All the way to the top - cranking until the mountain is conquered: on these mountain bike tours, the trails are rougher, the air is thinner and it is not uncommon to get caught in a snowstorm in August. For many bikers, this is the true form of summit happiness.
1. MADRITSCHJOCH: VIA THE ORTLER BASTION
3123 metres - they say: mountain bikers can't get any higher in the Alps. Tour guides who have had the painful experience of the ascent repeatedly advise those crossing the Alps to use the cable car. It helps at least 700 metres in altitude to the Schaubachhütte (2573 m) over the mountain. The last 550 metres up to the Joch are still tough enough. But for many climbing fans, the complete ascent of the Joch is simply a matter of honour. They push off in Prad am Stilfserjoch (920 m), crank up the 1000 metres in altitude on asphalt (alternatively via Pastelwies and Valnairalm) to Sulden, leave the cable car on the left and tackle the wide gravel road towards Madritschhütte. This is followed by another 1250 metres of steep ascent in one go with some nasty extra ramps through sometimes swampy gravel.
Total increase: 2200 metres in altitude, very steep on asphalt and gravel.
Reward for the effort: All-round panorama with the white peaks of Ortler and Königsspitze at eye level and a dream trail down into the Martell valley.
Starting point: Prad am Stilfserjoch (Vinschgau), www.suedtirol-it.com/prad
Tour info: BIKE 5/06 (tour in two days), www.mountainbiker.it
Map: Compass map no. 52 "Vinschgau Valley".
2. SIMILAUN GLACIER: IN ÖTZI'S FOOTSTEPS
Ötzi must have had bad weather when he crossed the Similaun. Because when the fog curtain closes in, it is still easy to lose your bearings on the glacier crossing. So you need perfect weather conditions and alpine experience for this undertaking in the Ötztal Alps (as with all high mountain tours). The tour starts in Sölden (1368 m) and leads via Zwieselstein to Vent (1895 m), the last settlement before the glacier crossing. A steep cart track climbs further up to the Martin-Busch-Hütte (2501 m). Here the path narrows to a path, but the view of the nearby glacier also forces you out of the saddle. Then there it is, the ice: 1.5 hours of pushing on the ice path to the Similaun hut (3017 m).
Total increase: 1600 metres in altitude, steep, with glacier crossing.
Reward for the effort: Great glacier experience, views of the Ötztal Giants and the rough downhill trail into the Schnalstal Valley (very difficult!).
Starting point: Sölden in Ötztal, Tyrol, www.soelden.com
Tour info: BIKE 3/03 (Three-day tour with Eisjöchl crossing)
Map: Compass map no. 43 "Ötztal Alps".
3. ALETSCH: ICE RINK
At 23 kilometres long, the Aletsch Glacier is the largest ice tongue in the Alps. If you want to touch the white giant, you need to be fit: from Fiesch in the Valais Rhône valley, after a short stretch of tarmac, you turn off onto a crisp gravel path that climbs through a long tunnel and only ends at the eternal ice.
Total increase: 1600 metres in altitude, 90 percent on gravel.
Reward for the effort: An exciting tunnel ride (1 kilometre), ice contact and dream views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Starting point: Fiesch in the Rhône Valley, Canton Valais, www.aletscharena.ch
Tour info: BIKE 10/98
Map: Sheet 264 "Jungfrau" (1:50 000) from www.swisstopo.ch
4. EISJÖCHL: THE LADDER TO HEAVEN FOR BIKERS
A merciless 2500 metres in altitude in one go - well-trained Alpine crossers (with rucksack) can plan roughly five hours for the ascent to the Eisjöchl (2895 m). But only if you don't have to set off. And that's not so easy, because the view of the Himmelsleiter alone can throw you off your stride: The last 14 kilometres of trail climb up the mountain flank, serpentine by serpentine, seemingly endlessly. Once you reach the top, you can look back proudly at the trail rungs you have climbed before soaking up the dreamlike summit landscape of the Texel Nature Park, then stopping off at the Stettiner Hütte for a well-earned rest and looking forward to the super descent.
Total increase: 2500 metres in altitude on asphalt and trail serpentines.
