With bikers into the future - the Salzkammergut Trophy is an absolute highlight in the racing calendar, a major sporting event and a dazzling advertising platform for the region in its name. Bikers know all about it. But what few people realise is that the "Trophy Land" is in Upper Austria. The province has more to offer than just the one international race weekend in July. There is, for example, the Pyhrn-Priel region. A rather blank page on the biker map. Or the Mühlviertel - who knows the network of rivers and streams with all its hidden trails? The problem here is the same as everywhere else in Austria: trails first have to be officially authorised for mountain bikers. This requires the commitment of dedicated bike guides, tourism directors and clubs.
And these tireless sleuths are not only to be found in the Salzkammergut. The guides showed us the most exciting routes in Upper Austria. We were surprised at how different the landscape of a federal state can be. Compared to the Salzkammergut and the Limestone Alps, the Mühlviertel is as flat as the famous Linzer torte. But once you bite your way through the hills there, there are some pretty steep ramps. Or the contrasts in the Kalkalpen National Park, where in addition to absolute wilderness, the bike park calls in the immediate neighbourhood. And what about the trails? There are those too. Not kilometres long, but they are always interspersed on the nine tours presented here. Whichever region you choose - we wish you lots of fun on your bike in Upper Austria!
Impressions: Bike Destination Upper Austria
Upper Austria - Events
Salzkammergut Trophy - the endurance test
211 kilometres and 7119 metres in altitude - these are the figures for the notorious A-distance. The Trophy has made a name for itself on the scene in recent years with the extreme marathon and now attracts around 800 participants to Bad Goisern for this endurance test alone.
But to reduce the Trophy to this borderline experience would not do it justice. The B-distance, the actual bike marathon, with a length of 120 kilometres and over 3,800 metres of altitude, has nothing to hide from other races either. The almost infinitely variable range of routes is also exemplary, as participants can choose from five further levels of difficulty.
There is also an E-MTB marathon on its own route, and the youngest riders can enter the winners' lists in the Junior Trophy. The place is packed: over 4500 bikers take part in the event every year.
More information at: www.trophy.at
Biting on granite at the granite marathon
Alongside the Trophy, one of the most important marathons in Austria starts in Kleinzell: the Granite Marathon. Alban Lakata (pictured right) battled his way through the quarry, the race's trademark, when he became Austrian champion in 2015. The ramps of Granitland were hard work for him too. There are four routes to choose from and a junior challenge.
More information at: www.granitmarathon.at
The Upper Austrian racing calendar
13.-14.5.2017
- Austrian Downhill Championships - www.wurbauerkogel.at/bikepark
13.-14.5.2017 - Dachstein-Salzkammergut Grand Prix - www.mtb-grandprix.at
27.5.2017 - MTB City Criterium Steyr - www.hrinkow-bikes.at
3.-4.6.2017 - Granite marathon - www.granitmarathon.at (for information see above)
3.-4.6.2017 - Wolfgangsee Challenge - www.wolfgangseechallenge.at
17.-18.6.2017 - Austria MTB Grand Prix - www.mtb-windhaag.com
25.6.2017 - Mondsee 5 Lakes Cycle Marathon - www.mondsee-radmarathon.com
8.-9.7.2017 - 24H Cycle Marathon Grieskirchen - www.radmarathon-grieskirchen.at
15.7.2017 - Salzkammergut Trophy - www.trophy.at (for information see above)
26.7.2017 - City centre criterion Wels - www.innenstadtkriterium.at
8.8.2017 - Race Around Austria - www.racearoundaustria.at
12.8.2017 - Mühlviertel 8000 - www.muehlviertel8000.at
2.9.2017 - Granitbeisser Marathon - www.granitbeisser.at
16.9.2017 - Kalktrophy Molln - www.kalktrophy.com
30.9.2017 - King of the Lake - www.atterbiker.at/king-of-the-lake
30.9.2017 - Austrian Pumptrack Series Finals - www.wurbauerkogel.at/bikepark
Upper Austria - Info
The country
With an area of 11980 square kilometres, Upper Austria is the fourth largest federal state in the Alpine republic. The highest point is the 2995 metre high summit of the Hoher Dachstein, which is also the border with Styria. The lowest point is 239 metres in Grein on the Danube. The state capital is Linz, also located on the banks of the Danube and with 200,000 inhabitants also the largest city in Upper Austria. In addition to many rural regions, the centre around the cities of Linz, Wels and Steyr in particular forms a strong economic area, which is characterised by industry and less by tourism.
