Plateau de Beille: history, feats, and climb guide

🏔️ Plateau de Beille – The Most Selective Modern Summit Finish

Among the mountains of the French Pyrenees, few climbs have managed to carve out an aura of legend like the Plateau de Beille, a modern colossus that in a short time has become synonymous with selection, suffering, and relentless verdicts. Often called the “Alpe d’Huez of the Pyrenees,” not only because of its media impact but for its ability to overturn a race, Plateau de Beille is one of those ascents that does not forgive: a long uphill judgment that exposes weaknesses, exalts endurance, and reveals the true strength of champions.

Its profile is monotonous only in appearance: the main climb, rising from Les Cabannes up to its 1,790 meters of altitude, is a crescendo of tension and rhythm. Every hairpin reveals an even harsher section, every kilometer tests the ability to maintain cadence, every acceleration can turn into a sentence. Its consistency gradients often steady between 8% and 9% creates that slow erosion that drains the energy of those without the legs, while allowing pure climbers to weave their pattern of precise, calculated attacks.

Plateau de Beille has entered history as one of the most selective summit finishes of the Tour de France. Every time the Grande Boucle includes it, what happens on its slopes becomes more than a simple episode: it is a watershed moment. Rivalries have been born here, legends built, and sometimes certainties have collapsed. The climb offers no escape: if you have an off day, you pay dearly; if you are in form, you become the protagonist of the day. It is no coincidence that many winners of this ascent later stood on the final podium in Paris, confirming its role as a definitive proving ground.

Yet the charm of Plateau de Beille goes beyond cycling alone. Reaching the plateau means immersing yourself in a vast, open landscape dominated by grassy slopes and deep forests that frame the road. Here the Pyrenees show a gentler face compared to the surrounding rocky giants, but no less evocative: in summer the silence is broken only by the rustle of the wind, while in winter the area becomes one of the most appreciated cross-country ski centers in the region.

Plateau de Beille represents the quintessence of the modern climb: an unrelenting test, perfectly calibrated to reveal the truth of the race. When it appears in the Tour’s route, it rarely leaves room for surprises: it shapes the general classification, defines a generation, and consecrates the talent of a pure climber.

🏞️ Where it is and what it represents – The identity of the Plateau de Beille

Plateau de Beille is one of those places that, despite not reaching the dizzying altitudes of the great Pyrenean giants, manages to impose itself on the collective imagination with surprising strength. Located in the Ariège department, in the heart of the central Pyrenees, this high plateau suspended between forests and pastures has over the years become a symbol of the modern mountain: accessible yet wild, disciplined yet authentic, a perfect blend of tourism, nature, and competitive sport.

📍 A plateau in the heart of Ariège

The plateau rises to about 1,790 meters and overlooks the Ariège valley with a discreet yet imposing presence. Unlike traditional passes that link valleys or regions, Beille is a plateau reachable through a single long road that climbs from Les Cabannes, a small village typical of the Pyrenees.
Its shape clearly distinguishes it from the surrounding giants: it is not a summit, not a pass, but a natural terrace suspended between sky and forest—perfect for sports activities but also for those seeking a quieter, more silent, and authentic mountain.

Geographically, it acts as a sort of hinge between:

• the harsher zone of the central Pyrenees,
• and the green, rolling areas of western Ariège.

This position makes it easy to reach while still being immersed in an environment that retains a notably wild character.

🌲 A primordial natural environment

The climb to the plateau crosses one of the most characteristic forest landscapes of the Pyrenees. The first kilometers are a dense green corridor of:

• oaks
• beeches
• firs
• shaded undergrowth rich with wildlife

The atmosphere is that of a deep, untouched mountain, where the dominant sounds are the rustling of leaves and the rush of streams descending toward the valley.

Only in the final section, when the road eases slightly and the plateau becomes wider, does the landscape open into an expanse of:

• high-altitude pastures
• bright meadows
• wide panoramas which, on clear days, reveal distant peaks toward Andorra and the central chain of the Pyrenees

Here one perceives the true essence of Beille: a mountain that preserves its wild identity yet welcomes visitors with serene and open spaces.

