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Road cycling tour: Timmelsjoch High Alpine Pass Road - Sölden - St. Leonhard

Road Bike · Ötztal
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  • Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstraße
    Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstraße
    Photo: Dominic Kuen, Ötztal
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    The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road is undoubtedly one of the most renowned and popular pass roads in all of Europe. On this tour you can enjoy the truly breathtaking panoramic road in both directions.
    difficult
    Distance 106.9 km
    7:09 h
    3,473 m
    3,473 m
    2,474 m
    675 m
    The ascent to Timmelsjoch Pass is almost equally steep on both sides, but much longer from the Italian side. Cyclists have to conquer about 1800 altitude meters on a distance of almost 30 km between St. Leonhard and the top of the pass. Especially the approx. 800 meter long final climb in serpentines makes a real challenge for both professionals and amateurs. The Ötztaler Cycle Marathon takes place every year on the Timmelsjoch pass road.

    The road cycling tour across 2509 meter high Timmelsjoch, Austria's highest border pass road, leads down to St. Leonhard and is a very special experience. The spectacular high Alpine road travels through Ötztal's mighty glacier world into the vineyards of the South Tyrolean Passeiertal valley and further on to Merano some 2000 meters below. It is a special feeling of freedom when crossing Timmelsjoch Pass. Passionate nature explorers can discover this tranquil north-south road away from the main traffic routes, which is also known as the Alps' "secret gap": It opens up the world of high Alpine mountains from a unique perspective. Striking architectural sculptures in futurist style are shown at five stations along the route, that provide information about the region's nature, history, culture, society and economy. At the road toll station in Hochgurgl there is also the unrivaled Motorcycle Museum, Europe's highest of its kind with some 230 exhibits from more than 100 manufacturers.

    Author’s recommendation

    A trip to Timmelsjoch shortly after the summer season opening in late May promises snow walls up to five meters high plus a special experience.
    Profile picture of Dominic Kuen
    Author
    Dominic Kuen
    Update: February 05, 2024
    Difficulty
    difficult
    Overall difficulty
    difficult

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    2,474 m
    Lowest point
    675 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
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    Track types

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    Rest stops

    TIPP Alpenpässe Tirol ➤Timmelsjoch von Nordtirol nach Südtirol

    Safety information

    National road traffic regulations apply. Generally valid and common rules of conduct.

    Please note that there is an increased risk of accidents and injuries in road cycling sports. Despite accurate tour planning, there is always a basic risk. Appropriate tour preparation including endurance sports, suitable training programs and further education as well as personal circumspection considerably reduce accidents and risks.

     

     

    Safe Alpine Pass Ride on Bicycles

    The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road is a popular sporting challenge for many cycling enthusiasts. Due to this popularity of the pass road as an excursion destination and border crossing point from Ötztal into Passeiertal, there is a high density of traffic especially on weekends.

    Special tips for a perfect Timmelsjoch Pass Cycle Tour:

    • If you have free rein to plan your bicycle tour, you should tackle the pass road on Saturdays and Sundays not between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. Advantage: Less traffic, more nature enjoyment and focus on your own sports experience.
    • For your own safety, handle your bicycle with maximum caution and ride with enough foresight. Both as an individual sportsman/woman and as a group.
    • Regardless of whether in the flat countryside or on a high Alpine road: The maxim of mutual consideration and personal responsibility applies to all road users.

    Tips and suggestions

    More details about biking & cycling in Ötztal: https://www.oetztal.com/biken 

    Turn-by-turn directions

    The well maintained asphalt road on the Austrian side starts in Sölden at Freizeit Arena leisure center and leads southwards along the main road. 1000 altitude meters on 23.5 kilometers are also a challenge for well-trained cyclists. On the first few kilometers after Sölden, you leave behind the junction to Venter Tal valley on the right in Zwieselstein. After that, the steep climb with gradients of up to 13 percent to the junction in Obergurgl really requires a lot of stamina. You keep to the left where the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road begins. It leads via Hochgurgl, past the road toll stating, before it drops another 150 meters into Timmelsbach valley - followed by the final climb with six hairpin bends and a gradient of about 10 percent, that takes you up to the main Alpine ridge. After the really long downhill section of the high Alpine road on the Italian side you reach the roundabout in St. Leonhard where the next climb begins. At the roundabout you take the first exit. Afterwards you will find a pizzeria and some typical inns that are ideal for strengthening yourself before you tackle the 30 kilometer long climb. The quiet side road through the villages of Breiteben and Platt leads to Moos where you turn again into the High Alpine Road. From here you return on the same route in the direction of the Pass and further on to Sölden.
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    Public transport

    Enjoy a both comfortable and relaxing train ride to the train station in Ötztal Bahnhof. You get off the train in ÖTZTAL Bahnhof where you change to a public bus or local taxi. The current bus schedule can be found at: http://fahrplan.vvt.at

    Directions

    Sölden is located in the western part of Austria in the state TYROL, in a southern side valley of the Inn valley - the ÖTZTAL. For your arrival by car, you can plan the best route from your home town with the route planner online at https://www.google.at/maps

    Parking

    The following parking facilities are available in Sölden:
    • Parking lot Postplatz
    • parking lot Stiegele
    • stair parking
    • Giggijochbahn + underground garage
    • Gaislachkoglbahn + underground garage
    • Parking Hochsölden
    • parking garage Hochsölden 1. parking lot

    All parking is free during the day.

     

    Parking for several days (eg hike tour):

    • Postplatz, Parkticket available at the information Sölden
    • Parkgarage Gaislachkoglbahn, Parkticket either online or directly at the cash desk of the Gaislachkoglbahn

    Coordinates

    DD
    46.969464, 11.010100
    DMS
    46°58'10.1"N 11°00'36.4"E
    UTM
    32T 652904 5203731
    w3w 
    ///bodes.chaps.fateful
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    The personal cycling equipment must be safe, ready for use and correspond to the respective technical standard. Additionally, road cyclists are strongly recommended to find out more about the planned tours in specialist literature or on site. Complete road cycling equipment is recommended even for very experienced cyclists!

    Special tip: Bicycle lighting is advisable for the partially sparsely illuminated tunnels.

    Similar routes nearby

    • Rennradtour Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstraße - Sölden - Pfelders
    • Road cycling tour: Sölden - Ötztal Glacier Road up to Rettenbach Glacier
    • Rennradtour - Innerötztaler Trainingsrunde
    • Rennradtour ins ewige Eis Sölden - Rettenbach Gletscher
    • Rennradtour - Sölden - Timmelsjoch
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    Difficulty
    difficult
    Overall difficulty
    difficult

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    106.9 km
    Duration
    7:09 h
    Ascent
    3,473 m
    Descent
    3,473 m
    Highest point
    2,474 m
    Lowest point
    675 m
    Out and back Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Geological highlights

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