Col du Platzerwasel
The summit of the col
Elevation	1,182 m (3,878 ft)[1]
Traversed by	D27
Location	Haut-Rhin, France
Range	Vosges Mountains
Coordinates	47°58′10″N 7°2′35″E / 47.96944°N 7.04306°E / 47.96944; 7.04306
Col du Platzerwasel Location of Col du Platzerwasel

The Col du Platzerwasel (elevation 1,182 m (3,878 ft)) is a mountain pass situated in the Vosges Mountains in the Haut-Rhin department of France, between Sondernach and Le Markstein. It has been crossed occasionally during the Tour de France cycle race, including on Stage 10 of the 2014 race.^[2]

From the north-east, the climb starts in Munster from where the climb is 16.2 km (10.1 mi) long, gaining 781 m (2,562 ft) in altitude, at an average gradient of 4.8%.^[3] At Sondernach, the climb meets the descent from the Col du Petit Ballon; from here the summit is 7.1 km (4.4 mi) at an average gradient of 8.4%.^[2] The steepest sections of the climb are at a gradient of 9.6% between 6 km (4 mi) and 4 km (2 mi) from the summit.^[3]

Including 2014, the col has been crossed four times by the Tour de France.^[4]

Year	Stage	Category	Start	Finish	Leader at the summit
2023	20	1	Belfort	Le Markstein Fellering	Felix Gall (AUT)
2014	10	1	Mulhouse	La Planche des Belles Filles	Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP)
2009	13	1	Vittel	Colmar	Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
1967	8	2	Strasbourg	Ballon d'Alsace	Jesús Aranzábal (ESP)

On the 10th stage of the 2014 Tour de France, Alberto Contador crashed on the descent from the Col du Platzerwasel,^[5] breaking his tibia. After riding on for 20 km, he eventually abandoned the Tour.^[6]

It will be the final mountain climb in the 2023 Tour de France, in stage 20 on 22 July 2023, before a stage finish nearby at Le Markstein Fellering.

The col was used on Stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes.^[7]

Year	Stage	Category	Start	Finish	Leader at the summit
2022	7	1	Sélestat	Le Markstein Fellering	Annemiek van Vleuten (NED)