
Col de Peyrefitte
France, europe
3.2 km
1,859 m
easy
Year-round
Okay, adventure awaits at Col de Peyrefitte! Perched high in southwestern France, right on the border of Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées, this peak tops out at 1,859m (6,099ft).
The road? Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag. You'll find some asphalt, but expect a bit of a gravelly surprise near the top. Usually, there's a barrier for cars, but cyclists can breeze right through. Weather permitting, it's open year-round, though winter storms might shut things down. Trust me, the views are worth it!
Starting from the D51D road, it's a relatively short climb – only 3.2km. You'll gain about 119 meters in elevation, making for a gentle average gradient of 3.71%. Get ready for some seriously breathtaking scenery!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,859 m
- Difficulty
- easy
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