- Ascent
- 1019 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 19.5 km
- max. gradient
- 10 %
- ø gradient
- 5.2 %
The Col du Soulor from Argelès-Gazost is an HC climb of 19.5 km with 1,019 m of elevation gain at an average of 5.2 %, peaking at 10 %. The road climbs via Arrens-Marsous to 1,474 m, from where it continues towards the Col d'Aubisque. A long, almost flat middle section is followed by seven kilometres at around 8 %.
The Col du Soulor is the lower neighbour of the Aubisque and the lowest Pyrenees pass in our list. From Argelès-Gazost it is 19.5 kilometres and 1,019 metres of climbing up to 1,474 metres. The 5.2 % average hides a clear three part structure. A steep start, a long almost flat middle and a steep finish.
The Col du Soulor at a glance
The key figures from Argelès-Gazost: category HC, 19.5 km, 1,019 m of climbing, 5.2 % on average and 10 % at its steepest. The road climbs via Arrens-Marsous to the pass at 1,474 m. From there one road continues towards the Col d’Aubisque, the other drops west through the Ouzom valley to Arthez-d’Asson. In our list the Soulor belongs to the Pyrenees region.
The climb from Argelès-Gazost
The first three kilometres average around 7 % and are a proper start. After that the road flattens out for about nine kilometres: most kilometres stay below 3 %, and some are level or slightly downhill. Only one kilometre in this middle section is steep, at just over 8 %. This is the part where you can eat, drink and save energy.
The last seven kilometres are the real climb and average around 8 %. With one exception at just under 6 %, they all sit between 7.5 and 9.5 %. There are no more flat pieces before the top. Anyone who took it easy in the middle section can ride this finish at a good pace.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
At 1,474 m the Soulor has the lowest finishing point of all 14 Pyrenees climbs in our list. At 19.5 km it is still one of the longer ones, only two Pyrenees climbs are longer. Its 5.2 % average is low because of the flat middle section, only the Col de Tentes is gentler in the Pyrenees. From the top the road continues to the Col d’Aubisque, which from its own start has 1,201 m of climbing at 7.1 %.
Practical tips
On the Soulor the pacing follows the profile: steady on the first three kilometres, relaxed in the middle, then a steady effort on the last seven. A compact gearing is enough for the 10 % peak. At 1,474 m the top is only moderately high, a windproof layer for the descent is usually enough. The Soulor links easily with the Aubisque, the way back to Argelès-Gazost is the same road.
