Arcalis
Distance: 13.94 km
Elevation Gain: 833 m
Elevation Loss: 7 m
Difficulty:
620 (Moderate)
FIETS Index: 4.89 FIETS
Avg Grade: 5.92 %
Max cat climb: HC
Min elevation: 1395 m
Max elevation: 2220 m
Ride Category:
Climb
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The road to the Ordino-Arcalís ski area, at the head of the Ordino valley in Andorra, has become one of the great summit finishes of the Pyrenees; the ski area opened in 1983. The Vuelta a España first finished here in 1994, and the Tour de France has finished here three times. The first of those stages, in 1997, went to Jan Ullrich, who beat Richard Virenque and Marco Pantani by more than a minute, took the yellow jersey and went on to win the Tour.
This ride starts just below Llorts, a village whose iron-rich soil stains its fields and streams, and passes El Serrat before turning onto the ski road. In 2009 Brice Feillu, riding his debut Tour, took his first professional win here from the breakaway, while behind him Alberto Contador attacked the favourites. In 2016 Tom Dumoulin, also in the breakaway, went clear on the lower slopes and climbed alone in torrential rain to win. Near the top stands Arcalís 91, a steel ring by the sculptor Mauro Staccioli that frames the valley. The ride ends at the car park where the stages finished.
