Winter destinations for pros: Off to the warmth - 4 sunny winter mountain biking destinations
Josh Welz
· 11.12.2023
The best destination against winter depression: off to the south! Whether you travel by car, train or plane doesn't just depend on the weather forecast, but also on costs and your ecological conscience. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they really want to take a plane for their biking holiday, travel sustainably by train or take the car after all. It is often very practical questions that influence the choice of the right travel vehicle.
Example E-MTB. If you want to shred the trails on holiday with your own bike, you should refrain from flying. E-bike batteries are dangerous goods and may not be transported by air. Nevertheless, travelling by air does not have to be a taboo for e-mountain bikers. There are well-equipped bike stations at many bike destinations within flying distance.
Flying is much easier with an organic bike without a motor (and battery). Nevertheless, it is still worth checking the hire prices for high-quality bike equipment at your holiday destination. This is because bike transport by plane costs between 40 and 100 euros per flight, depending on the airline.
The Planning your journey by train is also not without its problems. Although standing spaces for bikes can be reserved on international long-distance rail services, not all bike areas are really easy to reach. So it's no wonder that the vast majority of mountain bikers opt for the car when planning their winter holiday.
We asked four travel-experienced bike experts about their favourite winter destinations. Professional racers Nathalie Schneitter and Johannes Fischbach travel for a living, while for globetrotters Alban Aubert and Tobi Woggon, travelling by bike is part of their philosophy of life. Here are their travel and area tips for winter-weary mountain bikers.
Nathalie Schneitter, two-time E-MTB world champion
The 37-year-old from Solothurn had actually announced her retirement from professional cycling back in 2016. But then she celebrated a remarkable comeback. Three years after her retirement, Nathalie Schneitter rediscovered her passion for cycling. This time, however, she swapped her cross-country bike for an e-mountain bike. Her first foray into e-mountain biking brought immediate success, as in the same year she held up the title of e-mountain bike world champion after a remarkable race. Schneitter surprised everyone again at this year's UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, when she was once again allowed to slip into the rainbow jersey. As a two-time world champion, she is now the most successful female racer in the young E-MTB discipline. Schneitter is not only a successful professional racer, but also an enthusiastic cyclist. Her passion goes far beyond competitive cycling. She is known for her many cycling adventures and is often referred to as the "cycling chameleon". In preparation for the World Championships, she even took part in an ultra-cycling race in Norway, which covered 1000 kilometres and 16,500 metres in altitude.
Nathalie's travel tip: Winter destination Ticino (Switzerland)
"As we Swiss also like to ski in winter, I usually only travel south for short trips. Ticino in the southernmost tip of Switzerland is a real insider tip for me. Located on the southern side of the Alps, Ticino usually has very mild temperatures even in winter and the travelling time from home is limited for me. Whether it's Monte Barr, Monte Generoso or other great tours, I can let off steam here. Trail fun is guaranteed in any case and there's a bit of Italian flair on top, because people speak Italian in Ticino and the espresso is excellent." - Nathalie Schneitter, two-time E-MTB world champion
Info Ticino
Travelling by car: via the St Gotthard and San Bernardino tunnels. Caution: Beware of speed traps! And don't forget your vignette!
Travelling by train: Take the DB or ÖBB to Zurich or Basel, from there continue with SBB or FFS on the Gotthard line. A reservation and the international bike card are required for bike transport. Transport in special bike bags is no problem, but this also requires the international bike card.
Alban Aubert, mountain bike adventurer
Alban Aubert is a mountain bike adventurer and freerider of the first hour. For over 20 years, the French-speaking Swiss mountain biker has travelled to peaks and trails on every continent. In his search for perfect trails and the ultimate mountain bike experience, Alban has pushed boundaries time and again. Five volcanoes in five days, 20 Alpine trails in one day, various first ascents - Alban is constantly attracting attention with his crazy activities. For example, he was the first person to climb over 6000 metres on an e-mountain bike when he rode the Cerro Laguna Blanca in Argentina. In Ecuador, he set a world record for the longest descent of 5078 metres from the Chimborazo volcano. However, Alban is not driven by records. Rather, it is his thirst for adventure and discovery and his enthusiasm for mountain biking. When his expeditions are not taking him to the furthest corners of the earth, he is involved in trail building and maintenance at his home spot, the Chaumont in Neuchâtel.
