Neumarkt/Egna ushers in #TotA 2024: the race hits the ground running in Südtirol/Alto Adige

The adventure of the Tour of the Alps 2024 begins among the beautiful vineyards of the Südtiroler Weinstraße/Strada del Vino dell’Alto Adige. The Euregio Trentino-Südtirol/Alto Adige-Tirol stage race will start on April 15 from Neumarkt/Egna , which was elected in 2014 as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy."

In this charming setting, on Sunday, April 14, preliminary operations and the official team presentation will take place before the challenge kicks off on Monday, April 15 : a first stage starting and finishing in Südtirol/Alto Adige, covering 133.3 km to the finish line in Kurtinig an der Weinstraße/Cortina sulla Strada del Vino.

At the Tour of the Alps, climbing is a given, and indeed, after just 25 km, athletes will face the first challenge of the 2024 edition, in Trentino: the Andalo KOM. After a long descent, the race will return to Südtirol/Alto Adige, and at km 80, there will be the first passage on the finish line to start the final circuit, which will be repeated twice, characterized by the Penone climb (4.3 km in length) with double-digit gradients in the first part and only 17 km from the last summit to the finish line.

" It is a great honour to host the Tour of the Alps for the third time in our tourist area. With its favorable climate and moderate altitudes, our region is a true paradise for cyclists, and we work to make this area cyclist-friendly. Our goal is to make our area fit for those who want to discover it by bicycle, and the Tour of the Alps will be a new opportunity to highlight our values," commented Lukas Varesco, Director of the Castelfeder an der Südtiroler Weinstraße/sulla Strada del Vino dell’Alto Adige Tourist Cooperative, an area that includes both the municipalities of Neumarkt/Egna and Salurn/Salorno.

" In Kurtinig/Cortina, history, nature, and sustainability come together, inviting residents and guests to enjoy a unique cycling experience. Our town, called the 'little Venice,' is a must-visit destination for all cycling enthusiasts. Our doors will also open during the Tour of the Alps to emphasize the attention paid to the journey,” said Manfred Mayr, Mayor of Kurtinig adV/Cortina sSdV.

The Tour of the Alps’ journey through the vineyards of Südtirol/Alto Adige will continue on the following day, Tuesday, April 16, starting from Salurn/Salorno. The southernmost locality of the renowned Weinstraße/Strada del Vino, a land of contact between Südtirol/Alto Adige and Trentino, famous for being the largest enclosed area for white wine cultivation in the area, will kick off the second stage of 190.7 km with the finish set in Stans, Tirol.

The first 116 km of the stage will start from the valley floor and steadily climb to Sterzing/Vipiteno before facing the Brenner/Brennero KOM and officially entering Tirol, where a lively finale promises some entertaining racing to decree the second stage winner of the Tour of the Alps 2024.

After a completely Tirolean third stage, Südtirol/Alto Adige will return to the forefront on Thursday, April 18 with the start from Leifers/Laives, a land famous for apple cultivation, with its 15 different varieties of fruit. The 141.3 km stage will end in Borgo Valsugana , and will be one of the toughest of the 2024 edition with nearly 4000 meters of total elevation gain.

The climbing will begin right after the flag with the rise to the St. Lugan Pass/Passo San Lugano, which will take the caravan into the Cembra Valley . From here, a continuous and challenging succession of alpine climbs and descents (Redebus, Vetriolo, and Compet) will lead towards the finish line, with the final challenge of the Colle San Marco acting as the ultimate springboard for launching towards the stage victory.

“With an extensive network of cycling routes, proximity to the Adige Cycle Path, and outstanding train connections, Leifers/Laives stands as the perfect starting point for a variety of tours. Our cycling infrastructure is constantly evolving, with upcoming projects like the construction of Südtirol/Alto Adige's first regular bike parkour on the horizon. Our goal is to position our destination as a premier choice for cycling enthusiasts," expressed Dieter Frasnelli, President of the Leifers/Laives, Branzoll/Bronzolo, and Pfatten/Vadena Tourist Association.