Col de Menté

The Col de Menté (elevation 1,349 m (4, 426 ft)) is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees in the department of Haute-Garonne in France. It is situated on the D44 road between Saint-Béat and the D618 (at the bottom of the Col de Portet d'Aspet) and connects the Ger and Garonne valleys. Le Mourtis ski-station is located 1 km. south of the col. A stele in memory of Serge Lapébie (son of Guy) is situated at the summit.

Starting from Pont de l'Oule (east) (at the foot of the Col de Portet d'Aspet), the climb is 10.9 km (6.8 mi) long. Over this distance, the climb is 716 m (2, 349 ft) (an average gradient of 6.57%). The climb proper starts at Ger-de-Boutx, 7 km (4.3 mi) from the summit (at 7.8%), with the steepest sections being at 11.4%. Starting from Saint-Béat (west), the climb is 9.3 km (5.8 mi) long. Over this distance, the climb is 849 m (2, 785 ft) (an average gradient of 9.13%) with several sections in excess of 11%. At the summit there is a road that loops up and over the Col de Menté-Le Mourtis (1,409 m (4, 623 ft)), via the ski-station, returning to the Col de Menté.

The Col de Menté was first used in the Tour de France in 1966 and has appeared frequently since. The leader over the summit in 1966 was Joaquim Galera. The Col has featured 20 times, including crossing the Col de Menté-Le Mourtis in 1979 and 1995.

On stage 14 of the 1971 Tour de France Spanish cyclist Luis Ocaña was in the Maillot Jaune with an overall lead of 7 minutes on Eddy Merckx and they crossed the summit of the Col de Menté together in a storm, with streams of mud running across the road. Merckx, an excellent descender, attacked as he descended dangerously down the mountain road. To stay in contact with Merckx, Ocaña took risks descending. Flying through the corners, Merckx lost control and skidded into a low retaining wall at the side of the road. Ocaña trailing close behind could not avoid the fallen Merckx and fell himself. Merckx was up quickly and sped away. Ocaña struggled to release his cleats from the toe clips and was struck by the pursuing Joop Zoetemelk. Ocaña lay on the ground screaming with pain.

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