Читать книгу Tour Climbs: The complete guide to every mountain stage on the Tour de France - Chris Sidwells - Страница 44

Length: 17.5 km

Altitude: 1395 metres

Height gain: 885 metres

Average gradient: 5.1%

Maximum gradient: 8%

The Col de la Core links the Bourgane and Salat river valleys, and has been climbed five times by the Tour de France. You can start in Audressein in the Bourgane valley, which is to the west of the climb and where the Portet d’Aspet also starts, or from Seix in the Salat valley, which is to the east.

The Tour has climbed the Col de la Core from both sides, but in its five visits since 1984 it seems to prefer the west, so that’s the one I’ve gone for. Like all the climbs that surround it, such as the Portet d’Aspet and Col de Menté, the slopes of the Core are heavily wooded and the gradients irregular. Jean-René Bernaudeau of France was the first Tour de France rider over the Col de la Core.

It climbs very gently for two kilometres, but a further two kilometres into the Bethmale valley sees the gradients increase and get steadily harder to the top of the climb. There’s a great view back down the Bethmale after the second of a series of hairpins that characterise the last four kilometres of the climb.

The Bethmale is a rural place of old customs, one of which is the gift of pointed shoes by a man to his fiancée at Christmas. The shoes, called sabots, have their toes shaped like a crescent moon. The length of the crescent is said to be a measure of the man’s love for his intended.

WHICH WAY? Audressein is 12 kilometres southwest of St Girons on the D618. From Audressein head south on the D4 to Castillon-en-Couserans. At Les Bordes turn left onto the D17 and continue to the top of the Col de la Core.