Bocchetta dei Foxi
Anghebeni/Pasubio
Foxi sounds funny, but has a devilish history. The mountain war of 1915-18 raged more fiercely on the Pasubio than anywhere else. If you don't want to take the Strada degli Eroi (Heroes' Road) from Cima Palon back to the Fugazze Pass, head for the secret Bocchetta dei Foxi. You can forget all about the sad history with this celebration of bends...
Portjoch & Russentrail
Gossensass/Brenner
Everyone knows the Brenner Pass. But not everyone knows the dynamite trails that wind their way up the mountain ridges to the west of the motorway and outlet hustle and bustle. So: Lake Garda should wait! The Brenner Pass is in no way inferior to the Tremalzo when it comes to bends. The Portjochtrail is a small marvel of mountain road engineering. With the E-MTB, the trail becomes a pure uphill hairpin bend festival. Once at the top, you roll eastwards for a few minutes and then cycle back down to Oberndorf and Gossensass on the Russentrail.
The Inca Trail
Monte Grappa/Venetia
If you like high spirits, you have to go to Monte Grappa! This 1775-metre block is the final bulwark of the Alps before they surrender to the Adriatic at Venice. Hardly any other mountain was more contested during the First World War than the Grappa. Dynamite trails still cover the mountain like a spider's web today. My favourite is hidden far away from the mainstream of Sentieri 151 and 153 at Col Moschin in the wild west of the rugged mountain range. After countless hairpin bends at the bottom in San Nazario, you know why the grappa makes you dizzy!
Valbella - the beautiful valley
Ofenpass/Graubünden
The "beautiful valley" is hidden high above the Ofen Pass on the edge of the Swiss National Park. If you want to discover it, cycle from Santa Maria in Val Müstair over the Passo Costainas to Alp Astras. This is where the steep but rideable E-MTB climb up to the pass with the beautiful name "Fuorcla Funt da S-charl" begins. Up here at an altitude of 2393 metres, the Valbella opens up to the west - a dream of mountain pines, rocks and alpine roses. And a narrow path winds its way through the centre of the "beautiful valley", ending directly at the Ofen Pass.
>> It's best to do the trail circuit around the Swiss National Park (2 days). That includes Valbella.
Fuorcla Sesvenna
Scuol/Unterengadin
The Val d'Uina is one of the most spectacular bike spots in the Alps. But the Fuorcla Sesvenna is the crowning glory. The postbus takes you from Scuol to S-charl, where the ascent to Alpe Sesvenna begins. Soon the bike has to be pushed, and at the end you have to carry it 400 metres uphill. The reward: an incredible panoramic view of the entire Engadin from 2819 metres above sea level, a challenging but never overwhelming downhill to the Sesvenna hut, a hearty snack - and a furioso finale in the Val d'Uina. The motto here is: push and marvel!
Never travelled in Scuol and the Lower Engadine before? It's best not to put it off any longer:
Andreas Kern
Andreas Kern rode from Oberstdorf to Lake Garda on Heckmair's trail in 1992 - and never got off the Transalp drug again. 33 years later, the man from Murnau knows 15 three-thousand metre bike peaks and more than 200 bike passes. Always with him: camera and drone.
