On July, 23 rd 2003, the Pailhères pass confirmed all the facets of its difficulty : 15 kms driving with an average slope of 8,1%. It has various slopes : more than 11% (between Usson and Rouze), flat at the « Coutibe », just after the ski resort of Mijanès - Donezan. The 14 road twists to be driven through before arrival at the pass are a spectacular series of very sharp bends, typical of these ancient mountain roads ; the profile is unchanged since its founding at the beginning of the 20 th Century.

Altigraph of the Pailhères pass (ascent from Usson)      or       ascent from Ax les Thermes

The 19 th stage of the centenary of the Tour de France definitely consecrated Pailhères as a giant of the Tour ; the breakaway group of 3 cyclists were ahead of the pack, still packed up to Usson. At Rouze, the race grew mad and the heroes of the Grande Boucle started to suffer : within 2 dreadful kms, the pack split into several little groups. On the top, all the cyclists' faces bore the marks of accepted efforts under a blazing sun and the gaps were considerable. They passed through a crowd of about 30 000 people, spread out along the whole climbing slopes in a party atmosphere.

The day after the stage, the newspapers unanimously acknowledged that the Pailhères pass is the second pass of the Pyrenees , just after the Tourmalet pass.... A point of reference. One dreams, in the immediate future, of a stage Perpignan - Jau pass - Carcanières pass (19% !) - Pailhères pass - Beille plateau.