Читать книгу Tour Climbs: The complete guide to every mountain stage on the Tour de France - Chris Sidwells - Страница 45

Length: 13.6 km

Altitude: 1506 metres

Height gain: 806 metres

Average gradient: 5.9%

Maximum gradient: 8.3%

This is the most easterly of the Pyrenean Tour de France climbs. It was first visited by the Tour de France in 1976, and the race has been back twice. The leader over the Col de Jau in 1976 was a Frenchman, Raymond Delisle, in what was his best ever Tour.

Delisle was a good but not great rider, who wore the yellow jersey for two days in 1976 before dropping back to fourth overall by the end of the race. It was Delisle’s best Tour finish, although he also won two stages in his twelve appearances in the race, and was the French national champion in 1969.

Delisle has been far more successful since his racing career ended. He owns a beautiful château hotel near St Lo, deep in the Normandy countryside, called the Château de la Roque. He can be found there most nights regaling his guests with Tour de France stories around one of the château’s huge open fires.

The Col de Jau starts in Mosset and winds its way upwards through a beautiful area of the Catalan Pyrenees national park. The twists and turns towards the top are a real treat with great views, but just like most Pyrenean climbs the gradient is ever changing and your gear shifters will be working overtime.

If you descend the other side of the Jau and climb two smaller passes, the Col de Garavel and Col de Moulis, you come out on the D118 five kilometres south of Usson-les-Bains and the start of the Port de Pailhères.

WHICH WAY? Mosset is seven kilometres northwest of Prades, a town on the N116 that is 30 kilometres west of Perpignan. Take the D619 north out of Prades, signposted Moltig-les-Bains. This road becomes the D14 and you follow it to Mosset, then continue to the top of the Col de Jau.