From Ritten/Renon to the grand finale in Bruneck/Brunico, Südtirol/Alto Adige will be the judge of the 2023 #TotA

If appetite leads to eating, Südtirol/Alto Adige seems to have applied the maxim to the letter for the 2023 Tour of the Alps (April 17-21). After departing from Alpbachtal, the Euroregional stage race will make its way to Südtirol/Alto Adige during the second stage with a finish in Ritten/Renon. It will only be a first taste before the tantalizing grand finale in Bruneck/Brunico, where the fifth stage will end.

After starting on the Euregional Tirol-Südtirol/Alto Adige-Trentino roads, the racers will arrive in Ritten/Renon on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, after 165.2 km. Starting in Reith im Alpbachtal, the first part of the route is entirely in Tirol until the Brenner Pass/Passo del Brennero. From there, a long and wide descent will take the riders to Brixen/Bressanone, where the race will get into full swing.

A short climb to Feldthurns/Velturno will warm up the athletes' legs, but the subsequent Barbian/Barbiano climb will light the fuse. The next 18 kms are mostly uphill, with the day’s second GPM at Mittelberg/Monte di Mezzo just 4 km from the finish. More ups and downs will lead to the entrance of the Ritten Arena, which sets the stage for a spectacular finish inside the ice-skating arena. Among the fastest outdoor rinks in Europe, the arena will be transformed into a velodrome for a day to celebrate the Tour of the Alps and its champions.

“Ritten/Renon is not only a perfect destination for hikers and winter sports enthusiasts looking for relaxation, but it is increasingly popular with cycling enthusiasts. More and more people are exploring this sun-kissed plateau on two wheels along the mountain bike route that leads from Oberbozen to the Renon Horn. For us, the Tour of the Alps is one of the most important sporting events of the year. This internationally renowned cycling event allows us to promote our destination and strengthen our commitment to sustainable mobility and people's physical health,” said Monika Hellrigl, director of the Renon Tourist Board.

The start of third stage, scheduled for Wednesday, April 19 and spanning 162.5 kms, will also set out from the sunny Ritten/Renon plateau with finish in Brentonico San Valentino. Straight out of the gate, a long descent will take the pack of racers to Bozen/Bolzano, from there the race will take the Adige Valley through apple orchards and vineyards to Trento.

The stage will completely change in Aldeno, with the GPM of Lago di Cei representing the first real challenge before the final ascent, 15 km to Brentonico San Valentino.

Südtirol/Alto Adige will also be the final and decisive judge of the 2023 Tour of the Alps by giving rise to the finish of the fifth stage on Friday, April 21, after 144.5 kilometres from Cavalese to Bruneck/Brunico. The centre of the Pustertal Valley/Val Pusteria will be the final showdown in this five-day battle – those who want to win the Melinda Green Jersey will have to earn it up until the last kilometre. 

After the start in Cavalese, the route immediately climbs to the Lavazè Pass, whose long descent leads right into Südtirol/Alto Adige. The race will climb the Eisacktal/Valle Isarco before entering the Pustertal Valley/Val Pusteria, alternating between flat stretches and slight climbs. With 50 kms to the finish in Kiens/Chienes,  the peloton will find a short but challenging uphill section just ahead of the first pass over the finish line in Bruneck/Brunico.

A long final circuit begins from the finish line and heads skyward up the Mühlbach/Riomolino climb, with an average grade of 8.2 per cent but peaks as high as 18 per cent. This will be the final challenge for those who want to win the general classification. There are 19 kilometres to the finish line from the top of the climb, the first five of which will be continuous ups and downs, eight of steep and winding descent and six flat kilometres to the finish line on the central Bastioni road.

"The Tour of the Alps not only represents a sporting highlight for Bruneck/Brunico but is also important from a tourism perspective. We are even more proud that the town of Bruneck has been chosen for the finish of the final stage and that we are able to promote cycling tourism through this sporting event,” said Alfred Unterkircher, director of the Bruneck/Kronplatz Tourist Office. “Cycling and mountain biking are now among the favorite summer sports for our destination. Both recreational cyclists and mountain bikers can try their hand at challenging uphill and downhill routes on the outskirts of Bruneck/Brunico or breathe in the fresh forest air along the valley's bike paths. In addition, thanks to intermodal travel solutions, it’s possible to take advantage of bicycle transport on the Pustertal Valley/Val Pusteria railway line and thus face a less demanding cycling experience to or from Bruneck/Brunico".