🎿 A ski resort unlike any other

Plateau de Beille is known as one of the best French destinations for cross-country skiing. Unlike the major Alpine resorts focused on downhill skiing, here winter is dominated by the silence of trails winding through forests and clearings.
You can enjoy:

• Nordic skiing
• snowshoeing
• winter hiking
• activities for families and beginners

The resort is a rare example of a location built with a gentle, low-impact philosophy, designed to enhance the territory rather than exploit it intensely. This approach has preserved the integrity of the environment and made it a reference point for those seeking a more authentic connection with the mountain.

In summer, the plateau becomes an outdoor paradise:

• trekking
• trail running
• MTB
• wildlife observation
• picnics in wide open meadows

A place where the mountain is experienced with slowness and respect.

🚴 What “Beille” means for cyclists: a wall that does not forgive

If for hikers Beille is a quiet oasis, for cyclists it represents one of the most feared and respected climbs in the Pyrenees. Its myth was born mainly thanks to the Tour de France, but the reputation of the climb goes beyond competition: Beille is the quintessence of a steady, relentless ascent.

The climb from Les Cabannes measures about 16 km with over 1,200 meters of elevation gain, a profile that offers no respite:

• no flat sections
• no bends that allow you to easily accelerate again
• no significant variations to break the rhythm

It is a long wall at a constant 8–9% gradient, where you ride at your limit, managing watts and breath with surgical precision.
Those who go above their threshold suffer.
Those who hold on make the difference.

For this reason, the name “Beille” evokes:

• pure fatigue
• natural selection
• significant gaps
• an effort that tests endurance, focus, and determination

In modern cycling culture, Beille has become a “truth climb”: a mountain that, without extreme spikes in gradient, measures a rider’s true strength.

 

🌟 What the Plateau de Beille truly represents

Beyond statistics, kilometers, and gradients, Beille represents something deeper:

• It is a natural refuge, where the mountain preserves its original character.
• It is an open-air sports arena, able to welcome cross-country skiers, hikers, and cyclists with the same intensity.
• It is a symbol of modernity, a mountain that has become iconic in just a few decades thanks to its ability to transform with every season.
• It is a place of identity for Ariège, a region that draws visibility and prestige from Beille.
• It is a name engraved in cycling’s memory, synonymous with honesty, selection, and athletic truth.

Plateau de Beille is not just a point on a map: it is a mountain that has managed to become a myth without losing its wild soul.

🚵 Characteristics of the climb – The profile of a modern wall

Among the most iconic ascents of the modern Pyrenees, the climb to Plateau de Beille from the classic Les Cabannes side represents one of the purest and most relentless tests in mountain cycling. It is not a climb made of sudden ramps, brutal spikes, or spectacular switchbacks: it is an ascent that strikes with its ruthless regularity, a long and inexorable progression that offers neither pauses nor excuses.
It is the climb of rhythm, endurance, and mental balance.

📊 Main data – Classic side from Les Cabannes

Length: 15.8 km
Elevation gain: ~1,250 m
Average gradient: 7.9%
Maximum gradient: 10%
Summit elevation: 1,781 m
Difficulty: ★★★★★ (very high)

These numbers, demanding in themselves, still do not reveal the most decisive aspect of the climb: its fierce uniformity.

🔥 A breathless start

In Les Cabannes there is no “introductory kilometer”: as soon as you leave the village, the road rises sharply and never eases.
Cyclists have barely 300 meters to find their position and breathing, then Beille begins its work of selection. It is a climb that immediately forces you to settle into your ideal rhythm: those who misjudge the initial approach, starting too hard or too soft, risk paying for it in the final kilometers.

📈 Fierce consistency: its trademark

Between kilometer 2 and kilometer 13, the climb maintains a gradient that rarely drops below 7.5% and often stays between 8% and 9%. There are no killer ramps, but neither are there those 200 meters of respite that many Pyrenean passes offer before the final push.

This continuity makes it particularly difficult:

• it prevents recovery,
• forces you to ride constantly “at threshold,”
• requires control, clarity, and the ability to suffer steadily.

The most common sensation is that of fighting against an invisible force that never loosens its grip: a wall that doesn’t explode, but slowly digs into your legs.

🧠 The climb of the mind: physiology and psychology

Plateau de Beille is also famous for its mental component. With no significant variations:

• the effort is continuous,
• sensations are amplified,
• time seems to stretch.

Unlike more irregular climbs, where you can play with breathing, gearing, and micro-gradients, here management is mathematical:
hold the cadence,
control the power,
accept the pain.

