Port de Larrau

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Port de Larrau

Orhi from the Port de Larrau. A sign with the name and elevation of the pass is visible in the centre-left.
Elevation 1,573 metres (5,161 feet)
Location Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Flag of France France
Navarra, Flag of Spain Spain
Range Pyrenees
Coordinates 42°58′26.4″N, 0°59′38.4″E
Traversed by D26/NA2100

Port de Larrau (Puerto de Larrau) (el. 1573 m.) is a mountain pass on the France – Spain border in the western Pyrenees between the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France and Navarra, Spain. The climb from the French side was used in the 2007 Tour de France.

The true summit of the pass is at 1585 m. and is near the Pic d’Orhi (2018 m), the most westerly mountain over 2000m in the Pyrenees. In the Basque language the pass is known as Uthurzehetako Lepoua.

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[edit] Details of the climb

The pass is situated south east of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Starting from Auberge de Laugibar (north east), the Port de Larrau is 15.3 km long. Over this distance, the climb is 1205 m. (an average of 7.9%) with long sections at over 10% and the maximum gradient of 13% near the summit. Between the village of Larrau and the summit the climb passes over the Col d’Erroymendi at 1362m.

Starting from Ochagavia (Navarra, Spain), the Puerto de Larrau is 19.3 km long with a 100 m. tunnel near the summit. Over this distance, the climb is 815 m. (an average of 4.2%) with a maximum of 8%.

[edit] Tour de France

The climb first appeared in the Tour de France in 1996, when it became the final Tour de France climb to be ridden by five-times race winner Miguel Indurain, who lost out heavily here.

The climb from the south will feature in 2007 in the Tour de France on the 218.5 km stage 16 from Orthez to Gourette Col d'Aubisque. This is probably the hardest climb in the 2007 Tour, sustaining almost the same gradient as the Col de Menté, but twice as long.

[edit] Appearances in Tour de France

Year Stage Category Leader at the summit
2007 16 HC José Vicente García
1996 17 HC Richard Virenque

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 42°58′26.4″N, 0°59′38.4″E

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