70 km Untimed

From the first few kilometres, you can enjoy the unique atmosphere of the forest roads. On the day of the event, the hairpin bends leading up to the Col d’Oderen will only be open to cyclists. When you reach the top, you will be on the border between the Haut-Rhin and the Vosges departments. The next climb to the Col du Page may be tough on your thighs, but it is short, less than 2 km. At the Col du Page , you will certainly stop for a few minutes at the foot of the fir trees. You are now in the heart of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. The narrow road (also closed to cars!) opens onto the Moselle valley, with a magnificent view of the Ballon d’Alsace and the Ballon de Servance. The perfect place for a photo of this mountain landscape.

The Col de Bussang is quite gentle, except for the last kilometre, and the gradient is steeper near the source of the Moselle River. But you can recover easily as the road is smooth and wide throughout the descent. The randonnée then returns to Alsace, in the Thur valley, which is full of delights for cyclists. You can appreciate them fully as you cross the villages of Storckensohn, Mollau and Mitzach.

Make sure you have plenty of strength left when you reach the Saint-Amarin feed zone, so you can tackle the first slopes of the Col du Haag without trouble. The start of the pass is very steep, and it is a long climb... Riders on e-bikes certainly won’t regret their choice. In any case, a little stop in the mountain village of Geishouse may be a good idea, not just for your legs but also for the panorama.

You will see the Grand Ballon, the highest mountain in the Vosges, rising up before you. There are 5 km left to climb on a greenway well-known to cyclists who love steep gradients. The last section is in fact very hard, with one part at 12%. It will be a real reward when you reach the Route des Crêtes . The randonnée continues at a leisurely pace towards the Markstein. In 6 km you will reach this mountain resort, which is open in both summer and winter. The last pleasures of the day for cyclists: the descent from the Markstein and a warm welcome on your arrival.