GROUP CYCLING TOUR VOSGES

A TRAVERS LES VOSGES

EXAMPLE GROUP PACKAGE (from 8 people)

Discover our group package in the Vosges! Set your preferred dates with us and let us organise a custom group cycling tour in the Vosges for your cycling group. Conquer the iconic cols and ballons made famous by the Tour de France, such as Grand Ballon, Ballon d’Alsace, and Super Planche des Belles Filles. Experience the stunning Vosges on this challenging, full-service stage tour with your cycling friends. Check out our example group package below and know everything can be customised to your wishes. You ride, eat, sleep, and enjoy, we take care of the rest!

GROUP CYCLING TOUR IN THE VOSGES WITH START AND FINISH IN SAINTE-MARIE-AUX-MINES

Salut! Do you want to conquer the famous Vosges cols and ballons, made famous by the Tour de France, together with your cycling friends on a beautiful custom group cycling tour in the Vosges? Then book our group package in the Vosges for your group and experience an unforgettable stage tour starting and finishing in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, in Alsace! The French mid-mountain range of the Vosges is a fantastic alternative to the Alps, Dolomites, and Pyrenees. You’ll ride through forests and vineyards, past picturesque villages, and climb iconic cols such as: Grand Ballon, Petit Ballon, La Super Planche des Belles Filles, Platzerwasel and Ballon d’Alsace. You will cover 580 kilometres and conquer more than 12,750 metres elevation gain. Each day you can choose an easier red route. If you choose the red route each stage, you will cover 480 kilometres and climb 9,750 metres elevation gain. This gives you the opportunity to complete A Travers les Vosges relatively easily.

Over five stages, including a short warm-up stage, you can choose almost daily between a black route for a serious challenge and a red route for a lighter option. The black routes cover a total of 450 kilometres with 9,500 metres of altitude gain, while the red routes add up to 380 kilometres and 7,450 metres of altitude gain. This makes A Travers les Vosges not only a beautiful, accessible stage tour in its own right but also an ideal group cycling tour in the Vosges for road cyclists preparing for tougher cycling adventures later in the year.

 

 

STAGES

6

 

OVERNIGHT STAYS

6

BEST TIME OF YEAR

May
June
September

TOUGHNESS

\\[[[
\\\[[

Distance (KM)

Red routes: 480

Elevation Gain (M)

Red routes: 9,750

Explanation Toughness routes

Is this your first cycling tour in the mountains and are you wondering if you can handle our routes? Or are you an experienced climber and are you curious whether the challenge is interesting enough for you? Using our five-point scale, we help you gain insight into the toughness of our routes. Based on the number of polka dots you can easily see if the routes of this cycling tour match your level and ambition!

\[[[[ all fit cyclists

\\[[[ reasonably trained cyclists with some climbing experience

\\\[[ trained cyclists with climbing experience

\\\\[ trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience

\\\\\ well trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience

Within stages we often offer different routes so that groups with cyclists of different levels can participate in the cycling tour:

\ red = easier route

\ black = tougher route

If you are unsure whether the routes are suitable for you and your cycling friends, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help you!

EXPLANATION EXAMPLE GROUP PACKAGE

Inspiration for your group package

An example tour is a fully designed stage tour. We have selected the most beautiful cols, designed well-balanced routes and chosen cyclist-friendly hotels. This example group package gives you an idea of what a stage tour in this cycling region could look like. You can book this tour for your cycling group (from 8 people) or use it as inspiration for your own custom group package.

Let us know your preferences, and we can adapt this example tour (and the price) for your group. Consider options such as adding or removing a stage or col, choosing different routes or overnight stops, including a rest day, or selecting more luxurious hotels. If you wish to travel with a group of fewer than 8 people, we will provide a custom price.

