Cycling in Alsace: Col du Petit Ballon

Less than 600 kilometres from Utrecht, the Vosges Mountains are part of the well-known region of the Alsace. It is a walhalla here for cyclists. This is becoming increasingly evident with the growing number of events. Also the huge attention by the stages of the Tour de France help with that. We too have had the opportunity to enjoy this area several times and are happy to share our experiences with you. Hence this triptych in which we discuss, as far as we are concerned, the three big 'balloons' of the region. Cycling in Alsace: Col du Petit Ballon takes you to yet another classic.

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In the first blog is the Ballon d'Alsace have been covered in detail. Herewith number two, Col du Petit Ballon. When we talk about the big three, it may sound a bit misleading, but nothing could be further from the truth. As far as we are concerned, the Petit Ballon belongs to the great balloons of the Vosges.

Small or not?

The summit of the Petit Ballon is at 1272m, making it one of the highest peaks in the region. Its name is thus relative to its big brother the "Grand Ballon". This big brother is located a few kilometres south of the "little mountain". Cycling in Alsace thus offers many possibilities.

So don't be surprised by the name because the data doesn't lie. Unfortunately, you cannot reach the absolute summit by bike. The road ends at an altitude of 1163 metres. Should you feel like a nice hike, this is what you need for a rest day! The summit lends itself wonderfully well to a nice hike. With good weather, you can see the big brother in the distance. So you can end up on the highest peak.

Up from Luttenbach

A big difference when cycling in Alsace from the high mountains? In the Vosges, almost all roads are 'through' roads. With that, they are certainly not busy roads, but they are always roads that can take you beyond the summit. In fact, many mountains have more than two roads to the top so you never get bored. This allows you to draw endless routes from a to b with beautiful and challenging climbs along the way, such as the Petit Ballon.

We drove up the Petit Ballon from Luttenbach près Munster. This is also the starting point for many hikes towards the summit. With a total length of 9.7 kilometres, you can take your time. And very likely you will have to stand up occasionally with quite a few strips above 10%. The average is around 8% per cent, but this is mainly due to a somewhat flatter section after 4.5 kilometres of climbing. Here, by the way, you have a cosy hut for a snack and a drink for those who want one.

Poor road surface

Whereas the road surface in the Vosges is generally very good, it was less so here. The climb from Luttenbach is not very nice. No problem for the climb, but on the descent you have to be careful. Some holes here and there, lots of twigs, leaves and loose gravel on the road. That is why it is not surprising that this col is not included in the big tours. That does not make it any less beautiful!

After exiting the village, the road immediately climbs fast. The first kilometres turn through a dense forest with occasional views. It mostly feels like hard work here. The dense forestation, steep sections of road and inferior road surface make it serious pedalling without too many distractions. Throughout the climb, we didn't encounter anyone, which makes you wonderfully in your own world enjoying the bike and the surroundings. Especially in the forest, you have the feeling of being alone in the world.

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Suddenly there was light

As so often, after rain comes sunshine. And once again, a nice reward awaits about 4 kilometres below the summit. The trees give way to meadows and the tree trunks give way to beautiful vistas. On a sunny day, you can see for kilometres. It gets really fantastic when you cycle up around sunset. The mountain's location means you look out over the rolling landscape of the Vosges on one side and into a vast valley containing the town of Colmar on the other.

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So the final kilometres to the summit are to be enjoyed, but are certainly not to be underestimated. You can see the road running up to the summit making it seem like you are almost there. The 2-kilometre sign gives a lot away. You have to work at it before you can really enjoy your achievement and the view at the top.

Arriving at the summit and after the necessary photos, we set off downhill towards Sondernach. This side is a lot friendlier than the side we came up. Not only up but also down as it is a bit less steep. What makes this route extra fun? You can ride a nice little loop and climb a real col with about 30 kilometres on the counter. Delicious as an after-dinner dessert!