Tour de France 2023: the Petit Ballon d’Alsace is delighted with the return of the Grande Boucle


It was expected by cycling enthusiasts. The route of the next Tour de France was unveiled on Thursday. With around thirty climbs, this 2023 edition seems ideal for climbers and promises its share of suspense. All the massifs of France are represented. And the penultimate stage, on July 22, will take place in the Vosges with six passes to cross, in particular that of the Petit Ballon d’Alsace, not used to hosting the Grande Boucle. On site, everyone is already rejoicing!

“Turnover will at least double that day!”

Apart from the women’s Tour de France last summer, the Grande Boucle has only passed the Petit Ballon d’Alsace once, in 2014. So Frédéric Fest, manager of the Rothenbrunnen farm-inn is delighted with his return. “Commercially, it’s great!” he exclaims. “The turnover will at least double that day, I think. Inevitably, it always brings people”, he confides at the microphone of Europe 1.

Barely hours after the official announcement of the course, he has even already received a reservation: “We were called for a room from July 22 to 23” he confirms, laughing.

A “sportingly very interesting” stage

Bruno and Pierre have just finished their walk here at over 1,100 meters above sea level. Residents of the Munster valley below, they know the area very well and are therefore expecting a thrilling stage on July 22nd. “Sportingly, it will be very interesting. There are climbs, descents, 3,500 meters of elevation in all”, rejoices Pierre, also convinced that this will have tourist benefits for his region: “It will always advertise for the “Alsace! People will want to come there in the weeks and months to come.”

For his friend Bruno, the Tour de France is a tradition: “I like to watch it on television, especially for the landscapes. But there I will come there, of course!” he promises. With six passes to climb, this penultimate stage of the Tour de France 2023 could even upset the classification again, on the eve of the arrival on the Champs Elysées.



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