Tirol's most beautiful roadbike rides

Roadbike riding in Tirol, © Tirol Werbung/Oliver Soulas

The highest mountain pass road in Austria, the highest point in the Alps accessible by roadbike, the steepest climb in the country – Tirol is paradise for roadbike enthusiasts. In September 2018, Innsbruck-Tirol welcomed the world’s best roadbike riders for the UCI Road World Championships. To mark this historic event we have put together ten Great Rides in Tirol where amateurs can get that World Championships feeling.

Highlights range from the legendary Kitzbühel Horn mountain to the “Olympic Express” ride around Innsbruck and the ascent up along the Kaunertal Glacier Road – three routes which offer some of the best riding in the region. All in all, Tirol has 3,800 kilometres of riding on perfectly smooth roads.

These top ten most beautiful rides, as selected by our panel of three experts, all have one thing in common: great views, plenty of climbing and thrilling descents.

Roadbike riding in Kühtai, © Tirol Werbung / Soulas Oliver — InnsbruckInnsbruck - Kühtai
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*"Most of this climb is in the shade, making it an ideal challenge for hot summer days. Thanks to the Ötztal Cycle Marathon this route is today an absolute classic in the cycling scene."*
Martin Weiss, former roadbike racer
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"Most of this climb is in the shade, making it an ideal challenge for hot summer days. Thanks to the Ötztal Cycle Marathon this route is today an absolute classic in the cycling scene."

Martin Weiss, former roadbike racer

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Chiemgau Ride starting in Kufstein, © Kufsteinerland — KufsteinChiemgau Ride via Wildbichl
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"The gently rolling hills around Kufstein and the climb up onto the Niederndorferberg mountain make this beautiful ride a memorable experience. Kufstein is one of the locations which will host the start of races during the 2018 UCI Road World Championships."
Thomas Rohregger, former pro rider
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"The gently rolling hills around Kufstein and the climb up onto the Niederndorferberg mountain make this beautiful ride a memorable experience. Kufstein is one of the locations which will host the start of races during the 2018 UCI Road World Championships."

Thomas Rohregger, former pro rider

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Lienz Dolomites Ride, © Expo Groder — LienzLienz Dolomites Ride
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"One of my favourite rides. After climbing the Gailbergsattel ridge and descending back down the other side it is time for the many ups and downs of the Lesachtal Valley all the way to the Kartitscher Sattel. The Lesachtal Valley is an untouched natural paradise. Take the chance to stop off and admire the views."
Thomas Rohregger, former pro rider
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"One of my favourite rides. After climbing the Gailbergsattel ridge and descending back down the other side it is time for the many ups and downs of the Lesachtal Valley all the way to the Kartitscher Sattel. The Lesachtal Valley is an untouched natural paradise. Take the chance to stop off and admire the views."

Thomas Rohregger, former pro rider

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Roadbike ride: Bannwaldsee Ride, © TVB Tannheimer Tal/Marco Felgenhauer — TannheimBannwaldsee Ride
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"*The Tannheimertal is the most beautiful high alpine valley in Europe and an ideal place for roadbike riding. Many ancient fortresses and castles along the way make for a special experience on the bike*.“
Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team
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"The Tannheimertal is the most beautiful high alpine valley in Europe and an ideal place for roadbike riding. Many ancient fortresses and castles along the way make for a special experience on the bike.“

Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team

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Roadbike ride: Kaunertal Glacier Road, © Tirol Werbung/Marshall George — Prutz-FaggenThe Kaunertal Glacier Road
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"A giant of a mountain. It doesn't get any tougher than this. The natural landscape is raw and beautiful. Here, as you fight your way up the 41 kilometres from bottom to top, you can feel the meditative power of roadbike riding."
Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team
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"A giant of a mountain. It doesn't get any tougher than this. The natural landscape is raw and beautiful. Here, as you fight your way up the 41 kilometres from bottom to top, you can feel the meditative power of roadbike riding."

Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team

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Roadbike ride: Ötztal Glacier Road, © Tirol Werbung/Marshall George — SöldenThe Ötztal Glacier Road
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"At 2,830 metres above sea level, the highest point in Austria accessible on a roadbike. Jan Ulrich called the climb up the Ötztal Glacier Road 'cruelty to animals' and Jens Voigt wanted to 'call the mountain rescue and issue an avalanche warning'. Any more questions?“
Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team
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"At 2,830 metres above sea level, the highest point in Austria accessible on a roadbike. Jan Ulrich called the climb up the Ötztal Glacier Road 'cruelty to animals' and Jens Voigt wanted to 'call the mountain rescue and issue an avalanche warning'. Any more questions?“

Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team

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Riding the "Olympic Express" around Innsbruck, © Thomas Pupp — InnsbruckOlympia Express – Innsbruck Village Ride
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*"My favourite ride near Innsbruck. The ideal option for days when the weather is changeable, since there are plenty of opportunities to shorten the ride and head back home."*
Martin Weiss, former roadbike racer
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"My favourite ride near Innsbruck. The ideal option for days when the weather is changeable, since there are plenty of opportunities to shorten the ride and head back home."

Martin Weiss, former roadbike racer

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Roadbike ride: Zillertal High Road, © Michael Werlberger — Hippach, ZillertalZillertal High Road
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"Georg and Harald Totschnig as well as Clemens Fankhauser are three of the most well-known riders from the Zillertal Valley - and they are all great climbers. Little wonder considering the terrain they grew up riding: steep, steep, steep. The section along the ridge at the top of the climb is the most beautiful of its kind anywhere in Europe."
Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team
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"Georg and Harald Totschnig as well as Clemens Fankhauser are three of the most well-known riders from the Zillertal Valley - and they are all great climbers. Little wonder considering the terrain they grew up riding: steep, steep, steep. The section along the ridge at the top of the climb is the most beautiful of its kind anywhere in Europe."

Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team

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Roadbike riding in the Alpbachtal Valley, © Griessenböck — RattenbergRattenberg Ride: Giro Region 31
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"The climb up over this ridge is a real highlight for any roadbike enthusiast: lush meadows, traditional farmhouses, towering mountains and almost no traffic. Don't forget to stop off for a sweet treat at Café Hacker in Rattenberg, Austria's smallest town."
Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team
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"The climb up over this ridge is a real highlight for any roadbike enthusiast: lush meadows, traditional farmhouses, towering mountains and almost no traffic. Don't forget to stop off for a sweet treat at Café Hacker in Rattenberg, Austria's smallest town."

Thomas Pupp, founder of the Tirol Cycling Team

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Road Bike Ride Kitzbühler Horn, © GHOST Bikes GmbH — KitzbühelKitzbühel Horn
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"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."
Thomas Rohregger, former pro rider
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"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."

Thomas Rohregger, former pro rider

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