Epic Cycling Climbs Route crossing Austria from Bregenz to Graz
West - East ride starting at the western end of Austria in Bregenz and ending in Graz. The route covers 822km, 13 climbs and 18,500m elevation gain. The terrain is super varied and covers the highest mountains but also mountain roads at lower altitude in a more gentle setting. It covers cycling along valleys and crazy steep climbs. It passes pretty villages and shows off Austria from its best side. I would plan for 8 riding and 1 rest days.
The ride covers magical climbs and includes the Pfänder, Hochtannbergpass, Hahntennjoch, Kühtai via the Sülzer Sattel, Zillertaler Höhenstrasse, Gerlospass, Edelweissspitze, Franz-Josephs-Höhe, Eisenthalhöhe and Schietzlerscharte on the Nockalmstrasse, Hochrindl and Klippiztörle.
Epic Cycling Climbs Route
Stage 1: Bregenz to Elmen, 128km, 2780m elevation gain, Climbs: Pfänder, Lorena, Hochtannberg - Lovely start to the ride with climbing the Pfänder for a view over Lake Constance before returning to Bregenz and into the Bregenzerwald. Rolling hills and cliffy mountains await as you roll through the lovely landscape and climb gradually up the Hochtannbergpass. The decent to Elmen in nearly 40km which takes the edge off the stage (for an easier route either drop the Pfänder or Lorena pass). See route here
Stage 2: Elmen to Axams, 89km, 2800m elevation gain, Climbs: Hahntennjoch, Kühtai -This is a tough day with two HC climbs on the menu, the Hahntennjoch and the Kühtai. Both exemplify Austrian road building of steep and direct roads. The Kühtai can be climbed from Ötz Bahnhof for a tougher climb via the Sülzer Sattel or from Ötz village for a slight easier ride. The downhill takes you to Axams, always staying above the Inntal (for an easier route climb the Kühtai from Ötz village). See route here
Stage 3: Axams to Hippach, 114km, 2450m elevation gain, Climbs: Zillertaler Höhenstrasse - The first part of the route meanders up and down around Innsbruck before joining the Inn- and Zillertal valleys, riding for nearly 50km on the flat valley floor. This comes to an end at Ried in the Ziller Tal. Here we turn on the feared Zillertaler Höhenstrasse, HC category (there is an SHC climb from Aschau a couple of km further down the valley which is steeper but less climbing). This is a difficult end to the day with a grueling climb to the Melchboden at 2029m altitude. If you wanted an extra day, this would be the place to do it and to spend the extra day exploring the Zillertaler Höhenstrasse and surroundings (for an easier route, break this stage in two). See route here
Stage 4: Hippach to Bruck, 90km, 1240m elevation gain, Climbs: Gerlospass - This is an easier day, climbing the Gerlospass from Hippach which is unfortunately a busy road but thankfully a modest climb of 940m over around 24km. The rest of the route goes for 60km downhill or flat to Bruck via the Tauern cycle path. See route here
Rest day in Bruck - Zell am See is close by and worth spending time on the lake. A train connects Bruck to Zell, there are places to bath on the lake or to take a cable car up the mountains. If you want to properly chill, visit the Tauern Therme in Kaprun.
Stage 5: Bruck to Mitten, 72km, 2700m elevation gain, Climbs: Edelweiẞspitze, Franz-Josephs-Höhe - Spend the day at the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse and climb all available roads including the monster climb to the Edelweiẞspitze which covers around 1800m elevation gain from Bruck. The route goes then past the Hochtor (2507m) to the Franz-Josephs-Höhe (2400) with lovely views on the mountains and rather sad views of the ever retreating glacier before descending via a side road to Mitten (for an easier route, drop the Franz-Josephs-Höhe). See route here
Stage 6: Mitten to Innerkrems, 119km, 2090m elevation gain, Climbs: Mallnitz, Innerkrems - This is a stage valley riding with at sometimes busy roads (some provide cycle paths though). At first continue downhill, then a little climb to Mallnitz livens up valley riding. Mallnitz is a lovely village at a valley's dead end and worth of a stop. From there the road continues skirting past Spittal and climbs gently to Kremsbrücke on the Katschberg road (the adjacent motorway takes a lot of the heavy traffic off this road) before turning off to a Innerkrems which is a kicker at the end of around 500m climbing (for an easier route, drop the climb to Mallnitz). See route here
Stage 7: Innerkrems to Althofen, 109km, 2840m elevation gain, Climbs: Nockalmstrasse, Hochrindl -This is a great day riding of persistent climbing. First the route negotiates the Nockalmstrasse and the Schiestlscharte at 2024m (second climb on this road) before tackling the Hochrindl at 1617m. The Nockalmstrasse is a toll road, 34km long with 52 bends, that snakes through the wonderful Nockberge. It is also quite popular with motorbikes and an early start is recommended. The Hochrindl is a quiet road. The road then meanders up and down for the last 40km to Althofen. See route here
Stage 8: Althofen to Graz, 111km, 2180m elevation gain, Climbs: Klippitztörl, Packsattel - One last push. Two more climbs to negotiate, the Klippitztörl at 1624m (which is not to be underestimated) and the Packsattel at 1200m. After the last climb the road continues more down than up to Graz. Expect traffic to increase as you get closer to the city. Graz is sizeable city and has all amenities. To return, there is a direct train from Graz to Bregenz which takes a nearly 9 hours but also takes your bike (prebook!). See route here
