Stage 1: from Nauders to Livigno
You want to know what a MTB crossing of the Alps and only have one day to spare? Then we present you with a condensed introductory course to the adventure of crossing the Alps. With all the elements that make it so fascinating. It goes through three countries - from Austria via Switzerland to Italy. Three languages are spoken along this route - Tyrolean, Rhaeto-Romanic and Italian (to be precise, Livigno even has its own dialect). At the breakfast buffet there is Tyrolean bacon and in the evening a carpaccio of bresaola, the typical beef ham from this northernmost region of Lombardy. The cultural diversity is just as exciting as the changing landscapes. The route leads through the mild climate of the Vinschgau Valley with its sun-drenched apple orchards. Along the way, the view falls up to the glaciated bald head of the Ortler, the highest peak in Tyrol at 3905 metres. After this mountain massif, the route enters the unspoilt nature of the Stelvio National Park with the epic trail through the Valmora. This route has everything that mountain biking has to offer these days. There are the new trails created for bikers in Nauders and the old paths trampled by smugglers on the way to Livigno. There are challenging climbs such as from Nauders up to Bergkastel or from Latsch up to Döss Radond. But there are also sections where you can just roll along and take in the scenery, such as on the panoramic cycle path along the shores of Lake Reschen. The Transalp-Racer have to complete this long stage in one day, but there is enough in it to split it into two slightly more relaxed but no less eventful days.
You can stop off here
If you pay attention to the signs on the first ascent to the Bergkastel, you will find the rustic Piengalm at an altitude of 2000 metres, just 200 metres from the Transalp route. After the first trail descent, the Stieralm with its sunny panoramic terrace lies at the end of the Bergkastel trail and before the start of the Plamort trail. Down by the Reschensee lake, you can enjoy the view from the terrace of the Restaurants and cafés "Mein Dörfl" stretch your feet into Lake Reschen. The restaurant Calva in Malles doesn't just have crispy pizzas on the menu. Here too, you only have to leave the GPS track by a few metres. In Santa Maria in Münstertal, the route leads over the Camping Pè da Munt with a small kiosk. At Lago San Giacomo di Fraele, again just a few metres from the route, is the Rifugio Ristoro San Giacomo. Shortly before Passo Trela and the final trail descent to Livigno is the Malga Trela on the way. And to enjoy a "gelato" from the Esidiele of the Latteria Livigno You can't avoid the lakeside anyway. In Livigno itself, the density of restaurants is immense.
Abbreviations/variants
If you want to save yourself the first ascent, you can also take the cable car up to the Bergkastel in Nauders and get straight onto the trail descent.
The stage as a short trip
From Livigno, the Swiss Postbus via Zernez and Scuol through the Inn Valley to the Martina border station (approx. two hours). Unfortunately, no bike transport is offered for the last few kilometres over the Norbertshöhe back to Nauders. Here you would have to use the Buses of the Tiroler Verkehrsverbund change trains. Conclusion: Returning by public transport on the same day is theoretically possible, but time-consuming. The bus connections are more interesting if you extend the trip to two days and want to combine bike and bus on your return the next day. But you can of course also book a taxi in Livigno, e.g. with these providers: taxiexpress.it or taxilivigno.eu.
Stage as part of a round trip (2 to 4 days)
There are several ways to turn this stage into a circular tour. One suggestion would be to start as on stage 2 via Passo Alpisella to Lago San Giacomo di Fraele. Now leave Valmora on the right and cycle to the eastern arm of Lago di Livigno (note: the path at the end is a little broken in places). Now climb up to Passo del Gallo, descend to Alp Buffalora and briefly cross the Ofen Pass on the road. Continue over the Alp da Munt to the Alp Champatsch and over the Pass da Costainas to S-Charl and on down to Scuol. Now along the Inn out of the valley to Sclamischot. Here a forest path leads from the Inn up to the border with Austria. If you feel like it, climb a little further up and meet up with the 3-country enduro trails for a little more fun on the way to Nauders. If you want to make the return journey in two days, you can stay overnight in Scuol and consider planning the route from Sur En through the Val d'Uina over to the Vinschgau Valley. You then join the outward route of the first stage, which leads back to Nauders via the Reschen Pass.
Marc Schneider's tip
From Panzersperre on the Plamort plateau, the Bunker Trail and then the Etschquellen Trail lead down to Reschen. This is the crisp variant for bikers who enjoy steep root passages and rough rock.
The 1st stage of the BIKE Transalp 2021 from Nauders to Livigno: 95.56 kilometres and 3160 metres in altitude.
Race details and registration: www.bike-transalp.de
