Col du Tourmalet D918

[Sooty09]

Has anybody ridden the D918. Im in that area and it looks superb. We are staying in Lourdes and plan to ride this col, when I load it onto Garmin Map source I can get as far as Barges, then it turns me back and routes me miles round to Campan missing out the connecting 6 miles. This Garmin block also occurs on the D18 and D8F. The last time Garmin did this to me was from Soldu in Austria due to the pass being a Toll road.
Any reason here, perhaps its too seasonal to be regarded as a regular road?

 

[John Armstrong]

Turn off the "date and time closures" in the preferences box?

 

[davidgibson999]

Has anybody ridden the D918. Im in that area and it looks superb. We are staying in Lourdes and plan to ride this col, when I load it onto Garmin Map source I can get as far as Barges, then it turns me back and routes me miles round to Campan missing out the connecting 6 miles. This Garmin block also occurs on the D18 and D8F. The last time Garmin did this to me was from Soldu in Austria due to the pass being a Toll road.
Any reason here, perhaps its too seasonal to be regarded as a regular road?

it's a great road

 

[Wapping]

Yes, and you can ride its entire length, despite what Garmin may tell you.

As others have said, check your 'Preference' settings.

 

[sven]

The east side climbs up through a grotty ski resort, but the west side is very pretty.

Much prefered the Spanish side of the Pyrenees myself

 

[george]

just did this 2 weeks ago its awesome,also check oot col d'aspin its as good maybe better we had real nice weather though

 

[vireo]

Mapsource just doesn't like the 'tricky' switchback of the Col, it seems. You can force Mapsource to create a route for your GPS across the Col (and onwards towards Campan via Le Mongie) by using the Route Tool - the Icon is three dots joined by red line - in small steps cliukcing every KM or so over the awkward piece. It works, at least for V8, V9 and 2009 maps.....

 

[nickcgundogs]

Tried to go up the Tourmalet last year got as far as Lamongie (Ski town 5 km from summit) the road was closed.

This year followed the tour route Col de Perysourde, Col de Aspain, Col de Tourmalet, Col de Solour and then the Col de Abisque.

All open but weather was shi++, at the touramelet it was 2 degrees and snowing, most of the climbs were in the cloud.

The Abisque was terrifying I think it was a good thing that the visability was not good , the track (Could not call it a road) was carved out of a cliff with drops on the right which had no barriers and a long way down.

Problem is that I now need to go again next year to see what it is like in better visability.

I did the Touramalet both ways following the 2010 tour route, I must say I was glad my bike had an engine

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It's a good road.................enjoy

 

[Sooty09]

Thanks GSers. My wife and I will be there Sat 10 July. We overnight at Lourdes before taking a few cols including the Col du Tourmalet on our way to Sundays stop at Albies. We then travel on for a seaside night at Cerbier before heading back home via Carscassonne and the Tarn Gorge. So far I have a route in mind as far as Mont Dore near Clermont Fernande. I have three more nights to choose before our final night at Escalles near Calais. SWMOB demands an easy last day to give her time to visit a V2 assembly block house,
(sorry lads if your wifes idea of fun looking at shoes)

 

[Ogmios]

Oooh yes!

liked it so much i 'did' it 6 times on one holiday
well, it was 'on the way' to so many other 'Cols' in the area - all of which (some mentioned in previous posts) were good.
Personally i prefer the French side of the Pyrenees, but i'm a lazy bugger and love the convenience of France - it's set up perfectly for the Bike tour.

Nice coffee in the Irish pub in Mongie.
The cable car trip to the Pic Du Midi is actually worth the €25 per head cost as the Observatory and the view (IF the weathers good) into Spain and soooo many peaks in between is incredible.
Beware - the local and free roaming donkeys like Bikes and they're very friendly.
Enjoy. sorry - didn't note when your going, but if anytime soon, i reckon the weather will be hot and hopefully you'll get a good long, stunning and occasionally scary view from the road.

 

[Allan Davies]

just did this 2 weeks ago its awesome,also check oot col d'aspin its as good maybe better we had real nice weather though

Did the same, but beware that they were dressing some areas of the Aspin the other week, loads of signs up though. Tourmalet was also having some work done, a bit slippery at the summit going towards Lourdes but nothing to worry about. Have the soup in the summit cafe

A few photos
The off piste shot was just above the Aspin on the way to Tourmalet, (a track to the ski lifts on an apex)
the twisties was taken from the above point
Sorry about my KTM getting in the way of the view

If your in the Val De Aran area, you could always stay here http://www.lechapeaubleu.com/en/tour/ a really nice place, there is a linky in the Accom section. if you do stay, come in from over the Col De Portillion(superb) and refeul in the Village at the bottom as its about 35cents a litre cheaper, Spain you see not France

 

[RadioActive]

The Col d'Aubisque was closed earlier this week (we could see some lorries working on something from across the valley) and the Col de Soulor had lots of patches of loose chippings all down one side to provide additional entertainment. I actually prefer the smaller, less popular mountain roads on the Spanish side but as a bit of a cyclist I dream of doing one of these big col routes one day!

 

[Glyno]

SWMOB demands an easy last day to give her time to visit a V2 assembly block house,

That would be La Coupole nr St Omer then ? well worth the visit. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Hustler]

For anyone planning a trip up the Col du Tourmalet take note that the Tour de France finishes on this Col on the 20th. July so you won't get near it around this date.
Tour de France route is here if you need it - http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

 

[John Armstrong]

The preview on ITV4 last night said they passed over it once and then finished a stage on the Tourmalet

 

[BegesRus]

Highly recommended - go there

 

[tonedef]

We were there last October, great road as others say. Everyone else seems to have better photos than me though, let's just say that the weather was a little iffy at the summit

 

[v8legend]

The preview on ITV4 last night said they passed over it once and then finished a stage on the Tourmalet

They're doing it twice this year, with a rest day in between. And I'll be there.......can't wait!

 

[stolzy]

Identical discussion going on here