Which Vosges climb was the first official mountain climb in the Tour de France, in 1905?

The Ballon d’Alsace was the first official mountain climb in the Tour de France, appearing in the 1905 race.

The climb is a mountain pass in the Vosges, linking the departments of Territoire de Belfort and Haut-Rhin. Its inclusion marked an important change: the Tour moved beyond relatively flat roads and began testing riders on substantial climbs.

René Pottier was the first rider over the Ballon d’Alsace in 1905. He also won the mountain-climb prize that year and went on to win the Tour overall in 1906. The ascent therefore became associated with both the Tour’s early mountain history and one of its first great climbers.

The Ballon d’Alsace is sometimes confused with the Col du Tourmalet or Col du Galibier, which later became famous high-mountain landmarks. The Tour did not reach the Pyrenees until 1910, when it introduced the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin and Peyresourde.