The final tracks are now available for download in the 'Downloads' section. Here you'll find the GPX tracks per day and separated for track 1a, 1b (if applicable) and 2. Please make sure that you have installed these tracks on your GPS device prior to the tour if you want to use your own GPS device.
Route Characteristics
The tour 2015 will lead us through a huge variety of different climes and cultural areas. It will more than satisfy all kinds of cyclists, those who enjoy moderate cycling on bicycle tracks in a nice landscape and those who like to speed up and conquer mountain passes with extended distances.
Route in Detail
General notes
Eagerly awaited by many cyclists we are crossing the Alps this year again. From Venice in Italy to Stuttgart in Germany. You will see historic sites, mountains and valleys and especially in Alto Adige there will be millions of apple trees along the route.
Please obey the given tracks, even if it follows a cycle path. The streets in the valleys are often main roads with heavy traffic and sometimes even closed for bikes. And suddenly you could be in a tunnel without light and no cycle lane. Please don't risk any damage and follow the given tracks. Unfortunately on the cycle paths we have no/limited access with the support vehicles.
The mountain passes should be cycled only with good weather conditions. Please inform yourself about the weather forecast if you want to climb the mountains. In particular the Passo Stelvio might be closed
Day 1 - Venice to Costabissara
We will start in Venice-Mestre in the huge Parco San Giuliano, vis-a-vis to the old town of Venice. Those who take the bus from Düsseldorf or Stuttgart will have one full day of sightseeing and enjoying the wonderful city of Venice with its canals and thousands of bridges. Don't miss to visit St. Mark's basilica, the Piazza San Marco, the bridge of sighs or a boat trip with the vaporettos or even a gondola.
After the official opening we will face a rather short and unchallenging cycling day as warm up without major inclines (Track 1). Leaving Venice behind we are cycling beneath the river Brenta in the direction of Padova. Please beware, there are some railroad tracks on the streets. Half-way on todays route is the city of Padova and not far behind our daily break point. We are cycling through the city of Padova and many of its famous touristic sites like the Piazza dei Signori, Piazza delle Erbe, the basilica di Sant'Antonio and Prato della Valle. After the break track 2 detours to the south into the Colli Euganei, a small rigde. With its three peaks (up to 365 m) on the track you will get a first taste of the mountains you can expect the next days. This area is very popular for cyclists, especially on weekends.
The next major city we will see is the nice city of Vicenza from where we quickly get to our destination, Costabissara.
Day 2 - Costabissara to Trento
Today's cycle route will lead us to Tento in Alto Adige. From Costabissara we will pass the plain venetian countryside towards Bassano del Grappa. Here the shuttle bus will drop off those cyclists who wants to skip the first part of the day.Track 1 follows the Valsugana, a very beautiful mountain valley. Cyclist of track 2 will face the first real mountain challenge with the Monte Grappa. As there are only very few stops for water/food on the way to Monte Grappa it is recommended to stop at the refugee on top of Monte Grappa (take a detour of 2km to cima grappa and then go back to the track 2 in direction of Feltre). Here you can refill your water, have some food and a breathtaking view to the Venice lagoon (on bright days). On the descent back to track 1 there is no possibility to refill water. Later on both tracks follow the river Brenta with moderate incline but beautiful landscape. Near the break point you will realise that the valley is getting very narrow, you might loose your GPS coverage for a while. After passing the Lago Caldonazzo the track slumps to the valley of the river Adige and reaches Trento, the capital of the area of Trentino-Alto Adige. Be careful, the streets are very small and often steep. But you will have scenic views. Our destination is in the far north of Trento in Gardolo.
Day 3 - Trento to Latsch
In Trento we will meet the ancient Via Claudia Augusta, the first roman road crossing the Alps, which runs parallel to the river Adige northwards to the cities of Bolzano and Merano and further on into the Vinschgau Valley. We will follow the cycle path along the river. On this day you will feel like in paradise. Millions of apple trees cover the ground of the valley of the river Adige. Alto Adige is called the fruit garden of Europe. Track 2 detours through the vineyards and to Lake Kaltern (Lago di Caldaro) with some additional meters of altitude. The break point is quite close to the city of Bolzano. From there the incline gets a bit steeper, but in Meran, after some serpentines, the hardest part of the day is already done. The rest of the day we will enjoy the beautiful Vintschgau valley. Our day will end up in the village of Latsch.
Day 4 - Latsch to Lavin
This will be one of the challenging days of the tour, but after three days of cycling everybody should be well prepared. We will leave the Vinschgau Valley (there are about 4 km of non-paved track (track 1a) or on the street (track 1b & 2)) and will head further westwards to Switzerland. Here we will cycle up the Fuornpass (Ofenpass), which is a well-paved mountain pass, which starts with a moderate incline. After succeeding the Fuornpass there is another smaller one, the Ova Spin. Those cyclists who choose track 2 will diverge from the main route in Prad to first climb the famous Passo Stelvio (Stilfser Joch), the second highest paved mountain pass in the Alps (2700 m altitude). Be careful while cycling downhill to the Umbrai valley. There is a 8 km long, non-paved road, which is quite good to cycle also for racebikes. Later on that day we will come to the valley of the river Inn, which we will follow to our destination Lavin.
Day 5 - Lavin to Dornbirn
Those cyclists, who are too exhausted to climb another mountain pass, could take the train to Klosters to bypass the Flüelapass. This train transfer is not part of the GBI services. Trainh tickets can be bought at the GBI Touroffice for 35 €. All others have the last chance to climb a mountain pass on this year's tour. From the Flüelapass we go down to the city of Davos, the highest city of the Alps and then to Klosters. From Klosters we will cycle all the way down to the valley of the river Rhine. Here we will find the days' break-point. Following the river Rhine we will cross the border of Liechtenstein and some kilometers beyond we will pass Vaduz, the picturesque capital of Liechtenstein. It is worth to detour and rest for a while and our destination Dornbirn, the portal to the Lake of Constance, is not very far away.
Day 6 - Dornbirn to Münsingen
From Dornbirn we will follow the Rhine valley for a short time, then turn eastwards to the city of Bregenz at the Lake of Constance. Here you'll have a fantastic view to the famous floating stage of Bregenz, where each year different operas are performed, this year 'Turandot'. Following the coastal road we will leave Austria and reach the bavarian city of Lindau with its lovely town with its old town and harbour on a peninsula. Leaving the Lake of Constance we will now cycle north into the hilly area of the Allgäu with no difficult mountains, but with constant ups and downs. The city of Ravensburg might inspire you for a short stop and sightseeing. And the valley 'Große Lautertal' will show you the lovely countryside here. The day will end up in the city of Münsingen. This day only one track is offered, no variation for track 2.
Day 7 - Münsingen to Stuttgart
Our last day will lead us through the Schwäbische Alp, another hilly area in southwestern Germany. But the distance is quite moderate. From Münsingen to Nürtingen we will cycle in teams. In Nürtingen all teams will line up for the group cycling (approval outstanding) of the last 20 kilometers to Stuttgart. Here we can expect a great Welcome Party at the La Grazia.
