Road · France
Col du Grand Ballon from Willer-sur-Thur
A mountainous 15 km road cycling route from Willer-sur-Thur through Gehren, Moosch and Geishouse, with 963 m of climbing over the Moosch climb.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 14.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 963 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 03 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Willer-sur-Thur
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 963 m
- 15 km
Route description
- Willer-sur-Thur
- Gehren
- Moosch climb
- Moosch
- Geishouse
Starting at Willer-sur-Thur (372 m), the route climbs steadily for 14.6 km to reach Col du Grand Ballon at 1335 m. The main climb spans 12.7 km from km 2 to the top, with an average gradient of 7.5% and sections up to 12.8%. The elevation gain is 948 m on this climb. The first half of the route contains 37% of the total climbing.
The surface is mostly paved (96%) with a small 4% gravel or unpaved section. The ride includes 5.4 km of path, 4.2 km on minor roads, 3.2 km on main roads (all without cycle lanes), and 1.6 km of quiet streets. The longest named road is D 13B8, which is ridden for 3.8 km. There are 2.8 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
Food and water are available near the start in Willer-sur-Thur and intermittently along the route. There is a longest stretch of 5.9 km without cafés, shops, or water from 7.2 km to 13.1 km. Three restaurants lie just off the route at kms 1.4, 6.4, and 13.2. Water taps are at 2.6 km, 7.2 km, and at the summit, which also has toilets. The route starts and finishes near stations and supermarkets, with bailout points at Willer-sur-Thur.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Moosch climb (12.6 km at 7.5 %).
- Tops out at 1,335 m, 14.6 km in.
Highlights
- Col du Grand Ballon summit at 1335 m
- Long 12.7 km climb averaging 7.5%
- Viewpoint Chalet Hôtel Du Grand Ballon at 14.6 km
- Peak Rennenbachfels near 11.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
On the road
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moosch climb | 2 km | 12.7 km · 948 m · 7.5 % · max 12.8 % | 12.6 km · 948 m · 7.5 % | 1335 m |
Moosch climb · full ascent, starts at 2 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Know before you go
- 5.9 km without café, shop or water from 7.2 to 13.1 km
- 3.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 2.8 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or above
- 4% gravel or unpaved surface
