195 KM TIMED

If you like riding dead straight in top gear on flat roads, you may be disappointed! This is will be a real mountain adventure. This Gran Fondo is not only a sports adventure, it will also enable you to discover exceptional tourist sites. You will enter the Vosges in the first few kilometres. Enjoy the beauty of the forests by climbing first the Col d’Oderen and then the Col du Page. Further on, on the ridges above 1000 m altitude, you will see other landscapes, those of the mountain stubble fields created by the farmers and innkeepers.

The first major difficulty comes after 35 km. The Vosges Gran Fondo had to cross the mountain greenway that leads to the Col du Haag. Climbers will already be able to show their talents, with a climb that starts and ends with a gradient of 12%. Afterwards, it is wise to take advantage of the 6 km along the Route des Crêtes to recover properly, especially as there is a magnificent panorama along the way.

The Gran Fondo continues towards Guebwiller, then the Col du Bannstein, which is short but still a slog, followed by a steady climb to the Col du Firstplan, with a gradient of just over 5%. But when you get to the top, you will only be half way... and the second half of the Gran Fondo promises to be even tougher! You will have to go back up towards the crests with one of the most difficult climbs in the Vosges, the famous Col du Platzerwasel. And before that, the Petit Ballon will already be rising before you. Along a road that is narrow but in good condition, with sharp bends and cow bells ringing, and parts with a gradient of nearly 20% where you will need your lowest gear... you will have all you need to turn a cyclosportive into a genuine mountain Gran Fondo.

After the Platzerwasel, followed two kilometres later by the Col du Breitfirst, you will cross the Markstein resort for the second time in the day. A descent of almost 15 kilometres then brings you to the lac de Kruth-Wildenstein. Please note that the organiser has introduced a cut-off time here at 145 km. It must be respected. The final section is reserved solely for entrants who have the required physical condition. Other competitors are asked to make for the finish line of the 150 km Medio Fondo course, which is already a great achievement!

In this final section, you have to ride back up to the crests, with an 8-kilometre climb to the Col du Bramontfollowed by 4 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.5% on the Route des Américains. With the accumulated tiredness, this series is more like a hors catégorie col!

Yes, it’s a big challenge, especially since to reach the finish of the Gran Fondo, you must still climb the col des Feignes, and then go back up the col du Bramont from the other side.