Epic Cycling Climbs Route Across Austria -Italy - Switzerland
Route across Austria, Italy and Switzerland
This is a 585km route with 12,260m elevation gain, possibly 6 days of riding. The ride starts in the town of Lindau on Lake Constance in Germany and covers five climbs in Austria, three in Italy and two in Switzerland. The highpoint of the ride is the mighty Stelvio pass, ridden from the northern side from Pad am Stilfserjoch.
This is an incredibly varied ride due to the variety of mountain environments. The ride starts at Lake Constance and the lower lying mountains of the Bregenzerwald, followed by the Alps of the Tyrol. The Italian side includes the Stelvio and Foscano passes where the ride stays for large part here above 2000m altitude. Switzerland offers fabulous Bernina and Albula pass, gorges, some gravel, valleys and towns and a run out through ever lower mountains ending with a flat section along the river Rhine and back to Lindau on Lake Constance. Lindau and Lake Constance are ideal to relax after a long ride.
Epic Cycling Climbs Route
Multi Day ride across Austria, Italy and Switzerland from Lindau on Lake Constance in Germany
Stage 1: Lindau to Warth, 100km, 2470m elevation gain, Climbs: Furkajoch, Hochtannbergpass
The ride starts gently with the first 10 km along Lake Constance and through Bregenz, followed by 30km fast roads to Rankweil (traffic alert!). In Rankweill, the work begins with a 20km climb up the Furkajoch covering 1200m elevation gain. This climb is tough in sections but opens up the Bregenzerwald once on the top. Refreshments are provided at the top at the biker cafe "Zum Charly". A fast descent past Damühls to Au which is a good stop for lunch.
This is followed by a lovely climb to the Hochtannbergpass which is a gentler affair covering 900m elevation gain over 18km climbing. The Hochtannbergpass opens up the Lechtaler Alpen range which is higher and rougher than the Bregenzerwald and replacing mountains still green at the top with rough cliffs and rocks. The end of this stage is reached after a quick downhill to Warth. Lovely stuff.
Stage 2: Warth to Prutz, 93km, 2070m elevation gain, Climbs: Hahntennjoch, Piller Höhe
Less riding and climbing than at the first stage but the seriously steep Hahntennjoch is on the programme on this stage. The ride starts with a 30km downhill which is lovely followed by the Hahntennjoch climb which climbs 940m over 15km. As there is a flat section in the middle, the last 5km are brutal with gradients nearly constant over 10% and up to 15%. The pass sits in the Bschlabs valley which is narrow and steep, scenic and rough in equal measures. Scree fields and rocks reach up to the road.
After a fabulous downhill, the route reaches Imst and the Inntal from where it climbs up again into the Pitztal and from Wenns onwards to the Piller Höhe which connects the Pitztal Valley with the Upper Inntal Valley. The Pitztal valley villages of Arzl and Wenns are good places for lunch.
The Piller Höhe is a 9km climb covering 560m elevation gain with a couple of steep sections but mainly through lovely mountains, forests and past a little lake. A very steep descent to Prutz provides a fitting end to an up and down stage.
Stage 3: Prutz to Franzenshöhe (Stelvio), 84km, 2240m elevation gain, Climbs: Reschenpass, Stilfserjoch till Franzenshöhe
This is a stage of two halves. The fist half rides through the Upper Inntal valley, mostly on cycle paths by the river, to the Reschenpass which is the border to Italy. The Reschenpass is low lying and goes back to Roman times. There is a reservoir lake at the top and sunken village with the church tower still sticking out. This is a great spot for a coffee stop. The downhill to the Villnoeßtal valley is either by the pass road (which can be busy) or preferable via the cycle path down to Mals / Malles Venosta which is a delightful ancient village. This is also a good time to stop for lunch to steel yourself for the ascent to the Stifserjoch / Stelvio. You could stop in Mals, Glurns, or Prad.
Onwards to the main event then. The route climbs from Pard am Stilfserjoch / Prato to the Franzenshöhe inn. This breaks up the climb but also allows for more time to be spent at this most iconic of mountain roads.
