Le Markstein

Le Markstein (French pronunciation: [lə maʁkʃtain]) is a winter sports station in the Vosges mountains in France situated at an altitude of between 1,020 m (3,346 ft) and 1,268 m (4,160 ft)[1] which is located on the Route des Crêtes.

It forms a set of cross-country skiing with the Breitfirst ski-station and the Grand Ballon.

[1] The station has 12 tracks in all including:[1] Prior to 2014, the Tour de France cycle race passed through Le Markstein seven times either during the passage over the Col du Grand Ballon or in the descent from the Col du Platzerwasel, although it was not categorized for the Mountains classification.

The race then travelled via the Route des Crêtes (D431) before crossing the Col du Grand Ballon and descending to the finish at Mulhouse.

[6] The following day, the tour again passed through the station, as it descended from the Col du Platzerwasel towards Oderen.