TdF La Super Planche des Belles Filles -- access advice

[bolidemichael]

Stage 7 goes from Toumblaine to La Super Planche des Belles Filles.

I'll be on the motorbike with the boy (12) for this leg and want to experience the epic climb to the finish line. Has anyone been and do you know what time the road will be closed for access with the motorbike? If v. early, what advice do you have? Thanks in advance.

[aspender]

I was on the climb in 2012. Like all TDF climbs you likely won’t get on it in a powered vehicle any time on the day of the race. It’s a one-way up, one-way down climb so especially true. They tend to close sometime the day beforehand as there’s lots of Tour vehicles that will need unfettered access to setup the finish, broadcast facilities etc.

On the day is strictly walking or cycling only (and cycling wasn’t that easy with the crowds walking up)

We were staying in the area and went back a couple of days later to cycle it properly.

[bolidemichael]

Thanks. It looks like a c. 3.5 mile walk to the top and we needn't get to the top in order to experience the pain of the climb for the riders, presumably? Have you any pointers as to where we're likely to be able to park the bike?

Also, I'm interested in your experience of cyclists/spectator density -- does it get properly busy and from what time roughly? As you can tell, it's a first for us.

[aspender]

Plancher Les Mines is the closest village but the route has to go through there, so you might find it difficult to get there on the day, unless very early. What I’d suggest is to come from the other direction from Le Thillot and follow the D16 over the Ballon De Servance - that road isn’t closed and gets you right to the base of Planche des Belles Filles. If memory serves me correctly there is a car park for some waterfalls quite near the bottom of the Ballon which is then easily walkable to the Planche.

The crowds on the climb weren’t insane (but it was 2012 and the first time it had been used, it’s since become far more iconic.) You certainly don’t need to go to the top. The last 2km will have crowd barriers and were a lot busier. The first km is steep and straight but they’ll hit that at real pace. I’d suggest the middle steep section - there’s also a restaurant around that area.

[bolidemichael]

Thanks a great deal -- I'm so grateful for the hive mind of PH.

This will be the proposed route (from our hotel) as suggested -- have I got it right?

[aspender]

bolidemichael said:

Thanks a great deal -- I'm so grateful for the hive mind of PH.

This will be the proposed route (from our hotel) as suggested -- have I got it right?

Yep, spot on.

[z4RRSchris]

there is a bit after about 4km where it really ramps up before the flatter end section, the attacks are likely to come here so nice place to stand.

[bolidemichael]

aspender said:

bolidemichael said:

Thanks a great deal -- I'm so grateful for the hive mind of PH.

This will be the proposed route (from our hotel) as suggested -- have I got it right?

Yep, spot on.

I'll probably come back to you with the assumed location of said waterfalls too, if that's okay.

[bolidemichael]

z4RRSchris said:

there is a bit after about 4km where it really ramps up before the flatter end section, the attacks are likely to come here so nice place to stand.

That's the bit in red, then... that'll be mental.

[SoliD]

Went to watch here in 2017 when they went up, road was closed all day to motor vehicles and cyclists from about 11:00 so 5ish hours before the riders, we were about 2k from the top of the climb in the end as we couldn't be bothered to walk any further up in cleats getting moaned at by Gendarmes, but the race was in pieces by this point so got a good spread of riders. once stage was over it was carnage getting back down.

[bolidemichael]

Okay fellas, we're in Les Hautes Vosges. I'm going to look up the location of said waterfalls and plan route for tomorrow.

What time do you think is sensible to arrive?

[Paul Drawmer]

Are you there yet?

[bolidemichael]

I am, thanks. I ignored the sage advice offered on here in favour of the suggestion from the host of our gite to traverse the 'Col des Croix' and then over the 'Ballon de Servance'. It's a narrow path and was ultimately flawed, as we encountered a 'route barrée' road closure at the top... which we promptly ignored! Some coppers travelling uphill in the opposite direction gnashed their teeth at us but that was the sun of the consequences. The reward was parking at the foot of Les Super Planches and after a c. ninety minute walk to the summit, we're currently sat at the point at which Roglic's helmet went wonky and he blew his load in 2020.

Edited by bolidemichael on Friday 8th July 12:48

[Paul Drawmer]

Brilliant! was it VERY noisy?

[bolidemichael]

It was really lively. We were parked between the 20% and 24% climbs so were more cheering them along.