Reward for the effort: Great views of the Texelgruppe Nature Park and one of the most beautiful trails in the Alps with the descent into the Pfelderer Valley!
Starting point: Naturns, South Tyrol, www.merano-suedtirol.it/de/naturns.html
Tour info: BIKE 5/06 (tour in two days), www.mountainbiker.it
Map: Compass map no. 52 "Vinschgau Valley".
5. LES DIABLERETS: FROM SEX ROUGE DOWNWARDS
1400 vertical metres in under ten minutes - and before the true climbing enthusiasts among us start howling: You simply have to use the lift shuttle for this Swiss summit tour. Firstly, the high-speed glass gondola is an experience in itself and secondly, the ascent with freeriders and protectors would simply take too much energy. Strength and concentration that you really need for this exciting descent with a 400 metre ascent. The descent starts at an altitude of 2940 metres. With a view of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, experienced skiers first slide straight down the snow field until the mountain suddenly breaks off. Now you follow the stepped glacier bed and soon swing through trail serpentines that have been carved almost on top of each other into the mountain face.
Total increase: 1400 metres in altitude (track), 400 metres in altitude (pedalling).
Reward for the effort
: Spectacular scenery, a very tricky descent and more reward than effort.
Starting point: Les Diablerets, Bernese Alps/Switzerland, www.villars-diablerets.ch
Tour info: BIKE 4/05 (hut tour).
Map: No. 5009 "Gstaad, Adelboden" (1:50 000) from www.swisstopo.ch
6. HOHE TAUERN: BIKE TOUR AROUND THE GROSSVENEDIGER
How the Transalp Challenge participants grumbled when they were sent up the Hohe Tauern. And indeed, this main Alpine ridge group resembles a fortress. Carrying and pushing are the order of the day here. But bikers have to make sacrifices for this panoramic tour - and are richly rewarded: eye to eye with the white summit pyramid of the Großvenediger (3674 m)! However, the three-day tour first climbs from the Salzach Valley to the Kalser Tauern (2515 m), over the Klammljoch (2288 m) and again to the Krimmler Tauern (2683 m) until the destination is reached: an unobstructed view of the white giant...
Total increase: 5580 metres of elevation gain in three stages with all types of paths, but also long stretches on foot.
Reward for the effort: Gigantic Glockner panorama on the entire tour.
Starting point: Enzingerboden, Hohe Tauern/Ö, www.hohetauern.at
Tour info: BIKE 1/01 (Tour in three days).
Map: Compass map no. 39 "Glockner Group, Hohe Tauern".
7. PASSO ZÉBRU: HANS IM GLÜCK
When trials specialist Hans Rey talks about his trail descent through the Val Zébru, a fire blazes in his eyes. 1000 metres of challenging high mountain trail, but with a great flow! Before you get to that point, the Stelvio National Park is quite a challenge: from San Antonio in Valfurva, a gravel path climbs steeply at first. Ramps and washed-out gullies also get the pulse racing. But once you have left the Bormio 2000 ski area behind you, at least the view of the Forni glaciers will distract you from your burning thighs. The journey comes to an end at the Rifugio Pizzini (2700 m). Now another 300 metres of steep high mountain trail to Passo Zébru await. Then, at 3001 metres, the super trail finally drops down into Val Zébru.
Total increase: 1900 metres in altitude, often steep (approx. 300 m push).
Reward for the effort: Waterfalls, Forni glacier to touch and Hans Rey's favourite descent in the Alps.
Starting point: San Antonio in Valfurva/Italy, www.bormio.com
Tour info: BIKE 3/05 (Tour in two days)
Map: Compass map no. 072 "Stilfser Joch National Park" (1:50 000).
8. GRAN PARADISO: FOUR THOUSAND METRE PEAKS IN VIEW
"From hairpin bend to hairpin bend, the ice masses of Monte Rosa grow, the Matterhorn rises behind us - we are in the middle of the Olympus of the mountains!" The euphoria of the first-time riders on this tour around the Gran Paradiso (4061 m) knew no bounds. The challenge of this adventure tour is not to conquer the Gran Paradiso (Italy's highest mountain) itself, but to circle it on trails. The trails were once created especially for the Sardinian king, who came here to hunt. Today, mountain bikers need good stamina to master the three energy-sapping stages with various climbing sections at over 3000 metres.
