The highest mountain passes roads in Austria, the highest points in the Alps accessible by roadbike, the steepest climbs in the Alps( when exit restrictions are over and we can travel foren countries again). I want to ride them All. That is my personal challenge which I set myself during the absurd time of isolation the past 8 weeks. A goal that goes far beyond my dreams. Overcoming- Beat „ Den Schweinenhund in mir „ as they say in German. What says : beat the devil in you who tells you to give up!
The Ötztal Road from out where i startet in Längenfeld is about 41 kilometres long and has an average gradient of 10.5%. It is one of the 2 Cycling Roads every cyclist want to climbs in Austria. It leads to one of the highest points in Ötztal region accessible by road bike, at 2520 metres above sea level.
My legs quickly filled up with toxins, my lungs streak for oxygen the first time I really climbed this ride. I had intentionally already driven 9 km to exclude this, an inner voice covers me with wild curses: you idiot! you haven’t even covered two kilometers of climbing and you are already guilty of oxygen!
When God created racing cyclists, he didn’t just create thoroughbreds. But also mules… One thing I will never master, the strengths of the horses, the ability to shift through the gears when the going gets tough, and I’m beginning to feel that. So I decide not to go up fast but calmly, at a pace that feels comfortable. It fits, even, where I am often overtaken by ebikers, which could almost break my moral several times.. but not did eventually!
The Timmelsjoch (Italian: Passo del Rombo) is a 2520 meter high mountain pass on the border between Austrian Tyrol and Italian South Tyrol. The pass connects Sölden in the Ötztal with St. Leonhard in Passeier in the Passeiertal towards Meran. The Timmelsjoch separates the Ötztal Alps from the Stubai Alps and is situated between two peaks, the Jochköpfl (3141 m) in the northeast and the Wurmkogl (3082 m) in the southwest. The pass is much less important to traffic than the Reschenpass (40 kilometers to the west) or the Brennerpass (25 kilometers to the east). The name Timmels probably comes from the Latin tumulus, which means hill.
I run out of strength more than once and it seemed to me as if I was driving backwards. Before hairpin bend 3 to Obergürgle, a girl quickly overtakes me. That may sound as a terribly sexist , but I ride a racing bike. I am now struggling and tare myself apart up the mountain completely. I haven’t overtaken a single one myself since the first pace. This girl overtakes me as if I would stand still. Again my moral and inner voice gets the upper hand .. again I have to fight two battles .. one with the mountain, the other with the pig dog in my head.
Built new in 2015 the road is a challenge for even the fittest of riders and leads from the village of Sölden through the spectacular Obergürgel and Hochgürgle up to the ski resorts at the end of the Ötztal Valley. After 14.5 kilometres and after passing through Zwieselstein in the Alps, it goes up to the Top , only high meters of pedaling.
More than once i show myself : nothing is impossible
The trip across the 2520 meter high Timmelsjoch, Austria’s highest border crossing at 2200 meter, is an unforgettable experience. The spectacular Hochalpenstraße toll road leads through the Ötztal glacier world and the South Tyrolean vineyards from the Passeiertal to Meran. The ride over the Timmelsjoch radiates a special feeling of freedom. The quiet North-South connection outside the main traffic routes and the “Heimliche lücke” connection offer visitors the opportunity to discover the world of the high mountains.
It was sad that after the control piont at 2200m i couldn’t get higher because they blocked the road.There is still a lot of snow and the road isn’t opened because of the close border to Italy, but to get here was priceless.
I pedal 945 High meters my slowest move was about 6kmh and my fastest about 65 kmh downhill. Not bad at all from my perspective.
The second half of this climb, starting in Obergurgl, is great. There is serious climbing and there are beautiful views of mountains with snow and ice, including the Ramolkogel (3549 meters) and Schalfkogel (3537 meters) south of Obergurgl. The last few kilometers before the pass are also beautiful. The first eleven kilometers to Obergurgl are less interesting. There are some steep passages between, especially the first kilometer (8%) and the first two kilometers after Zwieselstein (7-10%). Other pieces are easier, sometimes running almost horizontally or even slightly downwards. No traffic because the road is close to cross to Italy , lucky me :). From Obergurgl it goes up steeply for 2.5 kilometers through a beautiful, open forest with a steepest kilometer of over 11%. After the toll house – i will tell you soon as it is open again- one of my main goals to ride it coming from Italy side.
As i always do since i started micro adventures , i sleep in my car on a really beautiful spot surrounded by nature mountains. When i walk up i could see what i conquer : The Timmelsjoch – yes a victory feeling surrounded and accompanied me on my way back home.
On the Road 