Geography
Col de Port is a mountain pass situated in the French Pyrenees, within the department of Ariège. The pass lies at an elevation of 1,250 m (4,101 ft) and is located at the coordinates 42°53′56″ N, 1°27′10″ E. It connects the valleys of Couserans and Ariège, linking the communes of Massat and Tarascon‑sur‑Ariège in the “massif de l’Arize.” The pass is traversed by departmental road D618.
Etymology
The name “Col de Port” is tautological. In French, col means “mountain pass,” while port carries the same meaning in the regional Occitan language. Consequently, the name essentially repeats the concept of a pass.
Climbing Characteristics
The ascent of Col de Port is frequently used by cyclists and is noted for its moderate length and gradient:
- From Tarascon‑sur‑Ariège (east): 17.0 km in length, climbing 777 m with an average gradient of 4.6 %; the steepest section reaches 9 %.
- From Massat (west): 12.8 km in length, climbing 601 m with an average gradient of 4.7 %; the steepest section reaches 6.5 %.
These characteristics make the pass popular for touring cyclists and for inclusion in organized road‑cycling events.
Tour de France
Col de Port has been featured intermittently in the Tour de France, first appearing in the 1910 edition when French cyclist Octave Lapize was the inaugural summit leader. Since 1947, the pass has been crossed eleven times, most recently on Stage 16 of the 2021 Tour de France. It was also selected for the amateur “L’Étape du Tour” event in 2007.
References
- Wikipedia, “Col de Port.”
- Official Tour de France archives.
