Day 1: Kressbronn (D) to Triesenberg (LI)
After the official opening the teams start their tour individually. We almost immediately start pedalling along the shore of the Lake of Constance to Lindau with its picturesque old town on an island in the lake. Following the lakeside cycling path we cross the Austrian border and soon reach Bregenz, another lovely town at the lake. After leaving Bregenz we meet the river Rhine and we will follow the river for most of the time in the next two days. We cross the Austrian-Swiss border several times while cycling on beautiful bike paths beneath the river. After we entered Liechtenstein we leave the river for today and cross the capital of Vaduz, another must see on our way. You may stopp here for a coffee or more, as the following climb to our hotel in the hills high above Vaduz is very challenging, but you will be rewarded by a panoramic view into the Rhine valley.
Track 2 will make a longer detour right behind Lindau towards the Pfänder, the backyard mountain of Bregenz, and with stunning views to the lake. Back in Bregenz we join track 1 for the rest of the day.
Day 2: Triesenberg (LI) to Lenzerheide (CH)
From our starting point high above the Rhine Valley, we first head down to Vaduz, the darling capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein. We meet again the river, which we will follow for quite a while. In Chur we leave the Rhine Valley and tackle the only, but exhausting challenge on this rather short stage, the ascent to Lenzerheide. Behind the Lenzerheide pass there is a short downhill to the Heidsee, where our today's accommodation is located with panoramic view to the lake.
In Landquart the track 2 is leaving the Rhine valley and follows the river Landquart instead while continuously ascending into the hills of Graubünden. We cross the village of Klosters and pass the Lake Davos and reach the well-known city of Davos soon. After a long descend there is only one more climb of about 500 m in height before we reach our destination in Lenzerheide.
Day 3: Lenzerheide (CH) to Chiavenna (IT)
Today there is only one common track for all! We pedal relaxed from the Lenzerheide down into the Albula valley. After the village of Filisur the pass road to the Albula Pass starts. We pass the beautiful mountains of the Albula Alps on a (relatively) less trafficed road. Next to us, as a constant companion, the railway tracks of the Rhaetian Railway, which performs numerous spectacular twists and turns on its way to gain height. After 1280 height meters uphill a very challenging descent is waiting for us, which comes up with hairpin curves and steep sections in the last part. Down in La Punt we reach the Inn Valley and reach the famous ski resort of Sant Moritz. A little later we tackle the Maloja Pass, which is easy to ride from this side and only a few meters up. With numerous serpentines the descent into the valley starts and after we have crossed the border to Italy, it is not a long way to our destination in Chiavenna.
Day 4: Chiavenna (IT) to Erba (IT)
The gorgeous Valchiavenna forms the scenery for the first part of our day and after about 30 km we can see the glittering Lake Como for the first time. We now cycle constantly on the coastal road to the south while crossing nice villages that invite us for a coffee break or a swim stopp. In Varenna we take the short ferry to Bellagio, where we take the coastal road towards Lecco. At Onno we turn into the hilly backland with one challenging climb before we reach our final and truely splendid destination of the tour in Erba.
Right after Bellagio track 2 is climbing uphill to the well-known Sanctuario della Madonna del Ghisallo and further to the Colma di Sormano. If you want to push yourself to the maximum on the last day, take the 'short cut' of the Muro di Sormano. An average of 17% and a maximum of 25% gradient make the 280 meters up to Colma the Sormano to a truly epic adventure. Despite the beauty of the landscape, every altitude meter noted on the tarmac really hurts, and anyone who masters the wall without walking the bike can slap his shoulders and have an extra beer for these struggles. After several downhill hairpin curves we reach again the costal road and turn towards Como. After this nice city we turn to Erba for our final destination.
Day 5: Erba - Kressbronn (Departure day)
Right after breakfast a shuttle bus will bring us and our bikes back to the tour start in Kressbronn, where everybody starts his journey home individually.
Route overview
The showed tracks are just a draft and not final! The final tracks will be available around 2 months prior to tour start.
The tracks of the different stages differ in general regarding their length and the climb as well as the surface.
A detailed description can be found here:
Track 1
Recommended for all kinds of bikes including road bikes. Only paved roads on the track, if there is a need to use some (short) gravel sections, these are possible to cycle even with road bikes. In particular in the valleys it might be sometimes necessary to use some trafficed roads without separate cycling paths. If possible the track follows cycling paths.
Shorter and less challenging than track 2.
Track 2
Recommended in particular for road bikes, but possible for all kinds of bikes. Only paved roads on the track, if there is a need to use some (short) gravel sections, these are possible to cycle even with road bikes. In particular in the valleys it might be sometimes necessary to use some trafficed roads without separate cycling paths. If possible the track follows cycling paths.
The distance is longer and more climb than on track 1.