Alban's travel tip: Finale Ligure winter resort (Italy)
"I rarely stay in one place. Ainsa, for example, a trail paradise in the Spanish Pyrenees, has a very pleasant climate. And if you're looking for an adventure, I recommend Morocco: Oukaimden in the Atlas Mountains, near Marrakech. Ideally, you should do this with an organiser, e.g. Exoride.net. And Finale Ligure is of course always a good option in winter. The journey is relatively short, so you can decide spontaneously depending on the weather forecast. And the good thing about e-MTBs is that you can stay away from the hustle and bustle of the shuttle." - Alban Aubert, mountain bike adventurer
Info Finale Ligure
Travelling by car: In most cases, it makes sense to travel from Germany via Switzerland. This means Bregenz - Chur - San Bernadino - Bellinzona - Como - Milan - Savona - Finale. From the German border, tolls are charged throughout! Distance: 680 km, 7 hours from Munich.
Travelling by train: Travelling to Finale Ligure is easy, except for the bike transport. Hiring a bike on site might be a better idea.
Johannes Fischbach, downhill and enduro racer
Johannes Fischbach is one of the most successful German gravity bikers. The 35-year-old is a multiple German downhill champion and has also placed in the top 20 several times in the UCI Downhill World Cup. Fischbach celebrated his greatest successes in the fourcross discipline. He finished on the World Cup podium a total of four times. In 2019, "Fischi" made history when he attempted to set a record in the MTB long jump from the ski jump in Klingenthal. An attempt that ended in a horrific crash. Fischi has been competing in the E-Enduro World Cup with his new sponsor GasGas since 2023.
Fischi's travel tip: Winter destination Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)
"I can recommend Gran Canaria to everyone as a winter destination. There is probably no other place on earth where you have a more stable good-weather climate: almost never rain, and from December to February it's usually over 20 degrees. The island is large and varied, with great trails and high mountains. Humid and green in the north, dry in the south - almost like a lunar landscape." - Johannes Fischbach, downhill and enduro racer
Info Gran Canaria
Travelling by plane: Gran Canaria (LPA) is served by direct flights from Germany several times a day. Flight prices to the Canary Islands have risen significantly since the coronavirus pandemic and vary greatly: extremely expensive during the school holidays, there are cheap bargain flights in the off-season. Taking your own bike despite high transport costs? This is out of the question for e-mountain bikers anyway, as the lithium-ion battery is considered dangerous goods and may not be transported on passenger flights. But mountain bikers, racing cyclists and trekking bikers should also ask themselves whether it is worth taking their own bike with them. Depending on the airline, bike transport by plane costs between 40 and 100 euros each way. By comparison, a well-maintained rental bike (MTB or e-MTB) costs around 35 euros per day.
Tobias Woggon, Globetrotter
Tobias Woggon is basically one thing: always on the move. The 35-year-old has been living his dream for over ten years and rides his mountain bike to earn a living. Woggon is actually from near Cologne, but lives in Upper Franconia. He has been on his bike for as long as he can remember: "At first I roamed the local forests, then I started racing. First downhill marathons like the Megavalanche, later enduro races." Woggon raced in the Enduro World Series for several seasons. His greatest success, however, was getting to know the world from the saddle of his bike: "At some point, travelling for races no longer excited me as much because you were only ever in one place for a short time and you couldn't get to know the country and its people. That's why I now travel to the most beautiful trails in the world without the stress of racing and with a camera in my luggage and try to get to know the countries from their very local side off the beaten track," says Woggon. In addition to his travels, Woggon is also responsible for regular podcasts and gives multimedia presentations.
Tobi's travel tip: Tuscany in winter (Italy)
"I've been travelling to Tuscany around Christmas time for years. Massa Marittima is always a good choice, but there is so much more, especially with an e-MTB! A real trail paradise is developing near Piombino, and the small peninsula near Orbetello is also a must with an e-bike. I like to take inspiration from the Tuscany book by Ines Thoma and Max Schuman." - Tobias Woggon, Globetrotter
Info Tuscany
Travelling by car: As a German bike tourist, you will probably be travelling to Tuscany by car. From southern Germany, you will have around 800 kilometres on the clock at the end of your journey. Coming from the north, Piombino is the quickest to reach. Punta Ala is 45 minutes further south and the Monte Argentario peninsula a good hour further south. The island of Giglio can be reached from there by ferry in just under an hour.
There are even more MTB tours in Tuscany in the book Tuscany Trails - mountain biking & dolce vita in the heart of Italy
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
