Hautacam

Hautacam is a Cat HC climb in the Vallée du Lavedan in Hautes Pyrénées. The climb up Hautacam starts from Argelès-Gazost by the Gave de Pau river.
Our videorace begins at Pierrefitte-Nestelas. The first flat kilometers to reach Argeles-Gazost help us take the right rhythm.
Hautacam is a very difficult climb (even Contador said so), it undulates frequently making it hard to maintain a rhythm, there are ramps up to 13% and some long sections up to 13%. The hardest part is the 6km after the village of Artalens. The climb eases off for the last 2 km before Hautacam. At Hautacam there is a large flat car-park for the ski station. This is where Le Tour de France has it’s stage finish, Stage 18 of the 2014 Tour de France was the 5th arrival. Vincenzo Nibali won in 2014 with a very dominant display which seem him extend his lead in yellow to over 7 minutes.
Our videorace continues for 1.3km to the dead-end at Col de Tramassel.