Port de Balès

Pyrenees, France

Gradient:
<4%
4–7%
7–10%
10–12%
>12%

APPROACH ROUTES

Port de Balès is a Category 1 cycling climb in the Pyrenees, France, cresting at 1 755 m. Its hardest ascent, from Troubat, covers 20.7 km at 5.8% average, gaining 1 205 m, with ramps up to 19.4%. The steepest kilometre averages 15.5%, around km 17.3. It can also be climbed from Cirès (7.4 km at 6.7%): 2 measured approaches in all, each profiled kilometre-by-kilometre against Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data. On the Fiets scale it rates 7.8. Late spring through autumn offers the most reliable conditions on the pass.