Pas de Peyrol, Mountain pass and free flight site in Cantal, France

Pas de Peyrol is a road pass at 1,588 metres in the Cantal mountains, between the puy Mary and the puy de la Tourte, and the highest road pass in the Massif Central. Three roads meet here, from Aurillac, Mauriac and Dienne. A stone building with a dark pitched roof and white lower walls stands below the road, where vehicles park.

The Tour de France first crossed the pass in 1959, on the 231 km stage 14 from Aurillac to Clermont-Ferrand, with Louis Bergaud first over the summit. It has featured 13 times since 1947. In 2004 Richard Virenque led over the Salers ascent, and in 2020 Daniel Martínez won the stage finishing here.

Cyclists and hikers visit to test themselves against the mountain, and the pass holds significance for people seeking outdoor challenge in the Massif Central. Locals and visitors alike use this spot as a place to measure their endurance and connect with the landscape.

The road is closed to buses and trucks and requires careful driving on narrow curves and steep slopes. Visitors should drive slowly and watch for cyclists and motorcyclists who frequently use the pass for training.

The final section of the climb grows progressively steeper, with gradients reaching very challenging levels near the summit. This part is where cyclists most often reach their physical limits, making it a testing ground for endurance.