Col de la Schlucht


The Col de la Schlucht is a mountain pass in the Vosges Mountains of France. The pass takes its name from the German word "Schlucht", meaning "gorge" or "ravine". It connects Munster with Gérardmer and is also crossed by the Route des Crêtes. The climb over the pass has been used several times in the Tour de France cycle race.

History

Between 1871 and 1918, the pass was a border crossing between Lorraine and Alsace, which had been ceded to Germany under the Treaty of Frankfurt.
Prior to World War I, the pass could be accessed via two separate tramway lines, from Gérardmer and Munster respectively. Both lines were abandoned at the outbreak of the war; that from Munster was never re-opened, whereas the line from Gérardmer continued in service until 1940.

Facilities

From the pass, it is possible to access the Sentier des Roches, a footpath along the edge of the ridge to Hohneck. This is considered to be one of the most impressive Alsatian mountain paths.
There is also a ski-lift up Montabey; from the top of the ski-lift, there is a summer luge run back down to the pass.

Details of the climbs

From the west, the climb starts at Le Kertoff, before Gérardmer. From here, the climb is long gaining in height at an average gradient of 3.1%. The steepest section is at 6.7%. This was the climb used in the 2009 Tour de France.
The climb from the east starts at Munster from where there are to the summit, gaining in height. The overall average gradient is 4.2%, which is maintained fairly steadily throughout the climb.
From La Bresse, the ascent via D34 is long climbing at an average gradient of 3.0%. This climb passes the Col des Feignes en route, after which there are at between 7 and 8%.
From Fraize, the climb is at an average of 3.0%, gaining in height.
The summit can also be accessed via Route des Crêtes from the Col du Bonhomme or the Col du Grand Ballon.

Tour de France

The climb over the pass was first used on stage 20 of the 1931 Tour de France, when the summit was crossed by a group of riders, although André Leducq was the first across the line after the descent into Colmar.

Appearances in the Tour de France (since 1947)

Since World War II, the col has been crossed eight times, either as a Category 2 or Category 3 climb.
YearStageCategoryStartFinishLeader at the summit
201492GérardmerMulhouse
2009132VittelColmar
200582PforzheimGérardmer
1992112StrasbourgMulhouse
197352NancyMulhouse
197092SaarlouisMulhouse
196953NancyMulhouse
196163StrasbourgBelfort