The climb to the Stilfserjoch is fabulous and I have detailed the climb here in my climb journal pages. The section of the climb on this stage goes from Prad at 950m altitude to around 2150m, a 1200m climb which is not without challenge. It comes through the village of Trafoi and through the lower, wooded sections of the climb but also offers great views on the Ortler mountain range which is just under 4000m high. Spending the night at the Franzenshöhe only deepens the experience.
Stage 4: Franzenshöhe to Pontresina, 98km, 2600m elevation gain, Climbs: Stilfserjoch from Franzenshöhe, Passo Foscagno/Eita, Forcola di Livigno, Bernina Pass
What a stage this is with over half of the distance spent at altitude aver 2000m. It starts off tackling the remaining 600m climbing of the Stilfserjoch which is also the most iconic part of this road. There will be no warm up potential as the road just goes, bend after bend up the mountain. The road in the morning is normally empty which will be a unique experience of the Stelvio.
After a flowing and just awesome descent, Bormio comes into view. I have detailed the climb from Bormio in my climb journal pages which also has a video of the downhill from top to bottom. Bormio is a great stop for a coffee, head to the town square or stop at Stelvio Experience bicycle shop and cafe.
Leaving Bormio behind and onwards to the Passo Foscagno. This is the longest climb on this stage but unfortunately also a busy road which takes away a little bit form the awesome surrounding and the double passes of Foscagno and Eita. There is a short descent into Livigno and then a long 14km climb to the Forcola di Livigno at 2316m. This is only a modest climb of 500m elevation gain but a great open and empty valley to ride through. Lunch options are at Livigno or at Rifugio Tridentina at the Forcola di Livigno pass. This is also the border to Switzerland.
After a short descend and equally short climb, the Bernina Pass is next on the list of climbs. This is a fabulous pass in fabulous surrounding and in Swiss style, the pass is also served by a train line. The downhill goes to Pontresina for the end of the stage.
Stage 5: Pontresina to Saas im Prättigau, 100km, 1980m elevation gain, Climbs: Albula Pass
Super diverse stage with climbs, gorges, some hard packed gravel, towns and side roads. As this stage goes partly through a busy valley, main roads can't be avoided but mitigated through side roads and cycle paths where possible.
The stage starts with a descent from Pontresina and climb to the Albula pass from the East. From Punt, this is a 9km climb covering 630m elevation gain. The western approach is more famous but offers also a fabulous downhill through the Bergünerstein gorge and the view of the crazy viaducts and bridges of the Albula railway. Bahnhöfli Filisur is a good place for a coffee stop.
Once down, the route goes up to Davos which is unfortunately a main road. It navigates around the Landwasser tunnel by taking the old road through the Zügenschlucht which is 4km of hard packed gravel (avoid the 2.7km Landwasser tunnel). A lovely gorge along the Landwasser river interspersed with another crazy railway line (check the condition of the road ahead of the trip as this is primarily for walking).
The remainder of the route rides through the Landwasser valley and Graubünden, time for lunch just before Davos. The route then goes through Davos and Klosters before reaching Saas im Prättigau either through a couple of km on gravel or by staying on the main road.
Stage 6: Saas im Prättigau to Lindau, 107km, 900m elevation gain, Climbs: small inclines only
Last stage of just over 100km with a run down to Lake Constance. This route is a little bit up and down with more down than up and on side roads with the St. Luzisteig Pass the only climb (crunchy 1.7km, 164m elevation gain). The Landgasthof St Luzisteig is quite inviting for a quick stop.
The route runs to the Rhine canal and follows the Rhine on cycle paths either on the Austrian or Swiss side till Bregenz.
You can stop at Vaduz in Lichtenstein but this is a rather uneventful and boring place and best to be left to side and to continue along the Rhine to the lake.
The route ends as it started, negotiating Bregenz which has a fabulous lakeside promenade and then via a lakeside cycle path back to Lindau. This stage could be finished before lunch and Lindau provides a good selection of lunch places by the lake and its harbour. Strandlounge or Meckatzer Beergarden are rustic places. If you want to stop earlier in Bregenz, Bregenzer Segelclub, Wirtzhaus am See and Pier 69 Hafenrestaurant are nice.