Cyclists often say that Beille is a climb that “looks inside you,” because you cannot hide any weakness: if you feel good, you feel invincible; if you don’t, every curve becomes a small battle.

🌲 The road in the forest: a long green tunnel

Most of the climb takes place in a dense, shaded forest.
The bends are numerous but not spectacular: they serve more to mark time than to offer views. The landscape is monotonous, and this very monotony increases the perception of effort.
Only in the final kilometers, when the vegetation opens and the plateau begins to show itself, does visual relief arrive a sign that the end is near.

🌾 The last kilometers: the plateau and the light

After so many kilometers among the trees, reaching the open spaces is an almost theatrical change of scene. The gradient decreases slightly, though without offering a true respite. The road stretches across bright meadows and the air becomes cooler: it is here that many cyclists find the courage for a final push, especially in racing conditions.

The sensation is that of “emerging” from fatigue into another world: a vast, serene plateau that contrasts with the harshness of the climb just faced.

 

🎯 Why it is considered one of the most selective climbs in France

It is not the distance, the altitude, or the presence of impossible ramps:
it is the consistency that determines the selectivity.

Beille punishes those without form, those who cannot manage intensity, those who believe they can improvise.
It is an “honest” but cruel climb:

• the strong fly
• the weak crack suddenly.

This is why, in the Tour de France, its name has become synonymous with decisive days, memorable crises, and feats etched in memory.

 

🌟 A mountain that reveals the truth

Plateau de Beille is not a climb to describe through a single number or spectacular detail: it is an experience made of consistency, commitment, and mental resilience.

It represents:

• the purity of the Pyrenean climb
• the modernity of high-intensity cycling
• the ultimate challenge of rhythm
• a test that exposes the true value of those who pedal

A mountain that does not shout, but speaks with a steady voice: those who climb Beille truly discover who they are.

🇮🇹 1998 – Marco Pantani crushes Jan Ullrich

A feat that has become an absolute symbol of the Pirate and, for many, his most memorable climb. That day the weather is hostile: pouring rain, biting cold, and a stage that already promised selection on its own. In these conditions enough to discourage anyone Pantani instead finds his natural terrain.
About 7 km from the summit, with the group already reduced to a handful of survivors, the rider from Romagna rises out of the saddle and launches his attack. It’s not an attempt it’s a whip crack: a violent, decisive change of rhythm that cuts off any reaction. Ullrich, in the yellow jersey and theoretically fully in control of the race, tries to resist but is dropped almost immediately first losing seconds, then minutes.

Pantani continues with the fierce lightness of his best days: his swaying torso, his thin arms guiding the bike, the climb bending to his will. Meter by meter, he builds a masterpiece, turning Plateau de Beille into an epic stage.

It is more than a victory: it is the portrait of his essence. A demonstration of technical strength, courage, and the ability to suffer more and better than anyone else. A moment that, with the passing of the years, has become a sacred page of Italian cycling, a memory that still today moves anyone who loves the mountains and true, pure attacks.

🇪🇸 2002 – The explosion of Roberto Laiseka

Roberto Laiseka’s victory is one of those that perfectly captures the essence of Basque cycling: courage, tenacity, and an unshakeable faith in one’s ability to suffer. That day, the Euskaltel-Euskadi rider decides to risk everything with a long-range breakaway an ambitious and dangerous move, but perfectly in line with his character.

He rides intelligently, controlling his effort from the very first slopes and building his advantage more through consistency than through attacks. His pace is an orange metronome: steady, clean, never over the limit. Behind him, the group chases but never truly finds the cooperation or the strength to close the gap. The climb filters, selects, punishes those who force too much but Laiseka seems to float, perfectly within his competitive comfort zone.

When he enters the final kilometers of Plateau de Beille, the Basque fans erupt along the barriers like a moving tide, and each flag pushes his dream a little higher. Laiseka keeps his cool, defends his margin, and crosses the finish line with the calm of someone who knows he has achieved something great.

His triumph is the clearest proof of how this climb rewards not only pure watt monsters, but also riders capable of imposing a solid rhythm, managing fatigue, and believing fully in their strategy. A victory built with both head and heart, remembered today as one of Euskaltel’s most intense moments at the Tour.

