Cycling from Germany to the Vosges

Freiburg - Osenbach - Freiburg
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Country

Germany, France

Region

Baden-Württemberg, Alsace, Vosges

Distance

284km

Time

4 days

Elevation

3980hm

Difficulty

Hard

Contributor

Roger S.

Short Description

Embark on an exhilarating journey from Freiburg to Osenbach, tracing scenic paths through the Vosges. Prepare for the challenge as you conquer the iconic climbs to Petit Ballon and Grand Ballon, each offering breathtaking vistas and thrilling descents. Feel the rush of adrenaline as you navigate winding roads and lush forests, soaking in the natural beauty of the region. Reward yourself with quaint village stops and local delicacies along the way, immersing in the charm of Alsace. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or an adventurous soul, this route promises an unforgettable blend of nature, culture, and epic rides.

Route overview

Insights

Adjustability route

If you want to do the climbs, hard to adjust.

Recommended time of year

April to September

Anything to consider?

It can get quite windy.

Travel to start

Train to Freiburg

Travel from finish

Train from Freiburg

Highlights

Being on top of the climbs

Food

Mostly easy to get, on Grand Ballon peak is restaurant.

Road Surface

Mostly good
Reommended Bike Type

Recommended Bike Type

Light road bike
Stage

Stage

Travel to start

Freiburg

Stop

Osenbach

Distance

93km

Elevation

563hm

Quite easy start from Freiburg until the boarder and the French side of the Rhine Valley. As often, it was windy, but bearable. After Cernay, it went through the Alsacienne Vineyards, up and down. The tour ended with a climb into Osenbach.

Stage

Stage

Travel to start

Osenbach

Stop

Osenbach

Distance

64km

Elevation

1700hm

Wonderful, but hard day cycling in the Vosges. Day started with a climb to Col de Firstplan, then a quick decent and the big climb to Petit Ballon started. In the beginning quite easy, but in Wasserbourg it starts to get hard. The landscape is very nice and motivates to move forward.
On top of the climb, there are still the Tour de France motivations, especially for Pinot.
The day ended with another climb of Col de Firstplan.

Stage

Stage

Travel to start

Osenbach

Stop

Osenbach

Distance

71km

Elevation

1510hm

Tough, but wonderful ride! Started the climb to Grand Ballon in Soultz and passed Col Amic. Small roads until there. The second part of the climb is on the Route de Cretes. Decent via Lac de la Lauch and a small climb to Col du Bannstein. Luckily, there was no wind today.

Stage

Stage

Travel to start

Osenbach

Stop

Freiburg

Distance

57km

Elevation

200hm

I actually wanted to do another long ride, but weather was terrible. Windy, rainy, 6 degrees. So, shortest route back home. The part through the French Rhine Valley is a bit dull. Especially with weather conditions like this. Flat and straight.
Overall, it was a great Easter Cycling Experience in the Vosges.

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