Col du Platzerwasel
Mountain pass in France
Col du Platzerwasel
Location of Col du Platzerwasel
The Col du Platzerwasel (elevation 1,182 m (3,878 ft)) is a mountain pass situated in the Vosges Mountains in the Haut-Rhin department of France, between Sondernach and Le Markstein. It has been crossed occasionally during the Tour de France cycle race, including on Stage 10 of the 2014 race.[2]
Details of climb
From the north-east, the climb starts in Munster from where the climb is 16.2 km (10.1 mi) long, gaining 781 m (2,562 ft) in altitude, at an average gradient of 4.8%.[3] At Sondernach, the climb meets the descent from the Col du Petit Ballon; from here the summit is 7.1 km (4.4 mi) at an average gradient of 8.4%.[2] The steepest sections of the climb are at a gradient of 9.6% between 6 km (4 mi) and 4 km (2 mi) from the summit.[3]
Tour de France
Including 2014, the col has been crossed four times by the Tour de France.[4]
| Year | Stage | Category | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 1 | Belfort | Le Markstein Fellering |  Felix Gall (AUT) |
| 2014 | 10 | 1 | Mulhouse | La Planche des Belles Filles |  Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) |
| 2009 | 13 | 1 | Vittel | Colmar |  Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) |
| 1967 | 8 | 2 | Strasbourg | Ballon d'Alsace | Jesús Aranzábal (ESP) |
On the 10th stage of the 2014 Tour de France, Alberto Contador crashed on the descent from the Col du Platzerwasel,[5] breaking his tibia. After riding on for 20 km, he eventually abandoned the Tour.[6]
It will be the final mountain climb in the 2023 Tour de France, in stage 20 on 22 July 2023, before a stage finish nearby at Le Markstein Fellering.
Tour de France Femmes
The col was used on Stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes.[7]
| Year | Stage | Category | Start | Finish | Leader at the summit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 | 1 | Sélestat | Le Markstein Fellering |  Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) |
References
- ^ Per IGN map
- ^ a b "Stage 10: Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Col de Platzerwasel - Munster". www.climbbybike.com. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ "Le col du Platzerwasel dans le Tour de France" (in French). ledicodutour. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Cary, Tom (14 July 2014). "Alberto Contador crashes out as Vincenzo Nibali takes Stage 10 and yellow jersey". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ^ "Tour de France 2014: Alberto Contador pulls out on stage 10". BBC Sport. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ^ "Van Vleuten in her own world - Tour de France Femmes 2022". www.letourfemmes.fr. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
