Vosges : Munster - Firstplan - R du Vin - El Ballon - R d Crêtes - Platzerwasel (85km - 1600hm)

Nice quiet but intensive tour through Alsace and the Vosges.
The distance is 85 km and 1,600 altimeters must be climbed.
The starting point is the city of Munster.
From here it passes - on a separate, paved cycle path - fairly quickly to the first pass of the day: the Col du Firstplan. The top of the climb is at 722m, and you reach it after 7km and 400hm. The average gradient is 4.7%.

Then we descend on the wine route through Alsace.
We pass the wine villages: Soulzmatt, Orschwihr and Bergholz.

After passing through the Soultz-Haut-Rhin (we drive along the roads without a car), we start the climb to the Grand Ballon.

We climb the Grand Ballon via the Col Amic, along the east side. This is the most car-free side. The climb lasts 19 km and offers you just under 1,100 hm (average of 5.6%).

The first part of the climb passes through a forest. The road here climbs rather quietly.
When you come out of this forest, you have reached the top of Col Amic. From here we connect to the southeast climb of the Grand Ballon. The distance to the summit is always 7 km. These are the most difficult 7 km of the climb (+8% and a lot of luck of wind). As soon as you can notice the large sphere of the radar station, the loot is as good as inside.
The last kilometre of the climb is also slightly less steep.

With the top of the Grand Ballon, the most difficult part of the course is behind us. From now on, he will always go in a downward line (strong and not so strong) to the end point of the road: Munster.

Munster is still 30 km from the summit, but this road is "fully enjoyable".

First a passage of about 10 km on the Route des Crêtes, then the descent along the Platzerwasel where you can reach very high speeds.

Finally, a slightly descending passage of about 10 km through the valley of Munster. Here you can change "the big mill". In addition, a large part of the route is done here again on separate and paved bike paths!

Have a good trip!

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