Col de Marie-Blanque (elevation 1,035 m (3,396 ft)) 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. Now I know what I missed!You are correct Dominic. Highest Elev 1,024m. View route map, streetviews, images, slideshows, videos and more for this cycling route to the top of Col de Marie-Blanque - Bielle, France. Friebe and Goding, The eastern approach to the col from Beille (population 528) is the easiest by far at 11.1 kilometers/5.1% versus from Escot at 9.2 kilometers/7.7%.The col first appeared in the Tour de France in 1978 when it dashed the repeat hopes of 1977 Tour champion Bernard Thevent:“Tour de France: the race has passed 14 times. In the end, as someone else pointed out, it’s mostly VANITY. C'est à peu près à 40 km au sud de Pau. However some were quite abusive trying to force their way through. The same reason that plastics surgeons make so much money on elective surgery, vanity! I do know the climb was the only time during the day I warmed up and descending the hairpin turns to Bielle was scarier than hell! Granted, this one’s “only” 3 kms @ +10%, but with modern drivetrains and 10 or 11 cogs in the back and compact setups in front, it’s a no-brainer.
Plus many have yet to experience a climb that lasts for 20, 30 or even 90 minutes, the effort is very different.I think it’s simple!
A toughie for sure!I was in the same year as well. Try Col de Burdincurucheta ……….. and feel the difference – cadence, efficiency and confort. the gearing and climbing thing is human nature. KOM 10:49 Sep 3, 2016. The Col de Marie Blanque is one of the more famous cycling climbs in this part of the Pyrenees. Alas, as I was one of the late starters, I was constrained to walk the last kilo; the traffic jam was impassable, we just heard “bouchon” and have to climb off our bikes.Putting on enough gears for this climb could be expensive. Its low altitude and friendly name belies a climb which is steep and challenging, and has destroyed many legs before they have even got the chance to tackle some of the higher climbs. there are some nasty sections and if you have not got the right gears and you are overweight YOU WILL SUFFER!I’ll have to put this one on my list for the next Pyrennean adventure, whenever that might be!This climb surprised me, the noise is a strong sign of what’s ahead as you approach it through the valley, just normal running water initially, to a deafening torrent next to you, then bang, you’re on this very steep hill. Elev Difference 572m. Finished in a little over 7hr, the Tourmalet was toooough but all 3 climbs that day were awesome and I would love to do it again someday. I climbed the Marie Blanque as part of the Quebrantahuesos in 2010 but never saw the climb due to the freezing cold torrential rains we had all day.
Legend has it that the col’s name dates back to the mid eighteenth century and Marie Asserquet, a renowned pale (white/blanque) skinned aurostère (an author and performer of improvised chants memorializing the dead). Suggest this during some traditional italian group ride and your are dead…It is crazy… even when you say to some riders that even “Alberto” sometimes runs a 32 / 34 T on the back (ok, that may be on the Zoncalan, but…), they still can’t move away from thinking that all they need is a 54/39 with 11/25, no matter the steepness / length of ride etc.Yes a rider 20kg’s lighter than me (I’m 90kg+), may not need as easier gearing as me to get up the steep hills, but by the same token I can put much more power out than them on the flats / descents, and I still don’t need anything bigger than a 50 / 12 combination for all bar a few special roads. See this Tour and others like it, or plan your own with komoot! The climb from Bielle is quite gentle and includes several plateaus, which offer the most spectacular and enjoyable views on the climb. I absolutely LOVE the Pyrenees!Yes I remember that day.Too many riders and a narrow road was the problem uphill but the descent Is glorious.Would love to repeat that day.I will never understand the reluctance so many have about putting on a gear one can pedal up steep climbs like these.