The bike regions
There are four regions in Upper Austria that are of interest to bikers. The best known of these is the Salzkammergut in the south-west of the country. In the south-east, however, the Kalkalpen National Park with its surrounding villages in the Ennstal/Steyrtal region and the Pyhrn-Priel holiday region are also geared towards bikers. To the north of Linz and the Danube lies the Mühlviertel and on the other side of the Danube the Hausruck, the hilly foothills of the Alps, which is part of the Danube Upper Austria region. The city of Linz occupies a special position, attracting tourists to the banks of the Danube more with its cultural offerings than with outdoor activities.
The tour portal
On the Upper Austria Tourism website, there are descriptions of almost 200 bike tours throughout the state with filters to narrow down the search by location or region, for example. All tour information is available at www.oberoesterreich.at/biken
Contact us
Upper Austria Tourismus GmbH
Freistädter Straße 119, 4041 Linz
Phone 0043/732221022
And all the facts, data and addresses for all tourist offers in the country on the site: www.oberoesterreich.at
Upper Austria highlight: Linz
The city
Unesco declared Linz a City of Media Arts in 2014. This label is a good way to describe the young flavour of the city. Design and art lovers feel they are in the right place here, as do those who like trendy bars. A project has now been launched to offer free internet at 132 hotspots in the city. Really modern: www.linz.at
Worth seeing
You don't have to be a smoker to visit the tobacco factory: The industrial monument by Bauhaus architect Peter Behrens has now been renovated into an event centre (tabakfabrik-linz.atArt lovers will find the OK - Open House of Culture in the city centre: here you can look over the shoulders of artists (www.ok-centrum.at); Mural Harbour, graffiti and murals in the Danube harbour (www.muralharbor.at); Voestalpine Stahlwelt, modern exhibition (www.voestalpine-stahlwelt.de).
Catering tips
Stadtliebe, a modern temple of enjoyment for the young craft beer scene that only opened in September 2016 with an extensive beer menu (www.stadtliebe.at); Göttfried, restaurant & boutique hotel in the old town with 350 wines on the menu; Teichwerk, casual student bar with homemade lemonades and smoothies in the middle of the university pond.
From the local mountain to the Linzertorte
Roman Rametsteiner, former mountain bike pro from Linz, tells us what you have to see - and eat - in Linz.
Where do you go biking in Linz? Are there official routes?
The local mountain is the Gis, 927 metres above sea level and with many ascent options from Linz, which lies at 266 metres. The landlords take this into account and the inns around the city make a good living from the bikers. Another hotspot is the Pfenningberg. At an altitude of over 600 metres, it is ideal for an after-work tour, as tours can be combined with the Danube Cycle Path. To the south is the Schiltenberg. The area is much flatter here. There has been an initiative to open up routes since 2015. I was, and still am, involved here. You can find the route map on the website www.linz.at by simply entering the search term "MTB route".
Which bike shops can you recommend?
There are many. But the advice here is good, and there are experts at work: Sport Hrinkow (www.hrinkow-bikes.at), Brückl Fahrrad, Radsport Kiesl (www.radsport-kiesl.at), 2-wheel storm (www.2radsturm.at) and sports mountain and road bikes (www.sportler.at).
What are the best trendy bars and pubs for the evening?
There are many places to eat around Linz's main square and Landstraße, the shopping street in the centre. One tip, however, would be the Remembar (www.remembar.at).
