ベルフォールの峠・トップ8

An iconic peak in the Vosges Mountains, the Ballon d'Alsace offers a pleasant climb for road cyclists. From Giromagny, the category two climb is neither too steep nor too easy, spanning sixteen kilometers at an average gradient of 4.2%.

It's a small, quiet, fairly flat spot. The place is still basic, despite that the air is fresh, it's in the shade. Not far from 2 small villages and about ten minutes from a stopover gîte.

I did it on a muscle bike without problem and now on an e-bike

The climb from Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle is gentle, with nine kilometers at an average gradient of 6.9%.

Lonely saddle

Ascent made on the North side. Regular gradient of 7%, perfect and shaded road.

Komoot's topo is wrong for most of the climb from Saint-Meurice-Sur-Moselle. Expect around 7% overall (sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less). Not so easy on a touring bike (25kg load + 17kg bike), but accessible and the 30km descent to Belfort is well worth it :)

Actually, the Ballon d'Alsace itself is not skied on, but only the Col du Ballon d'Alsace, which is a little below, but who cares about such small things when there is a great view over the Rhine plain to the Black Forest and even the Jura offers and in the restaurant delicious specialties entice you to have a coffee?