- Col de Marie-Blanque
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Col de Marie-Blanque Location of Col de Marie-Blanque
Col de Marie-BlanqueElevation 1,035 m (3,396 ft) Traversed by D294 Location Location Pyrénées-Atlantiques, 
FranceRange Pyrenees Coordinates 43°4′13″N 0°30′27″W / 43.07028°N 0.5075°WCoordinates: 43°4′13″N 0°30′27″W / 43.07028°N 0.5075°W Col de Marie-Blanque (el. 1035 m.) 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. The climb is popular with both amateur and professional cyclists.
Contents
Details of the climb
The western side of the climb, starts from Escot on the N134. The climb is 9.3 km long at an average of 7.7% (height gain - 715 m). Although relatively short, there are several long sections with gradients in excess of 11%. From the east, the climb starts at Bielle on the D934 and is 11.5 km long gaining 585 m. (an average of 5.1%), with a maximum of 8.5% near the start. En route, the climb passes the Plateau de Bénou.
Tour de France
The pass was first used in the Tour de France in 1978 and has been crossed 14 times by the tour, including on stage 17 of the 2010 tour from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet.
Appearances in Tour de France
Year Stage Category Leader at the summit 2010 17 1 Juan Antonio Flecha 2007 16 1 Mauricio Soler 2006 10 1 Cyril Dessel 2005 16 1 Jörg Ludewig 2000 10 1 Javier Otxoa 1996 17 2 Neil Stephens 1995 16 2 Stage neutralised 1992 2 1 Richard Virenque 1990 17 1 Dominique Arnaud 1989 9 1 Robert Forest 1987 14 1 Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle 1987 13 1 Luis Herrera 1986 12 1 Pedro Delgado 1978 10 2 Michel Pollentier See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
References
External links
Categories:- Mountain passes of France
- Mountain passes of the Pyrenees
- 2007 Tour de France
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