Where can you go if you like good food?
For dinner we like to go to the Pöstlingbergschlössl, a great restaurant with a fantastic view over Linz to the Alps (www.poestlingberg.at). Or to the Cubus Bar directly on the Danube (www.cubus.at). The Anton is a lovely restaurant in the music theatre (www.dasanton.at), or the Schlossbrasserie in Linz Castle with a great view over the city centre and the Danube (www.schlossbrasserie.at).
What do you have to see, what do you have to visit?
Linz has a lot of cultural offerings. A great deal has been invested here, especially in the recent past. Of particular interest is the music theatre (www.landestheater-linz.at), the Ars Electronica Centre, a museum of the future (www.aec.at), the Lentos Art Museum (www.lentos.at) or the Brucknerhaus (www.brucknerhaus.at).
And finally, the most important question: Where can you find the best Linzertorte?
Definitely at the Jindrak patisserie. You can't miss it, it has several branches in the city.
Upper Austria highlight: Danube
The region
Everything that happens along the river, from the German border near Passau to the border with Lower Austria near Grein, is organised under the "Danube Region". One of the lifelines is the Danube Cycle Path, a very popular long-distance cycle route that can also be used by mountain bikers. www.donauregion.at
Worth seeing
Clam Castle, first mentioned in 1128 and still inhabited by the lords of the castle. Castle concerts from Sportfreunde Stiller to Sting (www.clam.at); Grein, the easternmost town in Upper Austria with a historic town centre on the riverbank (www.grein.info); Greinburg Castle, the landmark of Grein with a shipping museum (www.schloss-greinburg.at); canoeing on the Danube; turning back time on traditional flat-bottomed boats; Ikuna Naturresort in Natternbach, an adventure park for children and young people with Austria's only tipi hotel in the Sternenland bike region (www.ikuna.at).
Catering tips
Schörgi, Café Konditorei in Grein, voted the best ice cream parlour in Upper Austria by Life Radio listeners (www.schoergi.at); Hoamat, restaurant with hotel in Haibach, cosy inside with old wood. The chef buys locally and cooks according to grandma's recipe (www.hoamat.net).
Biking in the land of stars
There is also a network of bike tours in the neighbouring region of Granitland, on the other side of the Danube.
The bike area
Around the six municipalities of Natternbach, Neukirchen, Eschenau, St. Agatha, Peuerbach and Waldkirchen im Hausruck, there is a bike area with five designated routes and a total of 155 kilometres and 3945 metres in altitude. Sternenland, as it is called, is located south of the Schlögener Schlinge, the Danube bend roughly halfway between Passau and Linz. The tours can be combined with those in Granitland.
Bike infrastructure
In Sternenland there is nothing missing that bikers need on holiday and on tour. All route maps and GPS data are available to download. You will also find a list of towns in Sternenland with hotels and inns for bikers, bike shops for creaking parts and restaurants for growling stomachs. All addresses and information: www.sternenland.at
Roman Mittermaier from RC Sternenland reveals his insider tips:
Are there any other tour tips besides those on www.sternenland.at?
Mittermaier: Yes, the link with the tours in Granitland. There is a direct connection to the neighbouring bike region at the Danube bridge in Wesenufer. Or you can change banks with the cycle ferry in Untermühl. This way you have already made a short trip on the Zillen.
Boat trips are probably a highlight for holidaymakers? Can a boat trip also be combined with a bike tour?
Zille trips can of course be combined with bike tours. Bikes can be taken on the Zille without any problems.
Do you have any insider tips for refreshment stops on the tour or in the evening?
Schranks Wirtshaus in Eschenau offers seasonal, regional specialities and has exquisite wines, the Jagawirt in St. Agatha is known for its steaks and the Gasthof Berghamer in Neukirchen serves its guests game specialities in autumn. If you want to relax in the evening, the Revitahotel Kocher in St. Agatha offers a great wellness programme.
