Col d'Aspin
There are bigger climbs, shorter climbs, higher climbs, more dramatic climbs, you name it climbs. But none are more serenely beautiful than the Col d’Aspin.
The Col d'Aspin was the second climb included in the very first Tour de France mountain stage of 1910, climbed after the Col de Peyresourde and before the Col du Tourmalet, with the Col d'Aubisque finishing up a colossal 326 kilometres stage.
The riders had to start at 3.30 a.m. to stand a chance of finishing the same day. The organisers introduced the Broom Wagon for the first time as they didn't think most of the riders would be able to finish. They weren't wrong.
Octave Lapize eventually won that first mountain stage and the tour overall. At the top of the Aubisque, Alphonse Steinés, one of the organisers, foolishly asked him how he felt.
"You are assassins, yes, assassins", was his now-legendary reply. And vowed to quit.
