Pedal Dancer®: Pla d'Adet

20 March 2014

Photos for the Day - Pla d'Adet

Pla d'Adet is a climb in the Vallée d'Aure in the Pyrenees, France

My friend Paddy Sweeney of VeloPeloton climbed Pla d'Adet today (Plah-deh-day). He said, "Overall it's not a particularly hard climb as it is short and would be easier than Luz Ardiden or Hautacam." That is because the Hautacam is in Paddy's back yard and he climbs it (what seems like) every other day.

I think Pla d'Adet is kind of hard. So much so, that I remember distinctly saying out loud after the last time I descended that mountain in 2010 on Bastille Day, "well I don't need to do that again." Once was enough, plus the 10-hour day we spent on that same mountain in 2005 to watch the Tour de France mountain top finish at the ski station. Do not get stuck in a traffic jam on Pla d'Adet.

Still that mountain has epic memories for me. Just knowing that it looms over the Vallée d'Aure is magical. In 2010 I climbed a hill opposite simply to photograph it from different angles. Down valley is the city of Saint-Lary-Soulan. I totally disagree with Phil Liggett who claims this town to be one of his favorites in the Pyreness - "What? He needs to get out of that small broadcasting trailer more," I always scream at the TV.

The town of Arreau, north (up or down valley, it depends which way you are riding, because the road feels sort of flat) of Saint-Lary-Soulon, is a lovely town with a patio outside the Hotel de France and a pleasant river to picnic along. I like this valley a lot, it's beautiful. The climbs of Col d'Aspin, Hourquette d'Ancizan, Col d'Azet, and Pla d'Adet line the sides of this valley. Col de Peyresourde, Port de Bales, and Col de Tourmalet (east side) are close by.

All photos by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

The climb of Pla d'Adet is on the right of the Vallée d'Aure

The climb begins with a massive switchback.

You climb and climb above the valley

Looking down on the town of Vignec below.

Steepness of the climb

So steep (Paddy) that the houses are perched in stone on the side of the hill.

But Paddy claims it's not so hard. I think it is because he is riding super well this year. (https://www.facebook.com/pyreneescycling)

Paddy is right that this climb will be part of Stage 17 of the 2014 Tour de France: Route of the 2014 Tour de France, By Pedal Dancer. Paddy is also an excellent photographer.

Related posts by Pedal Dancer (when I climbed it in 2010): Pla d'Adet in 2005 and 2010.

And about the valleys in the Pyrenees: The Valleys of the Pyrenees and The Valleys of the Pyrenees in Pictures

What you do while hanging out on Pla d'Adet for hours for the Tour de France to race by.

Near the finish on Pla d'Adet

Caravan on Pla d'Adet

Being fans at the Tour de France

The riders just kept coming long after the stage was won by George Hincapie in 2005.

And then a massive traffic jam to get off of the road to Pla d'Adet, so ride your bike if you can!

14 July 2010

Pla d'Adet in 2005 and 2010

The Pla d'Adet is a tough tough climb

I think the difficulty of the Pla d'Adet rates up there with the Col du Tourmalet and Col de Marie Blanque. I have always been a George Hincapie fan, but now I think he is super-human. I was on the Pla d'Adet with my brother an sister-in-law to witness Hincapie's win in the 2005 Tour de France, it was amazing then. Today five years later (and five years older) I decided to ride it myself.

It was hard. Any climb that ascends on a straight road carved into the hillside is hard. Give me a switchback anytime over a semi-straight steep road. It didn't help that is was beyond hot today. I drank 2 bottles of water on the climb up, another on the descent, and one more in the town at the bottom. I then pulled my bike over next to the river, and walked into the river. I'm not kidding. I saw it, and in I went.

I by now have climbed most of the climbs I had intended to climb in the Pyrenees. I have decided I am going to create a new rating of all these climbs in the Pyrenees and rate them with a Horse Fly rating of 1 to 5 (forget HC,1,2,3,4). I am also going to rate these small towns according to size, with a car symbol rating them by fat truck to itsy-bitsy you really think you can drive through there. I am becoming more paranoid about driving in these tiny towns and over the cols. Give me a peage or a big city please!

In week one I arrived appreciating the beautiful butterflies and all God's creatures great and small. By week four I am swatting at anything that moves. Flys, butterflies, cows, donkeys, anything. "Out of my way, I am climbing to the top of this Col at 4mph (or, maybe, slower) and nothing will stop me!" Which reminds me, I actually saw a herd of donkeys yesterday. I didn't know donkeys could be herded. Although the Shepherds were screaming at them as if they too were doubting whether donkeys could be herded.

Some images from the day:

Looking across the valley from above Guchan at the climb. The climb is to the right, and the top of Pla d'Adet is at the top middle.

On the climb

Looking over at the Pla d'Adet from the Col d'Azet. This is the steep semi-straight start.

I would much rather stand road side and watch the pros ride this climb than do it again, it was a tough hot day in the saddle. But the cold river was fantastic!

Today is Bastille Day in France! July 14th.

*post post: my bike and the river