🇪🇸 2004 – Lance Armstrong dominates (Results later revoked)

Even though his name no longer appears in the official standings, the 2004 stage on Plateau de Beille remains a key moment for understanding the selective nature of this climb. At the time, Armstrong arrived with the authority of a champion intent on clarifying the hierarchy, and Plateau de Beille once again proved to be the ideal place to reveal the strongest rider of the moment.

The race management was almost surgical: no spectacular attacks, no theatrical accelerations, but a steadily increasing, suffocating rhythm capable of eroding rivals one by one. It was the kind of climb where victory doesn’t come from a single move, but from a series of micro-decisions, constant intensity, and total control of one’s engine. His opponents, though not collapsing, were forced into a defensive race, trying to limit the damage as best they could while the gap widened slowly but inexorably.

That day, Plateau de Beille once again revealed its character: a climb that doesn’t always reward visual spectacle, but one that lays bare the difference between those capable of maintaining an elite pace and those who must surrender to the constancy of their rival. A mountain that does not lie and in 2004 it definitively consolidated itself as terrain for true duels, even when the decisive factor is not a blazing attack but the pure, severe truth of rhythm.

🇱🇺 2011 – Andy Schleck tries to shake up the Tour

In 2011 Andy Schleck climbs Plateau de Beille with a single mission: overturn a Tour that, day after day, seems to be slipping into the solid, rational hands of Cadel Evans. The Luxembourger knows this is one of his last chances to test his rival, and he tackles it with the courage and lightness typical of his racing style.

From the very first slopes, Schleck breaks the balance. Changes of pace, sharp accelerations, repeated attempts to pull away: a continuous hammering designed more to wear Evans down than to drop him with a single blow. The Australian does not yet wear the yellow jersey, but his conduct on the climb is already that of a potential Tour winner.

For every attack by Schleck, Evans responds with the calmness of someone who knows his limits and exactly how much he can afford. He doesn’t chase, doesn’t expose himself, doesn’t waste energy: he stays glued to the Luxembourger’s wheel, like a shadow that cannot be shaken off. The duel heats up curve after curve, with the crowd sensing the tension of a psychological battle even before a physical one.

In the end, neither manages to break the other, but it is from this unstable equilibrium that the key to the Tour emerges. Schleck once again shows his class as a pure climber, while Evans displays the nervous solidity that will carry him to final victory in Paris.

Plateau de Beille, once again, confirms what it has always been: a mountain that offers no simple endings, but one that exposes the mental strength, endurance, and race-reading abilities of the great contenders.

🇫🇷 2015 – Chris Froome, a demonstration of strength

In 2015 Chris Froome tackles Plateau de Beille with the confidence of someone who has already taken control of the Tour, but also with the determination to end any debate about his superiority on climbs. He is in the yellow jersey, surrounded by a Team Sky operating like a perfectly oiled machine, and even before the final slopes the feeling is that the day will deliver a show of force destined to leave its mark.

The climb is wet with rain and wrapped in a pale, almost theatrical light. The pace imposed by Sky is regular, suffocating, measured to the millimeter: a team effort that whittles down the group until only the strongest remain. When Froome decides it’s time, you understand immediately. He rises out of the saddle, extends his leg, and launches one of his sharp, geometric accelerations the kind that leave no room for creativity or for rivals.

His cadence is extremely high, his position rigid and unmistakable, his face focused like a rider who knows exactly what he is doing. Behind him, his opponents try to react but slip out of rhythm: Froome doesn’t beat them with a spectacular attack, but with a progression that feels like a formula, an algorithm applied to suffering.

In just a few minutes he creates both a technical and psychological gap. The climb becomes his laboratory, and Plateau de Beille symbolically takes on the contours of his dominance: a place where strength, training science, and total control of the race merge into a single, impressive demonstration.

That day, more than winning a stage, Froome stamps his mark on the Tour. And Plateau de Beille becomes, in the eyes of many, “Froome territory,” the mountain that more than any other embodies the icy, efficient style of Team Sky in its years of absolute supremacy.

 

🇫🇷 2018 and beyond – Bad weather, cancellations, and detours

In recent years, Plateau de Beille has shown another side of its character perhaps less celebrated, but just as fascinating: that of an unpredictable mountain, capable of overturning plans and forcing the Tour to reckon with nature. Despite not being an especially high summit, the plateau is an exposed place, whipped by wind and often wrapped in sudden banks of fog that turn it into a ghostly highland.

