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Region: Vosges
Climbing effort: 673 cep
Elevation meters: 962
Steepest kilometer: 9.6%

Steepest 250 m: 11%
Foot: 381 m    Top: 1341 m
Mean slope: 6.1%
Length: 15.7 km

From: Willer-sur-Thur
Road conditions (2014): good
Other race bikers: 10-25 per hour
Motor vehicles: 10-30 per hour
Scenery and road: (3/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: yes

PHOTOS    
W NE SE E NW SIDE     Download gpx

         

Other climbs Vosges

Among the six ways to climb the Grand Ballon this climb from Willer-sur-Thur is perhaps the most popular. I saw a lot of racing cyclists here. The tour starts from Willer-sur-Thur at the junction of the N66 and the D1386. The first 9 kilometers up to Col Amic the slope is variable (2-8%) with the road winding through farmlands and forests, and passing the village of Goldbach-Altenbach. At the Col Amic this climb merges with two other climbs (from Soultz-Haut-Rhin and Cernay) to then take the way up to the Grand Ballon together. The part between the Col Amic and the finish is relatively steep. There are about 6.5 kilometers to cover, with an average gradient of 8.0% and a steepest kilometer of 9.7%. First the surroundings consist of dense forests but during the final 3 kilometers these give way to the more open landscape of the highest parts of the Vosges, allowing wide views. The finish is some 80 meters below the highest point of the Vosges (1424 m). Unfortunately the road is very broad and hence does not contribute to a high score of scenic beauty. On mid week days there is not much traffic.