Transalp day 12: over the hill and out
After a rainy night I break camp early and am on the road before 8. I ride up through Warth to the Hochtannbergpass at 1676 m and starting from 1300 m elevation not much, but my legs still hurt today. Perhaps they can feel the end is nigh. Down and along the Bregenzer...
Transalp day 11: Ötztal, Inn, Lech
Today's ride is characterised more by valleys and rivers than big passes. From Sölden I ride down the Ötztal, the air still icy cold in the shade of the mountains. The bike path here is well marked and leads over forest tracks most of the time. After briefly riding...
Transalp day 10: Meran & Timmelsjoch
I start pretty late today, knowing that the road to Meran is going down along the Etsch river. I ride through the apple orchards of the Vinschgau region, making excellent pace on the bike path, parts of it like a cycling highway, parts with gravel surface. I only pass...
Transalp day 9: Bernina, Livigno, Passo di Stelvio
I start my ride after some light rain in the night. The Morteratsch glacier stays in view for a bit as I head up to the Bernina pass. From where I'm starting it's only 500 m elevation over 11 km. I reach the top quickly and head down to the turnoff towards Livigno....
Transalp day 8: Albulapass
I start the day with spectacular view into the Rhine gorge. A few kilometers onwards, I turn south towards the Hinterrhein, the other starting arm of the Rhine river. In Thusis I turn East again, riding over 40 km along the Albula river up to the pass of the same...
Transalp day 7: Gotthard & Oberalppass
I wake early and take in the sunrise before riding down to Airolo. After a quick stop to shop for groceries, I start up to the Gotthard pass. The cobblestone surface starts eearly, but is soon replaced with tarmac, until about 6km from the top. From here on, the...
Transalp day 6: Nufenenpass
I continue up the Rhône most of the day, sometimes following the river, sometimes following an official cycling path up the mountain's side. The river gets noticeably smaller and I can enjoy a quick dip in the icy water after lunch. After about 75 km I reach Ulrichen...
Transalp day 5: Lausanne – Sierre
After my forced break and with my tooth all fixed up, I take the train back to Switzerland. I will miss out on a few passes, namely the Col de Mont-Cenis, the Col d'Iseran and both the Petit and Grand Saint Bernard. But going back all the way would have taken too long...
Transalp day 4: Col du Lautaret & Grenoble
I'm still a bit sore after yesterday as I get up and I take my time getting started. Perhaps it's also a bit reluctance to end this journey early (or at least take a break). I start on a small road parallel to the main road up to the Col du Lautaret. After a few hilly...
Transalp day 3: Col de Vars & Col d’Izoard
Riding both the Col de Vars and the Col d’Izoard in one day when calamity strikes.