Experiencing the Tour at PCK: Col du Tourmalet

When you get a opportunity to ride one of the "Big Three Climbs of the Tour," namely the Col du Tourmalet, where do you go to train. The Performance Center at Knapps, of course. Today, I had the opportunity to give a couple riders an opportunity to feel what it will be like to ride the Tourmalet through our Computrainers.

The Tourmalet is one of the "big three" in the tour, together with the Aubisque and the Galibier. The Col du Tourmalet is situated in the Pyrenees. Starting from Sainte Marie de Campan, the Col du Tourmalet is 17.2 km long...just under 12 miles;see graph). Over this distance, you climb 1268 heightmeters. The average percentage is thus 7.4 %.(FYI: weekly PCK Indoor Riders we experienced a more difficult ride in the 20 mile interval class at a steady 6%, but of course we didn't put in the 10 plus "Tour Days" prior followed by 80 miles before getting there...so Lance and the rest of the 'boys of the Tour win, but if you want watercooler bragg'n rights maybe you can leave that detail out).


Check out the Tour De France starting July 3rd and catch a glimpse of the Tourmalet July 22 as the riders make their way through the climbing stages. If you are going to be going away for a bike trip this summer, let us get you ready at PCK.



Go Epic,

Drape