10:07 Cirque du Litor

[@hylkeboer3752]

Wouldn’t you like to do the Angliru so you can compare it to the Zoncolan and the Mortirolo and say which one is the hardest and make an end to the discussion?

[@TheColCollective]

We're hoping to ride the Angliru, so making a comparison would be a great idea! Ride safe, Mike

[@roadyeti3697]

They're all hard

[@sasadominkovic186]

2 month from last video 😣😣😣 .. 😉.. mike are you gezing lazy or 😂😂

[@TheColCollective]

Sorry for the delay in videos, we've been running The Col Collective Cycling Tours all summer which means trying to edit new videos is impossible. I'll be back on the editing soon though so stay tuned. Ride safe, Mike

[@JP-om3ou]

Bulge Shot 4:29

[@alexmorgan3435]

Too much use of slow motion.

[@jonblogondrong4792]

Don't be a fool. Don't ride uphill. Ride downhill.