Hautacam (Tour de France)
Hautacam (Tour de France)
Set in the Pyrenees, the Hautacam has been used in the Tour de France on five occasions, its proximity to the Tourmalet making it ideal as part of a particularly tough stage.
Last year the 13.6km climb saw Vincenzo Nibali storm to victory, all-but-sealing his yellow jersey with three stages remaining.
The Tour tackles Hautacam from Ayros-Arbouix, a route which boasts an average gradient of 7.8 per cent and a maximum of 13. Its difficulty, however, lies in the inconsistency of the gradient, making it hard to settle into a rhythm, while there are long stretches over ten per cent.
Also part of last year’s Etape du Tour route, the climb is becoming a popular destination for amateur cyclists heading to the Pyrenees.
Key facts
Length: 13.6km
Average gradient: 7.8%
Maximum gradient: 13%