| Col de Marie-Blanque | |
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Col de Marie-Blanque
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| Elevation | 1,035 m (3,396 ft) |
| Traversed by | D294 |
| Location | |
| Location | Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France |
| Range | Pyrenees |
Col de Marie-Blanque (el. 1035 m.) is a mountain pass in the western Pyrenees in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France. The pass is situated south-east of Oloron-Sainte-Marie and connects the valleys of the Aspe and the Ossau rivers. The climb is popular with both amateur and professional cyclists.
Contents |
The western side of the climb, starts from Escot on the N134. The climb is 9.3 km long at an average of 7.7% (height gain - 715 m). Although relatively short, there are several long sections with gradients in excess of 11%. From the east, the climb starts at Bielle on the D934 and is 11.5 km long gaining 585 m. (an average of 5.1%), with a maximum of 8.5% near the start. En route, the climb passes the Plateau de Bénou.
The pass was first used in the Tour de France in 1978 and has been crossed 14 times by the tour, including on stage 17 of the 2010 tour from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet.
| Year | Stage | Category | Leader at the summit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 17 | 1 | Juan Antonio Flecha |
| 2007 | 16 | 1 | Mauricio Soler |
| 2006 | 10 | 1 | Cyril Dessel |
| 2005 | 16 | 1 | Jörg Ludewig |
| 2000 | 10 | 1 | Javier Otxoa |
| 1996 | 17 | 2 | Neil Stephens |
| 1995 | 16 | 2 | Stage neutralised |
| 1992 | 2 | 1 | Richard Virenque |
| 1990 | 17 | 1 | Dominique Arnaud |
| 1989 | 9 | 1 | Robert Forest |
| 1987 | 14 | 1 | Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle |
| 1987 | 13 | 1 | Luis Herrera |
| 1986 | 12 | 1 | Pedro Delgado |
| 1978 | 10 | 2 | Michel Pollentier |