The Tyrolean Zero Emission Explorer

We will meet you at Innsbruck airport and help you transfer by train to the hotel. Our stylish hotel is only a few hundred metres from the train station where the 2018 UCI World Road Championships finish line was located. For the adventurous, there is also the option to ride from the airport along the Inn River to the hotel – only 5.2 km!

In the afternoon, we’l have a warmup welcome ride around part of the circuit of tlhe 2018 World Road Championship!

Back at the hotel we can tweak the bikes and meet at dinner for a delicious meal and be prepped for the week of riding in the beautiful Tyrol.

After breakfast we will ride a route that is popular with the local cyclists. There is a nice flat start to warm up the legs before we head to up into the hills of Oberperfuss at 812m and then down to Sellrain Valley, crossing the pretty Melach River. At Axams we will ride through Tyrolean forest up to the Axamer Lixum at 1556m – and then enjoy the return descent to Axams. Just after Götzens we have an gentle descent to Völs and then a pleasant flat river beside the Inn River back to our hotel.

There will be time to explore Innsbruck before a special dinner in the old town.

Today we depart for Sud Tyrol – The Tyrolean region of northern Italy that was annexed by Italy in 1918 to control the alpine passes.

We will head up the Lower Wipptal, to Brenner Pass along quieter routes with cute alpine villages and bells ringing from pastures of cows and goats.

At Brenner Pass we have crossed into Italy and it is all downhill to Vipiteno. If you are still energised, we have one more option – a ride to Passo di Pennes / Penserjoch at 2,211m. If not, you can check into your hotel and enjoy the spa! Time to recover in the wellness spa or enjoy the “Alpine town with charm” before dinner.

We depart Vipiteno for a tranquil warm up ride along Val Ridanna before heading towards our challenge for the day, Passo di Monte Giovo at 2,094m. And after, an exhilarating 15km descent with 20 hairpins down to San Leonardo in Passirio. At our hotel you can rest and relax or continue riding and discover the beautiful Val Passirio to Saltusio at 490m. We can return along the gravel bike path beside the Passirio River, where you may see fly fishing, canoeists and rafters. Back at the hotel you can relax with a well-earned crisp white local wine or grappa before a delightful gourmet dinner at the hotel.

Today, our bucket list climb – the legendary Timmelsjoch or Passo del Rombo at 2,509m. You can do this!! 29km of climbing on classic serpentine roads with an average grade of only 6% with some at 10%. Yes, you can stop to take photos looking down on the stunning hairpins below and take a break. Magic!.

We’ll regroup at the summit and have lunch here. Then we have an endless 1,260m descent to Sölden in Austria at 1,352m. We found an optional ride that will take you to Otztaler Ski Resort – your decision to go as high as you want before returning to the modern Bäckelar Wirt Hotel.

For a change, we start our ride with a gentle and long 33.5km descent to Oetz before ascending to the top of the spectacular Kühtai Pass at 2017m. (Bring your camera for this ride. P.S. We bumped into the Sunweb team here when we reconned this trip!). We will continue heading down all the way to Innsbruck. A grand total of 2,050m of descent and 1,413m ascent.

And the Grand Finale... we have a challenge for those feeling up to it, Hottinger Holl. Only 3 km in length but with inclines of 28%. It's not called Holl (Hell) for nothing!

Now you can relax and really enjoy Innsbruck! Time to celebrate in the old town of Innsbruck.

Congratulations, we did it. No fossil fuel vehicles, no transfers.

In total you have ridden a minimum of 450km and completed a minimum of 8,780m.

Hopefully, you have arranged a departure from Innsbruck later in the day to allow you to sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast. We will help you pack up and escort you to your train or the airport.

We hope Grand Tours Project has delivered a Zero Emissions Tour showing the possibilities and that you will join us on our future tours.