In recent years the road to Luz Ardiden has served as an occasional stage finish for the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.

The idea of a ski resort at Luz-Ardiden was developed by the local elected officials of the five communes of Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Grust, Sazos, Sassis and Viscos from 1966.

[9] During the 1990 Tour Claudio Chiappucci had surprised all of the pre-race favorites by still leading the race by over two minutes going into stage 16, which ended in a mountaintop finish on Luz Ardiden.

By the time they reached the summit LeMond had all but secured his third Tour de France victory and sat up as Induráin claimed the stage win.

Jan Ulrich, who was riding just behind Armstrong and Mayo, avoided the crash, and in an act of chivalry he slowed to wait for the fallen riders.