Le Grand Ballon
Region: Alsace Lorraine
Departure: Munster
Height: 1,325 metres
Altitude Gain: 963m
Length: 46.9 kilometres
Average gradient: 2.1%
Maximum Grad.: 12%
Col de Schlucht
Region: Alsace Lorraine
Departure: Munster
Height: 1,139 metres
Altitude Gain: 759m
Length: 18.0 kilometres
Average gradient: 4.2%
Maximum Gradient: 12%
Having cycled up Le Grand Ballon from one of its southern routes, Moosch – which was a
very difficult climb – I decided to tackle the Vosges’ highest peak from the
opposite side, Munster. A beautiful small town in the heart of the Alsace
region, we stayed there for two nights before travelling to the Swiss Alps.
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| The Hotel De Ville in Munster |
While
the climb up Le Grand Ballon from Munster is a long one - virtually 47
kilometres - the average gradient is a meagre 2.1%. But the route provides
cyclists with the opportunity of first climbing the Col de Schlucht, which has
a Tour de France history of its own. It has appeared in the Tour on 8 occasions
since World War II, either as a category 2 or category 3 climb. The pass was
used for the very first time back in 1931 when French cyclist André Leducq –
the eventual winner of the Stage 20 race – was one of a group of riders first
over the summit. Its most recent appearance was in Stage 9 of the 2014 Tour
(from Gérardmer to Mulhouse), when popular French cyclist, Tommy Voeckler led
the peloton to the top.
A
moderate and very scenic climb in its own right, the Col de Schlucht is one of
the most popular passes in the Vosges region. Not just a stairway route to Le
Grand Ballon, it travels 18 kilometres, along the D417, at a formidable 4.2%
average gradient – which it maintains for almost the entire climb. 
Once over the pass the predominantly-flat road immediately becomes the D430 until it joins the D431 at the Le Markstein, a winter sports station, just 8 kilometres from the Ballon’s summit. As recently as 2014, the Tour de France passed through the ski station twice – first on Stage 9 towards Mulhouse, via Le Grand Ballon and again the next day when the peloton descended from the Col du Platzerwasel towards Oderen.
Along what’s known as the ‘Route des Crêtes’, there were many cyclists. And little wonder why. Travelling as high
as 1200 metres along the ridge road, there were stunning views of villages deep
down in the valley below.
After reaching Le
Ballon’s popular summit – for the second time in two days – I met up with my
wife, Roz, who had walked from the top of the Col, to Le Grand Ballon’s summit,
perched high above. A completely different environment to the gloomy weather of
the day before, the sun was out and lots of cyclists, walkers and sightseers
were dining at outside restaurant tables.
It was only a 31-kilometre
ride back to Munster, via Le Markstein and the Col du Platzerwasel, another
popular climb in the Vosges region. Pleasantly downhill and through verdant
forest, via the D431 and the D10 (from the village of Sondernach), it was a
much easier journey than the ones ahead of me. With plenty of time to think as
I travelled along the now-flat road towards Munster, in just two days time we’d
be ensconced in the Swiss town of Wassen: from there, not too far up the road, was
the Gotthard Pass.
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| Roz, in Munster |
Please note: Roz is the one in the middle!
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