memorial at the top of the Tourmalet The Col du Tourmalet is one of the most famous climbs on the
Tour de France. It has been included more than any other pass, starting in
1910, when the Pyrenees were introduced. The first rider over was
Octave Lapize, who went on to win the
general classification in Paris. In 1913,
Eugène Christophe broke his
fork on the Tourmalet and repaired it himself at a forge in Sainte-Marie-de-Campan. Up to 2020, the Tour has visited the Col du Tourmalet a total of 87 times. The total includes three stage finishes at the summit and three at La Mongie. Since 1980 it has been ranked
hors catégorie, or exceptional. The
Vuelta a España has also crossed the pass several times. The 2010 edition of the Tour included the pass on two consecutive stages, crossing westward on the 16th stage to Pau and eastward on the 17th stage with a finish at the summit. At the col is a memorial to
Jacques Goddet, director of the
Tour de France from 1936 to 1987, and a
large statue of
Octave Lapize gasping for air as he struggles to make the climb. The
Souvenir Jacques Goddet prize is awarded for the first rider to cross the Col du Tourmalet summit. In
2023, the climb was featured in the
Tour de France Femmes for the first time, as the
queen stage of the race.
Origins in the Tour The Pyrenees were included in the Tour de France at the insistence of
Alphonse Steinès, a colleague of the organiser,
Henri Desgrange. He told the story in a book published soon after the event. Steinès first agreed that the Tour would pay 2,000 francs to clear the
Col d'Aubisque, then came back to investigate the Tourmalet. He started at Sainte-Marie-de-Campan with sausage, ham and cheese at the inn opposite the church and arranged to hire a driver called Dupont from Bagnères-de-Bigorre. Dupont and Steinès made it the first 16 km, after which their car came to a stop. Dupont and Steinès started to walk but Dupont turned back after 600m, shouting: "The bears come over from Spain when it snows". Steinès set off. He mistook voices in the darkness for thieves. They were youngsters guarding sheep with their dog. Steinès called to one. "Son, do you know the Tourmalet well? Could you guide me? I'll give you a gold coin. When we get to the other top, I'll give you another one" The boy joined him but then turned back. Steinès rested on a rock. He considered sitting it out until dawn, then realised he'd freeze. He slipped on the icy road, then fell into a stream. He climbed back to the road and again fell in the snow. Exhausted and stumbling, he heard another voice. "Tell me who goes there or I'll shoot". "I'm a lost traveller. I've just come across the Tourmalet". "Oh, it's you, Monsieur Steinès! We were expecting you! We got a phone call at Ste-Marie-de-Campan. Everybody's at Barèges. It's coming on for three o'clock. There are search teams of guides out looking for you". The organising newspaper, ''
L'Auto'', had a correspondent at Barèges, a man called Lanne-Camy. He took him for a bath and provided new clothes. Steines sent a telegram to Desgrange: "Crossed Tourmalet stop. Very good road stop. Perfectly feasible".
Tour de France stage finishes (left) and
Andy Schleck (right) on the Col du Tourmalet during the
2010 Tour de France Other appearances in Tour de France Tour de France Femmes on the Col du Tourmalet during the
2023 Tour de France Femmes The Col du Tourmalet featured in the premiere event of
Tour de France Femmes in 2023 as the finish of stage 7 on July 29. ==Other events==