Epic Cycling Climbs Route crossing Alto Adige from Innsbruck
Epic Cycling Climbs Route
Multi day ride to cross the Italian Alps form Innsbruck across Alto Adige in Italy and back to Innsbruck, see the route here: Multi day route in Alto Adige from Innsbruck, 540km, 13,440m elevation gain across 9 climbs and passes and is broken down into six riding days. Possible rest day in Wolkenstein after day 3 riding.
This is a great ride across the Alto Adige province and covers passes in the western Dolomites to the east of the Eisacktal valley and the passes and climbs of the Adige and Passeirer valleys.
Without a rest day, this route is 6 days riding and requires five nights’ accommodation. You can chose a rest day along any of the villages en route.
Stage 1: 53.3km, 1,130m elevation gain, Alto Adige Route Day 1: from Innsbruck to Sterzing - Vipiteno, passes: Brenner Pass: First day of riding after arriving in Innsbruck will be up the Brenner Pass to Sterzing. This is a gentle introduction to the ride to get the legs going. The Brenner valley is a little busy but this is an easy climb and Innsbruck is a great transport hub. Sterzing is in Italy, right at the Border.
Stage 2: 92.9km, 2,320m elevation gain, Alto Adige Route Day 2: from Sterzing - Vipiteno to Kastelruth - Ciastel - Castelrotto, passes: Penserjoch. The route climbs right from the gun up the Penserjoch and then down for a nearly 50km long descent to Bozen. Bozen is the capital of Alto Adige/Südtirol and a bustling town. From there the route follows the Eisack valley (on cycle paths where possible due to the traffic) and climbs from Blumau to Seis am Schlern and then to Kastelruth.
Stage 3: 97km, 2,930m elevation gain, Alto Adige Route Day 3: Castelrotto via Würzjoch and Grödnerjoch to Wolkenstein, passes: Würzjoch and Grödnerjoch: This is a tough day riding with two climbs. From Kastelruth, the route drops to the Eisack valley to Gufidaun and then climbs up the lovely Villnößtal valley past St Peter to the Würzjoch. From there the route drops to Alta Badia and runs along the valley to Corvara. This is a busy road though. From Corvara, the road climbs the Grödnerjoch and ends in Wolkenstein.
Stage 4: 97km, 2,560m elevation gain, Alto Adige Route Day 4: Road ride around Seiser Alm, passes: Sellajoch, Karerpass and Seiser Alm: This is another long ride but with less elevation gain than the day before. From Wolkenstein, the road climbs the the Sellajoch with great views on the Sella and the Sasso Lungo and Piatto. The route descends to Canazei and continues through the Val di Fassa and up to the Karerpass. The route turns then to the Seis and continues to Saltria for a magical ride up the Seiser Alm, past the Schlern mountain.
Stage 5: 110km, 2,310m elevation gain, Alto Adige Route Day 5: from Saiser Alm to St. Leonhard in Passeier - San Leonardo in Passiria, passes: climb to Mölten: Day 5 is a real mix of valley roads and some cracking climbing. From the Seiser Alm, we drop down to the Eisack valley to Bozen along the river and then into the Adige Valley where the road climbs the Mölten climb, gradient alert. The road meanders then up and down above the Adige before dropping to Merano. Merano is lovely spa town from where the route continues up the Passeier valley to St Leonhard.
Stage 6: 91.3km, 2,200m elevation gain, Alto Adige Route Day 6: from St. Leonhard in Passeier - San Leonardo in Passiria to Innsbruck, passes: Jaufenpass: The route returns to Innsbruck via the Jaufenpass on the last day. The Jaufenpass is a fitting last climb to the route. From the pass, the road drops to Sterzing and back to Innsbruck the same way it came up on the first day of the ride. Innsbruck is a good transport hub for onward travel.
