Long before GPS maps and power meters, the Pyrenees were the Tour de France’s wild frontier — a place of suffering and spectacle, where legends were born and mythologies were forged in sweat and fog. From the very first time the peloton dared cross the Col du Tourmalet in 1910, the Pyrenees have been the spiritual proving grounds of the Tour.
The 20th century offered no shortage of drama in these mountains — from heroic solos to heartbreaking collapses, and from fierce rivalries to unforgettable climbs that rewrote the race’s history.
Here are 10 of the most thrilling Pyrenees stages from the decades before 2000.
1910 – Luchon to Bayonne: The birth of the mountain myth
The first time the Tour entered the Pyrenees, riders faced four massive climbs — Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, and Aubisque — all on dirt roads. Octave Lapize became the first to conquer the Tourmalet, famously screaming “Vous êtes des assassins!” at organizers. He won the stage, but more importantly, the Pyrenees became part of Tour legend.
1926 – Bayonne to Luchon: The hardest Tour de France stage ever
The 10th stage of Tour de France 1926 from Bayonne to Luchon is often dubbed as the hardest Tour de France stage ever.
This stage tested the limits of human endurance. The punishing distance combined with steep, long ascents made it a defining moment of the 1926 race. Riders battled exhaustion, mechanical failures, and treacherous weather.
Lucien Buysse, the eventual overall winner of the 1926 Tour, turned this stage into his breakthrough. His incredible strength on the Tourmalet and mountain climbs helped him build a decisive lead that carried him all the way to Paris.
1937 –Pau to Luchon – A scandalous Tour de France reaches its peak
This stage included the brutal climbs of the Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin, and Col de Peyresourde, but what made it legendary wasn’t just the physical challenge—it was the controversy and chaos that unfolded.
Roger Lapébie, the defending champion and favorite, was involved in a tense battle with Felix Sellier and other top contenders. The stage was marred by accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct and strategic gamesmanship. There were incidents of riders being helped by spectators or team cars—actions strictly prohibited but difficult to police on such long and remote climbs.
Adding fuel to the fire, bad weather and poor road conditions made the race even tougher, and tensions ran high among riders, officials, and fans alike.
Lapébie’s victory on this stage, despite the turmoil, helped him cement his place in history as the 1937 Tour champion.
1949 – Pau to Luchon – A key moment in the rivalry between Coppi and Bartali
Although Jean Robic won the stage, this was a key moment in the ongoing rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. The route included legendary climbs like the Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aspin, where Coppi launched aggressive attacks to distance his rivals.
Bartali fought back fiercely, making it a thrilling battle on the slopes. Coppi’s strategy and climbing brilliance helped him build time towards his overall Tour victory that year. This stage remains a classic example of the fierce mountain duels that defined the Coppi-Bartali era.
1959 – Luchon to Pau: Anquetil and Bahamontes showdown
In this grueling Pyrenean stage, Jacques Anquetil, already a multiple Tour winner, faced off against the great Spanish climber Federico Bahamontes, the “Eagle of Toledo.” Bahamontes attacked aggressively on the Col du Tourmalet, trying to gain time on the time-trialist Anquetil. Despite the punishing climbs, Anquetil managed to respond and limit his losses, showcasing his resilience and tactical savvy.
The stage was a fascinating clash of styles — the pure climber versus the all-rounder — and set the tone for a classic battle in the mountains. Bahamontes eventually won the Tour’s King of the Mountains jersey that year, while Anquetil took the overall victory.
1964 – Luchon to Pau: the duel of Anquetil and Poulidor
The Col de Peyresourde, Aspin, and Tourmalet set the stage for the Tour’s greatest rivalry. Raymond Poulidor attacked relentlessly. Jacques Anquetil, never a pure climber, used his intelligence and resilience to hold on. The stage ended in a draw, but the tension was unforgettable. Anquetil would win the Tour — by just 55 seconds.\
1969 – Mourenx to Luchon: Merckx’s Monster Raid
Eddy Merckx, already in yellow, attacked solo with 140 km to go. He crossed five major climbs alone, crushed every rival, and won by over 8 minutes. No rider dared follow. It was a staggering display of power — and one of the greatest solo rides in Tour history.
1971 – Luchon to Superbagnères: the fall of Ocaña, rise of Fuente
Rain turned the Col de Menté into a nightmare. Luis Ocaña, in yellow, crashed badly while trying to follow Merckx’s descent. His Tour ended in an ambulance. But José Manuel Fuente, a fierce climber, pressed on, climbing to a dramatic solo victory at Superbagnères. From the wreckage, a new Spanish hero emerged.
1976 – Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pla d’Adet): Van Impe’s decisive move
Belgian climber Lucien Van Impe launched an early attack on the Col du Tourmalet, knowing he had to take time. He held off Bernard Thévenet on the final climb to Pla d’Adet, earning a key stage win and securing his eventual overall victory. It was mountain racing at its purest.
1983 – Luchon to Fleurance: Fignon’s coming-of-age
With Bernard Hinault sidelined, the Tour was wide open. A young Laurent Fignon, in his debut Tour, attacked decisively in the Pyrenees and never looked back. His performance in this transitional stage showed his tactical sharpness and climbing grit. He would go on to win the Tour at just 22.
1986 – Pau to Superbagnères: LeMond vs. Hinault, teammates turned rivals (again – it was a neverending story)
In one of the most controversial Tours ever, filled with the tension inside the dominant team, Bernard Hinault attacked his teammate Greg LeMond, trying to win the Tour for himself. LeMond responded with strength, overtaking Hinault on the final climb. The drama between teammates, set against the Pyrenean backdrop, made this a stage of pure theatre.
1989 – Blagnac to Superbagnères: Robert Millar’s climbing triumph
Scottish climber Robert Millar (Philippa York) powered to victory on the steep, challenging ascent to Superbagnères in the 1989 Tour de France. His win was a display of pure mountain strength amid a fiercely contested battle for the yellow jersey between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon. Millar’s performance underscored his status as one of the era’s finest climbers.
I you like to read about the 10 most thrilling Pyrenees stages of Tourmde France in the 21st century, please click here >>