Road Cycling Routes near La Bresse

Les Trois Ballons Granfondo has been a favorite on the calendar for years, and while it’s known for the big cyclo event, you can take on the route any day you want. It’s 178 kilometers with a hefty 4,060 meters of climbing. You roll out from Filatures de Ronchamp, and the ride wraps up with a brutal finish atop the legendary La Planche des Belles Filles. Along the way, you’ll tackle the Ballon de Servance, the Col d’Oderen, Le Markstein, the Grand Ballon, the Ballon d’Alsace, and of course La Planche des Belles Filles.

The route starts out easy, rolling gently toward Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle. That’s where the climb to the Ballon d’Alsace kicks off. The descent is beautiful, so keep an eye out for traffic on the way down. At the bottom, you’ll find yourself right at the base of the Col du Hundsruck. Another stunning descent drops you into the valley before you head up the Grand Ballon via Geishouse. Make sure you’ve saved something in the legs. It's nearly 940 meters of climbing to the top. From the summit, you’ve got a long, flowing smooth past Le Markstein and all the way down to Lac de Kruth. The final challenge is the Col de Bramont, then it’s a smooth ride down into La Bresse to finish the day.

A spectacular point-to-point ride, this one follows the Route des Crêtes from Cernay to Col des Bagenelles. Right out of Cernay, you’ll take on the climb to Grand Ballon, which is the toughest part of the day. After that, it’s smooth riding along the ridgeline for about 50 kilometers. You'll pass Le Markstein, Col de la Schlucht, Col du Calvaire, and Col du Bonhomme before reaching the finish. Depending on where you are staying you can use the eastern valley to head back home. It’s best to ride this one midweek, as weekends and holidays can get busy on these roads. Route des Crêtes was built during the First World War by the French military to run along the ridge of the mountains. It gave troops faster access to the valleys on both sides, improving movement and supply routes.

This scenic route winds past several beautiful lakes in the Vosges. Rolling out of La Bresse, you’ll head straight into a steady climb past, Lac de la Tenine and Lac de Lispach, and up to the top of Col des Feignes Sous Vologne. From there, it's a smooth descent to Lac de Longemer before hopping on the cycle path into Gérardmer. In town, the Mur Gouttridos kicks up sharp and offers views over the lake. Once you're over the steep climb, a long winding forest road leads you into a fast descent. Then it’s time to take on the climb up Col de Grosse Pierre. You can ride this loop starting from either La Bresse or Gérardmer.

A hard day in the Vosges, with two big climbs and enough climbing before and after.