Heavy rain, crosswinds, and reduced visibility have repeatedly pushed organizers to modify stages at the last moment: shortened finishes, unexpected detours, and even partial neutralizations, with riders forced to move in a suspended, almost unreal atmosphere. Every time the Tour heads up here, no one is truly certain how things will unfold until the very last minute.

These extreme conditions have added yet another layer of legend to Plateau de Beille. It is not only a climb of watts and steady gradients: it is a place that can change mood in minutes, a wild mountain that asserts its own presence and, with its capricious weather, reminds everyone that in cycling it is not only riders’ strength that rules, but also the will of nature.

📚 Anecdotes and curiosities

Plateau de Beille is considered one of the Tour’s “most faithful” climbs: outsiders or riders chasing occasional glory never win here. Its steady profile and progressive difficulty reveal only true climbers those capable of maintaining a high rhythm for kilometers without losing clarity. Every edition that has finished on this plateau has crowned a champion or a pure grimpeur, reinforcing its reputation as a climb that does not lie.

Despite its evocative setting, the final part of the route crosses an environment that is almost bare. Open meadows, long exposed bends, and the absence of inhabited areas create an atmosphere that feels suspended, at times “lunar.” Here the wind can become an unexpected protagonist: on some days it blows so strongly that it feels like pedaling against an invisible wall.

The most feared characteristic for riders, however, is its deadly consistency. There are no switchbacks to breathe, no ramps to break the rhythm, no recovery sections: it is an ascent that offers no respite, a strip of asphalt that forces you to maintain a high cadence from start to finish. Many professionals admit that it is precisely the lack of variation—more than the gradients themselves that makes Beille a mental torture as well as a physical one.

Outside the major races, the climb has become a classic of international cycle tourism. French and foreign enthusiasts tackle it every season, drawn by the charm of the Tour’s historic performances and the wide, open landscapes of the Pyrenees. The road, wide and in excellent condition, makes the experience accessible even to those who simply want to measure themselves against one of the most iconic climbs in modern cycling.

🛣️ Recommended route to tackle the climb

Starting point: Les Cabannes

A small, quiet village at the foot of the Pyrenees, perfect as a base for the ascent. Here you’ll find cafés for a pre-effort coffee, fountains to fill your bottles, and convenient parking areas. The atmosphere is typical of French mountain villages: silent, tidy, with the mountains looming in the background as if inviting you to climb.

What to expect over the 16 km:

Km 0–3 – Immediate selection (7–8%)
The climb offers no discounts: from the very first meters it takes you by the hand and leads you into a dense, cool, silent forest. The gradients are steady but serious perfect for understanding right away what kind of legs you have today. If you start too fast, the Plateau will make you pay later.

Km 3–8 – The heart of the climb (8–9%)
This is the most typical and cruel part of Plateau de Beille. No variations, no respite, just a strip of asphalt climbing with relentless consistency. Here you need your head: find the right cadence, listen to your breathing, don’t be deceived by the monotony. It’s in these kilometers that you truly enter the logic of the climb.

Km 8–13 – The truth kilometers
If you’ve overdone it earlier, this is where you start paying the price. The gradients stay stable at 8–9%, but the sensation is that the road stretches endlessly. Many riders remember these kilometers as the hardest mentally: little changes in the landscape, while everything changes inside you.

Km 13–16 – Out of the forest and final false flat
Suddenly, the mountain opens up: you leave the trees and enter the windy Beille plateau. The panorama widens, offering relief and spectacle almost a reward for the effort made. The gradients drop to 5–6% in the final stretch, allowing you to rise out of the saddle with pride and enjoy the last meters. It’s the ideal point to slow down briefly, breathe, and take in the view.

 

🔧 Practical tips for tackling Plateau de Beille

1. Recommended gearing
Amateurs: 34×30 (or equivalent)
Trained riders: 36×28
Well-trained riders: 36×25

The climb is long and, above all, relentlessly steady: there are no sections to recover, and gearing that is too hard can turn the final kilometers into a calvary. Better to prioritize cadence and pacing.

2. Pace strategy

Don’t be fooled by the first kilometers in the forest: they are tough, but only a prelude to the hardest part. Plateau de Beille punishes anyone who starts above their ideal pace.
The ideal strategy? Enter the climb cautiously, find your rhythm by km 3–4, and hold it like a metronome until you exit the forest.

