Luz Ardiden

The third in the great trio of climbs above Luz-Saint-Sauveur, alongside the Tourmalet and Hautacam. Luz Ardiden rises from the thermal town in a series of relentless switchbacks through pine forest, averaging 7.6% over 13.3km with little variation — this is a climb that demands a settled pace from the first kilometre. It appeared memorably in the 2003 Tour when Lance Armstrong caught his handlebars in a spectator's bag on a descent, remounted, and went on to win the stage. The ski resort access road means it stays open late into autumn and is one of the last high climbs rideable before winter.