After the Black Forest it was time to leave Germany and drive over to the other side of the A5, the right side of the Rhine when you come from Denmark, to France. Here lies the Vosges mountain range in the popular Grand Est area, which includes Loraine, Alsace and Champagne-Ardenne.
I had chosen a town called Le Thillot, from here I had the opportunity to ride most of the well-known mountains from the TDF and not least to see this year's final finish on the super Planche des Belle Filles, a mountain that had previously changed the outcome of the TDF , as Primoz Roglic lost his lead on the penultimate stage of 2020 to Tadej Pogacar in a time trial that ended at La Planche des Belles Filles.
As I was in good time, I hoped to get a place at the municipal campsite Camping Municipal LE CLOS DE CHAUME, I can only recommend these municipal campsites, they are cheap and usually very well located and have the most necessary facilities.
I got a place directly by a beautiful little fishing pond for an extra fee of 1 euro per person. night.
Here in the Vosges, many of the mountains are called Ballon, I think it has something to do with the tops of the mountains, which are very round. I got to ride most of these Balloons, not least the Ballon d'Alsace which I rode from all three directions, on the same day. An achievement for which the Brevet de Grimpeur du Ballon d'Alsace certificate is awarded. If you want to settle for driving one side, I would suggest driving up from Sewen, this climb offers the dam Barrage lac d'Alfeld where the water is emerald green and if you are lucky, good old-fashioned rock is played below in the Auberge du Barrage Lac d' Alfeld.
After riding up various balloons, the time had come for La Planche des Belles Filles, where I had to see if Vingegaard could win. I never thought I would get there, the police had already blocked the roads around 9 o'clock, but luckily I found some French people who knew another way. Unfortunately, it only turned out to be close Tadej Pogacar won the stage, but it was a pleasant day, where I also met a good club mate and his wife.
My routes:
Climbs:
Col de Bramont
Col de Bussang
Col de la Schlucht
Col des Croix
Col du Ballon d'Alsace
Col du Ballon de Servance
Col du Grand Ballon
Col du Petit Ballon
Col du Platzerwasel
Super Planche des Belles Filles
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