Our Terms and Conditions apply to this tour. The listed prices are based on the indicated best periods, include our full-service approach and VAT.

across the alps south

STAGE 1 & 2: GRAND COLS AND BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES

In the morning, you travel to France, and by the afternoon, you start the first stage of A Travers les Vosges in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines! We start gently with a short warm-up stage through Alsace-Lorraine, including three smaller cols, putting you straight into holiday mode and ready for the tour. On stage two, we ride through picturesque vineyards and some of Europe’s most beautiful villages such as Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr, definitely worth hopping off your bike to soak up the atmosphere! Then comes the more serious part: climbing Collet du Linge, once a WWI frontline where trenches are still visible. After descending towards Munster, we tackle Col du Petit Ballon, descend the other side, and finish in Munster. This village is not known for a peace treaty but for its namesake stinky cheese.

”In A Travers les Vosges, you’ll discover the beauty of the Vosges and experience a full-fledged mountain stage!”

STAGE 2 & 3: GREAT VOSGES-LAKES AND THE PLAN OF THE PRETTY GIRLS

In stage three, we start with the challenging Col du Platzerwasel. After reaching the summit, we ride across a plateau to Le Markstein, where we descend. The next climb is the winding road of Col du Bramont. In this stage, we pass three large Vosges lakes: Lac de Kruth, Lac de Longemer and Lac de Gérardmer. After Gérardmer, we ride through La Bresse, known for the Granfondo Vosges, and finish in Le Thillot. Stage four takes us through Ronchamp, famous for the Gran Fondo Les Trois Ballons. We tackle some of the most iconic Vosges climbs in recent Tour history, including La (Super) Planche des Belles Filles. This short, steep climb ends with a tough gravel section. Its name is beautiful but recalls a grim history. We close this stage with the Ballon d’Alsace, which in 1905 became the first-ever climb in the Tour de France. René Pottier reaching the summit first.

STAGE 5: COL DU GRAND BALLON AND ROUTE DES CRÊTES

From Moosch, we start stage five with the climb to the summit of our tour: Col du Grand Ballon (1,341 metres)! This famous Tour de France climb is also the highest point in the Vosges. The Grand Ballon can be climbed from many directions, but of course we take the iconic side with cobbled hairpins, starting in Willer-sur-Thur. From the top of the Grand Ballon, we follow the Route des Crêtes along the high Vosges ridge. This beautiful route was originally built by the French during WWI to supply their troops. This means we cycle for kilometres across a stunning plateau, picking up several cols along the way without excessive climbing. Among others, we pass Col de la Schlucht and Col du Bonhomme. We follow the Route des Crêtes until it ends at our finish in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Arrivée!

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

The price includes:

  • Hotel accommodation in nice, cycle-friendly hotels (minimum 3 stars) on the route (double room, 6 nights)
  • Breakfast (6 times) and dinner (6 times)
  • Participation in the stages prepared by Grand Cols Cycling Tours (6 stages)
  • Professional, digital road book with all relevant route information
  • GPX files for uploading routes to navigation devices
  • Picnic lunch, coffee stop with good, freshly ground coffee and sports nutrition (sports drink, water, bars, etc.) during the stages
  • Support during the stages with a support car, for example: handing over clothing and carrying out minor repairs
  • First aid and AED
  • Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
  • Help with minor repairs along the way and the use of a bicycle pump, lubricant and bicycle tools
  • Grand Cols Cycling Tours cycling jersey (contact us if you would like to design a custom jersey)
  • Participation in the VZR guarantee scheme

The price does not include:

 – The outward journey to the starting location and the return journey from the finish location
 – Personal insurance, such as travel and cancellation insurance
 – Drinks during the dinners
 – Equipment (you participate with your own equipment, such as: bike, helmet and clothing)

Optional extra:

  • Upgrade to a single room € 250, –
  • Additional overnight stay (without dinner) before the start of the cycling tour (double room): € 100, –
  • Bike transport from the Netherlands to the start location and back (subject to availability): € 75, –
  • Commonly used spare parts, such as: tyres, cleats and batteries (at cost price)

Anything else? Let us know!

Want to know more?

DISCOVER A TRAVERS LES VOSGES

Are you interested in this cycling tour? Request more information without obligation.

A SELECTION OF OUR EXAMPLE GROUP PACKAGES

Take up the challenge and discover the most beautiful Grand Cols with us.

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