3. Hydration

After Les Cabannes there are no real opportunities to refill. The cool forest air can make you underestimate dehydration, but prolonged effort drains much more than it seems.
Bring two bottles: one with electrolytes or an energy drink, and one with water.

4. Weather conditions

The mountain can change its mood quickly:

• Lower section (summer): heat, heavy atmosphere, oven-like stretches on dry days.
• Higher elevation and plateau: strong winds, sudden fog banks, short but intense showers.

The advice is simple: dress in light layers that are easy to open or close. A compact rain jacket can save your day.

5. Descent

The descent is long and features some more technical early sections, especially on humid or windy days. The tarmac is generally good but requires attention in the tighter bends and in the transitions between shaded and sun-exposed areas.
Descending prudently also allows you to enjoy the scenery, which from above is particularly impressive.

🏕️ What to see in the surroundings

Ax-les-Thermes – The thermal queen of the Pyrenees
Just a few kilometers from Les Cabannes lies one of the most renowned spa towns in the region. Ax-les-Thermes is famous for its natural sulfur springs, used since ancient times. Today it offers modern facilities, outdoor hot pools, and lively streets full of small restaurants. Ideal for relaxing after a day of cycling or hiking.

Tarascon-sur-Ariège – History, culture, and living stone
This charming medieval town preserves a rich historical heritage. The castle dominates the center, while the Musée de la Préhistoire displays unique artifacts from the Ariège region. Its narrow streets and shaded squares invite you to stroll slowly, enjoying an authentic and peaceful atmosphere.

Gorges de la Frau – A spectacular natural canyon
The Frau Gorges are one of the most surprising landscapes in Ariège: a natural corridor carved between imposing limestone walls, perfect for those who love hiking routes immersed in wild nature. Deep shadows and dense vegetation create an almost mystical environment, ideal for slow and mindful exploration.

Orlu and its nature reserve – The wild heart of the Pyrenees
The Orlu valley is a paradise for mountain lovers. Its nature reserve is a privileged place to observe local wildlife such as marmots, chamois, and birds of prey, and it is surrounded by forests and crystal-clear streams. Well-marked trails make it an ideal destination for families, walkers, and nature photographers.

 

🎯 Why Plateau de Beille is considered so selective

Plateau de Beille is one of those climbs that doesn’t surprise you with sudden walls or crazy gradients, but instead wears you down slowly, scientifically, almost cruelly. Its selectiveness does not come from a single factor, but from the combination of several elements that together make it one of the most feared ascents of the Tour.

Constant gradient → pure physiological selection
The unrelenting 8% average forces the body to work at threshold for long stretches. There are no variations to “float” on: your engine must be real and your form impeccable.

Significant length → requires endurance and clarity
Sixteen kilometers like this, all similar, expose anyone lacking base fitness. It’s a climb that does not forgive bad days and rewards those who can pace themselves like true professionals.

Wooded environment with no visual cues → mental stress
Most of the ascent winds through the forest, with few panoramic openings. The monotony of the scenery, combined with the silence, amplifies fatigue and removes those small visual markers that help break the effort.

Total absence of recovery sections → an “elimination race”
No false flats, no wide switchbacks that let you catch your breath: the Plateau is a strip of road that climbs straight and mercilessly. Anyone who drops even a few watts gets dropped and does not come back.

Often included in already tough stages → accumulated fatigue
In many editions of the Tour, Plateau de Beille comes after demanding kilometers or other climbs. By the time riders reach it, their remaining energy is already at the limit.

 

🌄 The deeper meaning of Plateau de Beille

Plateau de Beille is one of the temples of modern cycling: a mountain that doesn’t need spectacular switchbacks or extreme altitudes to assert its greatness. Its strength lies in the cruel simplicity of its profile: a long ascent that strips riders bare before their own abilities, forcing them into a test of pure power, mental endurance, and effort management.

It is here that Pantani carved one of his most legendary exploits, that Froome consolidated his scientific dominance, and that many others experienced days of glory or defeats that still weigh on the Tour’s collective memory. Every finish on this plateau becomes an X-ray of a rider’s condition: no one can bluff, no one can hide.

For enthusiasts who want to test themselves on a “true” climb, Plateau de Beille offers an experience that is authentic, intense, and deeply rewarding. It is one of those ascents that, once conquered, remain in your legs and even more in your heart.