Col du Grand Ballon
The Col du Grand Ballon is a mountain pass situated close to the summit of the Grand Ballon in the Vosges Mountains of France. It connects Cernay with Le Markstein winter sports station.
Details of the climbs
[Image:Pavés Grand-Ballon.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Pavė section after Col Amic]There are several different directions from which the Col du Grand Ballon can be climbed:
From Cernay, the total distance is at an average gradient of 4.5%, gaining in height. This route follows the Route des Crêtes over the Col de Herrenfluh after. After a short descent, the road climbs again to the Col de Silberloch before descending to the Col Amic. From here, there remain at an average of 7.6%. In the forest on this final section, there are two short paved stretches. from the summit, the gradient increases to over 8%.
From Willer-sur-Thur, the ascent is long, climbing at an average of 6.1%. This route joins that from Cernay at the Col Amic.
From the south it is also possible to climb on minor roads from Saint-Amarin or Moosch, both on the N66; these routes join together at Geishouse. Both routes are approximately long at an average of over 7%, with a kilometre section near the summit at 12%.
From Soultz, the route follows a minor road for the first at a steady average gradient of 4.6%, before joining the other routes at Col Amic. In total, the climb is long, climbing at an average of 5.6%.
From Kruth, the climb is long gaining 853 m in height at an average of 3.7%. This climb joins the D431 at Le Markstein.
Tour de France
The Tour de France first crossed over the Col du Grand Ballon in 1969 [Tour de France|1969], when the leader over the summit was Lucien Van Impe. It has been crossed on a further six occasions, the most recent in 2014.| Year | Stage | Category | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 9 | 3 | Gérardmer | Mulhouse |  Martin .png" />Tony Martin|GERTour de France FemmesThe col was crossed on Stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes.
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