There are literally hundreds of routes in the area … but here are just a few I’ve mapped starting with a couple of shorter leg openers.
One of things I will say, and those that are used to riding in the mountains can agree or dissagree with me here, riding 50km in the mountains is like riding 100km over here, so while we can take as long as you like during the day to cover the distance, bear that in mind when we come to talk about what you’d like to do. It’s why I’ve suggested we use the cars to drive to key points to cover the TdF climbs rather than riding them all from the gites which is technically possible … we’ve done it!
A leg warmer taking in one of the smaller climbs.
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/CouretDAsque
Leg warmer taking in the TdF climb up to Capvern les Bains
This would be a big day in the saddle. Alternative is to shorten by driving over to Campan to start.
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Palomieres
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Ancizan
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Aspin
Drive to start in Bagneres de Bigorre! Can be done opposite way round to hit Tourmalet from East.https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Tourmalet
Another big day in the saddle. This takes in the baby Col de Coupe on the way to Col du Peyresourde & Port des Bales then back round via the medieval St Bertrand de Comminges.
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Coupe
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Peyresourde
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Bales
Two TdF climbs that are out and backs (not cols), Cauteret is one of my favourites and if wanted you can extend it with the beastly extra 5 km up to Cambasque (where Pogacar attacked on stage 6, 2023, but it must have set him up for the beating on Hautacam the next day) … then Hautacam which is, in my opinion, one of the toughest! (Maybe Luz Ardiden and some of the lesser known ones are harder but of the tour climbs it’s one that causes me to swear the most)
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Cauterets
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Cambasque
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Tramassel
Some of the other TdF climbs in the area :-
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Superbagneres
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Portet
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/PlaDAdet
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Azet
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Soulor
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Aubisque
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/LuzArdiden
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/PortetDAspet
https://www.cyclingcols.com/col/Spandelles
That’s not exhaustive … then there’s the climbs not used in the TdF because they are in nature reserves … but as you are only there 4 ride days and I’m guessing you’d like the notches in your belts I’ll stick with these!! 😀