The question remains: gold, silver or bronze?
This is a question that all Stoneman novices need to ask themselves before tackling the 123 kilometres and 4,500 metres in altitude. The colour of the stone at the end of the tour depends on the number of days it takes to complete the route. Very sporty mountain bikers usually reach the finish in one day and can collect the gold-coloured stone. After two days, the silver trophies are waiting at the finish line and those who need a leisurely three days can still adorn themselves with a bronze stone.
Start and finish? Just as you like!
The Stoneman Taurista is the youngest member of the Stoneman family, which was created by South Tyrolean Roland Stauder. The former mountain bike pro invented the first Stoneman trail in his home region around the Sesto Dolomites. There are now four Stoneman trails in Europe. Each of them has its own special highlights, including the Stoneman Taurista, which leads through the heart of Pongau. The route can be started at any time. The starter packs are available from tourist offices and accommodation partners and contain everything you need for the tour. This includes the starter card, which must be punched at the checkpoints.
Included mountain panorama
The Stoneman Taurista is the best of mountain biking in the Salzburger Sportwelt. The flowing trails, the many mountain lakes glistening in the sun alongside the route and the unmistakable Alpine panorama make this tour a unique experience in the Alps. Thanks to the good motorway connections, mountain bikers can also reach the Salzburger Sportwelt in no time at all. Two hours by car from Munich and around two and a half hours by car from Innsbruck or Graz, the trail is also easy to complete on a weekend.
One highlight follows the next
The 123 kilometres through the mountain landscape of the Salzburger Sportwelt are peppered with many highlights and exceptional natural scenery. From Flachau, the Grießenkareck is the first highlight of the tour. The many hairpin bends up to the transition to Wagrain are the first fitness test on the route. Once at the top, mountain bikers are greeted by a breathtaking 360-degree panorama. The Dachstein with its neighbouring peaks presents itself to mountain bikers for the first and certainly not the last time. The first checkpoint for the starter card for the Lochen is also located up here. The route continues flowing through the bike park to Wagrain and then on to the next climb up to the Edelweißalm.
1000 metres non-stop uphill
The second athletic challenge follows immediately with the seemingly endless climb up to the Rossbrand. It's not just the 1000 metres uphill that can inspire respect here, the pushing and carrying sections towards the end of the climb should not be underestimated either. Once you reach the top of the Rossbrand, you are immediately rewarded with the next Dachstein panorama. A beautiful trail also awaits mountain bikers, leading across the alpine landscape towards Mandlberggut. Don't forget: Punch your starter card at the checkpoint at the summit cross! The tour leads downhill over the gentle mountain ridge until a well-maintained gravel road leads the Taurista heroes to the famous Mandlberggut.
From Oberhüttensee to Obertauern
The route continues via Mandling and Forstau up to the Oberhütte, a popular rest and overnight stop along the way. The path initially leads flat into the valley and then winds more steeply up the mountain until the Oberhütte, nestled between the peaks of the Tauern, awaits tired mountain bikers. The hut is located next to the lake of the same name, which rests idyllically in the wide valley floor and is a centre of attraction for many mountain bikers and hikers. From here, one of the most beautiful and strenuous sections of the Stoneman Taurista begins.
From Oberhüttensee, a narrow and sometimes very steep trail winds its way up to the pass at 2,110 metres, which is also the highest point of the tour. Here you have to shoulder your bike at times, as some parts are not manageable on a bike. The descent towards Obertauern is just as technical as the previous ascent and is the final test for man and bike before the final highlight of the tour from Obertauern.
The grand finale: St John's Waterfall
St John's Waterfall is nestled in an imposing rock basin. You can walk along a narrow path behind the waterfall and observe the rushing water from a completely new perspective. Over millions of years, the water has carved its way into the rock here, giving us a unique natural spectacle.
The Stoneman Taurista is far from over here. The route then leads downhill to the Gnadenalm and on through the Taurach Valley to Radstadt. The final ascent to Sattelbauer awaits here for the sporty finale. The mountain inn is the last opportunity for a refreshment stop. Bikers then turn their backs on the Dachstein and ride along fast trails towards Flachau. What awaits the mountain bikers there is the coveted stone, either gold, silver or bronze.
More information about the Stoneman Taurista: www.stoneman-taurista.com
Tip:
The Mandlberggut is known for its special schnapps, whiskies and gin varieties. The fine spirits are produced on site in the hotel's own distillery. The secret recipe for the exceptional quality is - in addition to the ingredients straight from nature - the fresh mountain water from the in-house spring and the storage in the ice palace at 2,700 metres.
