No respite, no recovery. The road up onto the Kitzbühel Horn mountain is steep; incredibly steep. No other route in Tirol is revered more by road bike enthusiasts. It traditionally features as the main highlight of the queen's stage of the Tour of Austria and demands not only excellent fitness but a healthy portion of determination. The reward at the top is a fantastic view of the surroundings and a big bowl of pasta at the mountain restaurant!
Roadbike Ride
"My local climb! The Kitzbühel Horn is without a doubt one of the toughest climbs out there – anywhere. The steepest section is known as 'Knödelfleischgraben', meaning 'Dumpling Meat Ditch', and this is where things get really, really tough. I still hold the record for the fastest ascent: 28:24 minutes."
Starting point
Centre of Kitzbühel
Finishing point
Kitzbüheler Horn
Mountain chain
Kitzbühel Alps
Length
20.6 km
Riding time
1 h 30 min
Features
- Circular route
- Handicap-accessible
- Route with e-bike charging station
Difficulty rating
difficult
Altitude
1,670m 780m
Elevation uphill 990m
Vertical metres downhill 990m
Fitness level
Technique
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
* These are approximate values and recommendations. Please take your personal fitness level, technical ability and the current weather conditions into account. Tirol Werbung cannot guarantee that the information provided is correct and accepts no liability.
Trail description
The ascent to the Kitzbühel Horn can be accessed by cycling from Kitzbühel in the direction of St. Johann. Just after leaving Kitzbühel, turn right and ride through the railway underpass. From here on, cyclists will be stretched to their physical limits. This 8 kilometre section up to the Alpenhaus has a continuous uphill gradient of 10 to 22 percent. The altitude difference between Kitzbühel (780 metres) and the Alpenhaus (1,670 metres) is covered in only 10 kilometres. The final six kilometres of the route are well signposted for cyclists. The kilometre countdown to the top is well marked, as are the steeper sections – where you are sure to work up a good sweat.
Tip! Mountain bikers can also tackle this mountain ascent as well as the additional 320 altitude metres until the very summit. The narrow trail to the peak, however, is not recommended for road bikes.
