Epic Cycling Climbs Route from Munich to Conegliano (Venice)
Epic Cycling Climbs Route
Starting from Munich, this route sets out towards Conegliano near Venice. It covers 567km, 12,000m climbing over 11 passes.
With the exception of the Grossglockner, these passes are all at lower levels and the route has therefore a more constant up and down character, especially in the Venetian Dolomites where there are great roads to explore like the Valle del Mis and the Passo San Boldo.
The northern run in through the Bavarian hills is more gentle which is great to get your riding legs going. I suggest 6 days riding and 1 rest day.
Stage 1: Munich to Kössen, 112km, 1,210m elevation gain, Climbs: Sudelfeld - The route starts with a ride through the alpine foothills in Germany, past the Schliersee lake and up the Sudelfeld for the first climb. It continues to Austria for a relaxed ride. Unfortunately there is some traffic on this stretch. If you want a very relaxed first day, take the train to Schliersee which takes 55km off the ride. See route here
Stage 2: Kössen to Ferleiten, 109km, 1,930m elevation gain, Climbs: Loferer Alm, Grossglockner toll station - The second day has some climbing in store, as we head up the Loferer Alm. This is a cracking climb of 7.3km at an average 11.5% gradient and burning legs are traded for nice views at the top. As this is a dead end climb and if you would like to preserve your legs, this is an optional extra. This takes off 15km 833m of climbing. The rest of the ride is along the valley, past the Zeller See lake and ascending to the toll station of the Grossglockner Hochalpensstrasse at Ferleiten. See route here
Stage 3: Ferleiten to Oberdrauburg, 101km, 2,760m elevation gain, Climbs: Edelweiẞspitze, Franz-Josephs-Höhe, Iselsbergpass - Spend the day at the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse and climb all available roads including the climb to the Edelweiẞspitze which covers around 1400m from Ferleiten. The route goes then past the Hochtor to the Franz-Josephs-Höhe with lovely views on the mountains and rather sad views of the ever retreating glacier (if this day is too long, you could skip the Franz Josephs Höhe). It then descends on a side road to Oberdrauburg via the Iselsbergpass which is luckily only 4km long and covers 266m elevation gain. See route here
Rest day in Oberdrauburg - This is tiny town and time is best spend walking, eating and sleeping to recover and prepare for the second half of the ride.
Stage 4: Oberdrauburg to Vigo di Cadore, 102km, 2,870m elevation gain, Climbs: Gailbergsattel, Plöckenpass (quite a few tunnels here), Sella Valcalda, Sella Ciampigotto pass - This is a hard day with multiple passes and continuous up and downs. This is also a very changeable landscape coming from Austria into the Italian Dolomites. Monte Zoncolan could be included in this stage instead of the Sella Valcalda which would make this a super hard stage but I would not recommend that. See route here
Stage 5: Vigo di Cadore to Agordo, 70km, 1,900m elevation gain, Climbs: Passo Cibiana, Passo Duran - Distance and altitude eases off a bit to enjoy a lovely ride through the eastern Dolomites. This is a double header though with Passo Cibiana and Passo Duran providing the kickers. See route here
Stage 6: Agordo to Conegliano, 77km, 1,270m elevation gain, Climbs: Passo San Boldo - Last day, easy ride to Conegliano through the magical Valle de Mis gorge and over the Passo San Boldo. The northern approach to Passo San Boldo is nice but not spectacular and if you want to experience the 18 switchbacks and mad tunnels, I would suggest to ride back up from the south. This is a 6km climb covering around 450m altitude gain. It is worth it though. See route here
For those returning to Munich, here is a possible return route.
