# Super Besse

Super Besse is a winter sports resort located in Massif Central, France.

## Geography

Super Besse located in the commune of Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise (Parc naturel régional des volcans d'Auvergne in the department of Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne). Situated approximately 50 km (31 mi) from Clermont-Ferrand, it is located at an altitude of 1,350 m (4,430 ft) on the slopes of Puy de Sancy, Puy de la Perdrix and Puy Ferrand.

### Climate

Climate data for Superbesse, 1,287 m (4,222 ft) (1981−2010 normals, 1976−2022 extremes) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 19.1 (66.4) | 19.3 (66.7) | 20.9 (69.6) | 25.7 (78.3) | 33.7 (92.7) | 32.0 (89.6) | 30.6 (87.1) | 27.0 (80.6) | 23.6 (74.5) | 20.6 (69.1) | 17.4 (63.3) | 33.7 (92.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) | 3.0 (37.4) | 5.2 (41.4) | 7.6 (45.7) | 12.1 (53.8) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.7 (65.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 14.8 (58.6) | 11.3 (52.3) | 5.9 (42.6) | 3.8 (38.8) | 9.9 (49.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.1 (31.8) | −0.1 (31.8) | 1.9 (35.4) | 4.1 (39.4) | 8.3 (46.9) | 11.8 (53.2) | 14.4 (57.9) | 14.1 (57.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 7.8 (46.0) | 3.0 (37.4) | 0.9 (33.6) | 6.4 (43.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.1 (26.4) | −3.2 (26.2) | −1.4 (29.5) | 0.6 (33.1) | 4.6 (40.3) | 7.8 (46.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 7.1 (44.8) | 4.4 (39.9) | 0.0 (32.0) | −1.9 (28.6) | 2.9 (37.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −22.0 (−7.6) | −20.5 (−4.9) | −15.0 (5.0) | −10.5 (13.1) | −7.0 (19.4) | −1.0 (30.2) | 2.0 (35.6) | 0.5 (32.9) | −2.5 (27.5) | −7.0 (19.4) | −14.0 (6.8) | −16.6 (2.1) | −22.0 (−7.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 202.7 (7.98) | 197.5 (7.78) | 178.6 (7.03) | 166.7 (6.56) | 164.2 (6.46) | 152.0 (5.98) | 130.6 (5.14) | 124.2 (4.89) | 159.4 (6.28) | 206.4 (8.13) | 219.6 (8.65) | 221.7 (8.73) | 2,123.6 (83.61) |
| Source: Meteociel ||||||||||||||

## History

Super Besse was opened on 21 December 1961, under the impetus of mayor Alfred Pipet. The idea for the ski resort came from Germain Gauthier, a cross-country skiing champion from Picherande.

## Facilities

The on piste skiing consists of 43 km (27 mi) distributed on 27 tracks (5 green, 9 blue, 9 red and 4 black) between 1,300 and 1,840 m (4,270 and 6,040 ft) altitude, on the south-eastern slope of Puy de Sancy. It contains 21 ski lifts. It also includes 125 km (78 mi) of cross-country skiing.
The resort includes:
* 1 funitel with 20 places (new in 2008)
* 4 chair-lifts
* 16 ski-lifts.

### Other facilities

In July 2013, Super Besse opened the Fantasticable, a 1.6-kilometre-long (0.99 mi) zip line. By 2015, this attraction had been used by 30,000 people. The construction of a new 2.6-kilometre-long (1.6 mi) adventure course began in April 2018. Named the X'Trem Aventure de la Biche, it was scheduled to open for the Christmas holidays in 2018 and cost €350,000 to build. The course includes twenty zip lines along its length, as well as tunnels, jumps, suspension bridges and via ferrata. The diversification of facilities is intended to attract more summer visitors.

## Andros Trophy

Since 1994 and excepting 2021, Super Besse has hosted an annual race within the Andros Trophy championship, an international ice racing challenge run on frozen tracks.

## Tour de France

Super Besse hosted the first mountain finish of the 2008 Tour de France. The finish was at an altitude of 1,289 m (4,229 ft), whereas in previous years the finish was at 1,350 m (4,430 ft).

### Tour de France stage finishes

| Year | Stage | Start of stage | Distance | Category of climb | Stage winner | Yellow jersey |
| 2011 | 8 | Aigurande | 189 km (117 mi) | 3 | Rui Costa (POR) | Thor Hushovd (NOR) |
| 2008 | 6 | Aigurande | 195.5 km (121.5 mi) | 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Kim Kirchen (LUX) |
| 1996 | 13 | Le Puy-en-Velay | 177 km (110 mi) | 3 | Rolf Sørensen (DEN) | Bjarne Riis (DEN) |
| 1978 | 13 | Figeac | 221.5 km (137.6 mi) | 3 | Paul Wellens (BEL) | Joseph Bruyère (BEL) |

### Details of climb

Starting from Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise (1,040 m (3,410 ft)), the climb to Super Besse (1,325 m (4,347 ft)) is 7.2 km (4.5 mi) long. Over this distance, the climb is 285 m (935 ft) (an average of 3.95%). The maximum gradient is 8.4%.
From the valley at Lomprat the total climb is 11 km (6.8 mi) at 4.7%.