Ballon d’Alsace from Saint Maurice sur Moselle
Ballon d’Alsace from Saint Maurice sur Moselle is a shorter, steeper side of a classic Vosges climb. It has enough gradient to feel more serious than its distance suggests.
- Length
- 8.9 km
- Elevation Gain
- 614 m
- Average Gradient
- 6.9%
- Difficulty
- Very Challenging
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This side of Ballon d’Alsace is more compact than the Lepuix approach, but it is also steeper. At 8.9 kilometres and 6.9 percent average, it gives riders a proper sustained Vosges effort.
The climb works well inside the Tour de France 2026 cluster because it brings a historic mountain name into a specific, usable riding profile. It is not just Ballon d’Alsace in general. This is the Saint Maurice sur Moselle side, and that clarity matters.
How to Ride It
- Settle early and avoid attacking the lower slopes.
- Keep a smooth rhythm through the middle section.
- Save energy if Grand Ballon or Le Markstein follows later in the ride.
Where to Stay
Saint Maurice sur Moselle, Belfort or towns around the southern Vosges can all work depending on your route.
Practical Tips
- Bring a layer for the descent.
- Plan food and water before starting, especially on longer Vosges loops.
- Do not compare it too casually with easier sides of the same mountain.
Routes featuring this climb
Climbs worth travelling for
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