Region: Lower Rhine
Departure: Moosch
Height: 1,343 metres
Altitude Gain: 951 m
Length: 12.3 kilometres
Average gradient: 7.7%
Maximum Gradient: 12%
Another
less-heralded climb used in the Tour de France is Le Grand Ballon. Not to be confused with its relatively close compatriot, the Ballon d'Alsace, it's the only
Hors Categorie climb in the Vosges. It has appeared in the Tour on 7 occasions,
the first being in 1969, when Belgian cyclist Lucien Van Impe was the first to
reach its summit. Its most recent appearance was in the Stage 9 race from
Gérardmer to Mulhouse in 2014.
Like
Italy’s iconic mountain, Monte Grappa, the Grand Ballon has many routes up to
its 1343-metre summit. Coming from our overnight stay in Urbès, I began the
climb from the small village of Moosch along the D13B8, via the N66. Joining
the road at Geishouse, the climb averages 7.7% over 12.3 kilometres.
Books by Mark Krieger:
‘High Spain Drifter’ is available on Amazon , Barnes and Noble, Booktopia and other online bookstores.
‘Lycra, Lattes and the Long Way Round’ is available on Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble, Kobo Books
Both books are also available at local bookshops on the Mornington Peninsula: @ Rosebud Bookbarn and @ La Brocante
“I still must abide by the rules of
the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization.”
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