Total increase: 4890 vertical metres (three stages) on asphalt, gravel, trails and high alpine via ferratas.
Reward for the effort: Lonely high mountain trails with magnificent panoramas of the world of four-thousand metre peaks.
Starting point: Valsavaranche, Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont/Italy
Tour info: BIKE 8/2002 (Three-day tour)
Map: IGC map "Il Parco Nationale del Gran Paradiso" (1:50 000).
9. STELVIO PASS: VISIT TO KING ORTLER
It is 50 kilometres long in total, climbs in 48 hairpin bends to the top of the pass at 2763 metres and is considered a pioneering achievement in mountain road construction: the Stelvio Pass road. After just five years of construction, it was opened to stagecoach traffic in 1825 and has connected the Vinschgau Valley with the Münstertal Valley and the Veltlin Valley ever since. To this day, it is considered the queen stage of the Giro d'Italia. And that already reveals its small disadvantage: the road is tarmac. But the top of the pass has the icing on the cake for bikers: the Goldseeweg. After just five minutes of pushing, you have reached the high-level trail with breathtaking views of the Ortler. It takes you back down into the valley.
Total increase: 2400 metres in altitude (incl. short climbs).
Reward for the effort: Dream panorama of the glaciers of the Ortler group. Tip: The road is closed to motorised traffic on one day in August!
Starting point: Prad am Stilfserjoch, Vinschgau/Italy, www.vinschgau.net
Tour info: BIKE 4/06 (Goldsee tour via Umbrailpass).
Map: Compass map no. 52 "Vinschgau" (1:50 000).
10. MONT CHABERTON: THE ABSOLUTE MTB SUMMIT
In the 1980s, Mont Chaberton (3136 m) in the French Maritime Alps was still the highest accessible point in the Alps - even by car. However, the old military road was not maintained and crumbled until only motorised enduro riders could reach the summit plateau. Since 2000, they have no longer been allowed up there either. However, the path has now partially slipped away. Anyone tackling the zigzag course towards the heavens should therefore have alpine experience, be in good physical condition and have a head for heights. From Fenils (1276 m) in the Italian Val di Susa, a rough gravel road winds its way across the French border and on to the Colle del Chaberton (2674 m). Now there are 500 metres of altitude difference to go before you reach absolute summit bliss.
Total increase: 1860 metres in altitude on rough gravel and exposed rocky paths (some of which are derelict), maximum gradient of 20 per cent.
Reward for the effortReal summit happiness for bikers, all-round panoramic views of the giants of the Western Alps and the pride of having been "at the top".
Starting point: Fenils in Val di Susa/Italy, Tourist Office Oulx, Tel. 0039/0122/831596.
Tour info: "Mountain Bike in Val Susa", G. Schmitz, Mulatero Editore.
Map: IGC map "Valli di Susa" (Chisone e Germanasca), 1:50 000.
GUIDED MTB TOURS
MADRITSCHJOCH
www.mountainbiker.it Various events and tours around South Tyrol.
www.maxx-bike-eldorado.com Repair service and guided tours in South Tyrol.
EISJÖCHL
www.oetzi-bike-academy.com Alpine crossings but also pure South Tyrol tours with the Eisjöchl traverse.
SIMILAUN
www.outdoor-hauschke.de In addition to climbing tours and hikes, there are also bike tours.
www.bike-holidays.com Guided tours in the Ötztal
www.soelden.com Tours with discount (Ötztal-Card).
ALETSCH GLACIER
www.tiscover.ch/sporthotelderby Accommodation with tour packages.
http://swiss-cycling-guide.ch/find-your-guide: Here you can find certified bike guides in Switzerland
STILFSERJOCH
www.bikereldorado.com Various tours in South Tyrol, including the Stelvio Pass.
www.hotelparadies.com Bed and tours in the Stelvio National Park.
GRAN PARADISO
https://verticalife.it Adventure from Nordic walking to extreme bike tours.
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Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
