Cycling Hautacam: Complete Climb Guide

Climbing the Hautacam route takes you on a breathtaking ride through the lush rural countryside in the heart of the Pyrenees.

Cycling Hautacam: Overview

Tucked away in the heart of the Midi-Pyrénées, the climb to Hautacam is a master of disguise. It might not boast the legendary height or historic gravitas of the Col du Tourmalet, but don’t let that fool you. This is a climb that catches you off guard – every single time. From the very first ramp, Hautacam means business. The road kicks up hard and keeps you guessing with its constantly shifting gradients. Just when you think you’ve found a rhythm, it eases off for a moment… only to punch you again with double-digit slopes that send your heart rate rocketing.

There’s something almost mischievous about this climb, like it’s playing a game – daring you to keep going, teasing you with brief recoveries before dialling up the effort once more. And yet, that’s exactly what makes it so irresistible. No matter how many times you take it on, it never gets any easier – and that’s what keeps you coming back. Because when you finally break through the tree line near the summit, the view opens up in spectacular fashion. You’re met with a stunning panorama that makes every punishing pedal stroke worth it. Hautacam is a proper test – and a proper reward. The challenge never fades, and neither does the

Location of Hautacam

The Hautacam is located in the Pyrenees and is the route up to the popular ski station. The Tour de France brought the ski station and the climb into the public consciousness.

Hautacam Tour de France History

Hautacam first burst onto the Tour de France scene in 1994, when Luc Leblanc powered to victory in its debut as a summit finish – a ride that hinted at the world championship win that would follow later that year. Just two years later, the climb was thrust into the spotlight again with one of the most dramatic stages of the decade. Bjarne Riis launched a bold, relentless attack on its slopes, shattering the field and ending Miguel Indurain’s reign of dominance. In 2000, it was the turn of Javier Otxoa, who triumphed in brutal Pyrenean conditions, while Lance Armstrong’s storming ride into the yellow jersey on the same day added to the climb’s notoriety – though his result would later be scrubbed from the records. Most recently, in 2022, Jonas Vingegaard delivered a masterclass on the ascent, riding clear of Tadej Pogačar and all but sealing his overall victory. Now, as the Tour returns to Hautacam in 2025 for Stage 12, it brings with it all the drama, history and unpredictability that this fierce, unforgettable mountain demands.

Hautacam Climb Profile and Route Description

Cycling Hautacam is best ridden from Argeles Gazost and the route is 14.5km to the Hautacam ski station. The Hautacam gradient averages 7.5% but it is irregular as it can reach 15%/16% for several long stretches. After a slower 1.5km start through beautiful meadows, the route becomes incredibly tough. Once you pass the village of Ayros, you will enter a pinch point for the Tour as the road narrows and you encounter the first steep climb and then a drop in gradient, a pattern that will continue as you head up the col. If you are hoping to get into a steady rhythm – this irregular ride is not for you! As you head to the middle part of the route the gradients will get tougher and then ease off again before you head to the summit. If you are not utterly exhausted by the end, you can continue up 1.3km to Col de Tramassel. From here you can ride some other epic climbs such as the Tourmalet, the Aubisque and Soulor for some incredible Pyrenees cycling climbs.