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]

Col du Platzerwasel
The summit of the col
Elevation1,182 m (3,878 ft)[1]
Traversed byD27
LocationHaut-Rhin, France
RangeVosges Mountains
Coordinates47°58′10″N 7°2′35″E
Col du Platzerwasel
Location of Col du Platzerwasel

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 three times by the Tour de France.[4]

Year Stage Category Start Finish Leader at the summit
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]

References
  1. Per IGN map
  2. "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.
  3. "Col de Platzerwasel - Munster". www.climbbybike.com. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  4. "Le col du Platzerwasel dans le Tour de France" (in French). ledicodutour. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  5. 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.
  6. "Tour de France 2014: Alberto Contador pulls out on stage 10". BBC Sport. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
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