Day 5 - Swapping one mountain range for another

Thursday 11 July 2019

Today we are heading south at a leisurely pace, avoiding all motorways and sticking with the twisty small roads. So we bid farewell to the Bussang crew soon after 9am and head for the Ballon d’Alsace peak.
We knew the Tour de France was in the area from the multiple signs posted in the small villages we pass through but we didn’t realise that today’s stage finishes at the summit of of The Ballon d’Alsace.


The finish line

It soon becomes obvious from the crowds of people and thousands of camper vans lining the sides of the road in every available parking place. Signs warn us that the road is closed but we are allowed through the check point. The finale of today’s race will come around 5pm but now, 8 hours earlier, the spectators are lining the route.

The road itself is a cracker. Twisty as hell and pretty steep. There will be some very tired bicyclists this evening. We raise our arms in victory as we pass the finish line but nobody seems interested in us. Not wearing Lycra I guess.
I shot it all on video so I’ll put that up after editing back home.


Top of the col

We are soon down from the high road and wandering through the lovely France countryside in the direction of Belfort. It’s a warm day, a few clouds but plenty of sunshine, ideal riding weather.


Pit stop

Our destination is a camp site just outside Saint Claude. After threading our way through this tortuous town centre we find the site in a steep sided valley and camp by the rushing mountain river that carved it. It is notable that this late in the season the melt-water rivers are still very full, a sign of the late snows this year.

Camping Martinet is a sweet spot. Just €16 for two adults, two bikes and two tents and there is a handy stone-baked pizza man on site. I pick up a bottle of local Jura red wine (excellent) and Mick finds a couple of beers in the camp shop. So that’s us sorted for the night.


Camping Martinet, near Saint Claude in the Jura region

Alternate accommodation at Camping Martinet if you prefer

Tomorrow more small roads as we skirt the Swiss border near Geneva and head further south into France.
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