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Complete the medical paperwork early, pace the earlier Ballons conservatively, and save low gears for the final 15%+ ramps.
Best for
Watch out for
D-Score™
D+
Epic
Entry
Open online entry, first-come tiered pricing
or On-site registration if places remain
Route
181 km
4,020 m climbing
Terrain
Mountain
Smooth tarmac
Month
June
Annual June event
Temperature
Mild valley to cold exposed summits
Valley to summit
Roads / Format
Open to traffic with marshalled junctions
Mass start from Ronchamp
Participants
Approximately 2,700 starters in 2025
Per edition
GPX
Direct GPX download not found
Route files
A severe open-road mountain day whose entry is straightforward but whose repeated climbing, weather exposure and steep finish are easy to underestimate.
Getting a bib is usually straightforward; the critical step is completing the required medical or licence documentation before number collection.
No Les 3 Ballons-specific tours listed yet
Explore French Alps cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.
| Route | Distance | Climbing | D-Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediofondo | 92.9 km | 2,200 m | D3 |
| Granfondo | 181 km | 4,020 m | D+ |
A sustained Vosges climbing day with six named ascents on the full route and no easy finish. La Planche des Belles Filles arrives after the accumulated fatigue of the preceding Ballons.
Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.
| Climb | Length | Avg gradient | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballon de Servance | 10.9 km | 5.5 % | Early major climb to the Servance summit; maximum gradients reach roughly 10%. |
| Col d'Oderen | 7.1 km | 6 % | Granfondo-only connecting climb into the high Vosges. |
| Le Markstein | 14.2 km | 4.5 % | Long Vosges ascent to the Markstein plateau; gradients are generally steady rather than severe. |
| Grand Ballon from Saint-Amarin | 12.7 km | 7.4 % | Highest summit in the Vosges and one of the route’s most sustained ascents. |
| Ballon d'Alsace | 8.9 km | 6.9 % | Historic Tour de France climb and a major route feature. |
| La Planche des Belles Filles | 5.9 km | 8.5 % | Final summit climb, with closing ramps above 15% after the preceding Ballons. |
Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.
Gearing
Bike Speed & Gear Calculator
bikespeedgear.com
Estimates your climbing speed from power, weight and gradient, then helps you pick gearing that keeps cadence in a comfortable range.
Gear Calculator
gear-calculator.com
Compares chainring and cassette combinations to show resulting gear ratios and speed at a given cadence, for fine-tuning your drivetrain.
Fuelling
DIN Calculator
dincalculator.com
Upload your GPX route (or use quick mode) for an hour-by-hour carb, fluid and sodium plan based on the ride's actual climbs and descents.
Precision Hydration Planner
precisionhydration.com
Questionnaire-based tool that builds a personalised fuel and hydration strategy, including electrolyte needs, based on your sweat profile and event details.
Best base
RonchampNearest airports
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg
Car hire
Useful because the finish is around 14 km from Ronchamp and local options are limited
Book ahead
Book ahead; Ronchamp is small, with Belfort, Lure and Champagney as alternatives
Plan the return from La Planche des Belles Filles to Ronchamp and verify whether event transport is offered.
Mountain weather can become cold and wet quickly; the 2025 edition had cold rain and a high non-finish rate.
Event size
Mid-sized regional event, around 2,700 starters in 2025
Field level
Mixed but committed club-rider field
Atmosphere
Regional French classic with strong local following
International mix
Needs verification
Bunch intensity
Highest at the start, then spreads on climbs
First-timer
Choose the Mediofondo unless you already have strong climbing endurance
Late-ride steep efforts
Prepare for the steep Planche des Belles Filles finish after a long day.
Climbing endurance
Build the mountain base needed for repeated Vosges ascents.
Traffic awareness
Practise riding safely on open roads and shared descents.
Wet-weather preparation
Be ready for cold rain and rapidly changing mountain conditions.
Pacing discipline
Avoid overcommitting on the early Ballons before the final climb.