Stans and Schwaz: Tour of the Alps discovers Silberregion Karwendel
The euro-regional cycling event (April 15-19) will spend two days in Tirol. Surrounded by the unique landscapes of the Inn Valley, the riders will face two demanding stages: Stage 2, tailored to puncheurs, and Stage 3, with a finale reminescent of an Ardennes classic
Like every year, the Austrian Land of Tirol readies itself to welcome the Tour of the Alps. Following the grand depart of Neumarkt/Egna and stage 1 in the Südtiroler Weinstraße/Strada del Vino dell’Alto Adige, the euro-regional stage race (April 15-19) will discover an area still unexplored by the event in previous years.
On Tuesday, April 16th, the Tour of the Alps will be welcomed in the Silberregion Karwendel, the “Silver Region” of Tirol. Famous for its silver and copper mines, this region is located in the Inn Valley, surrounded by the Karwendel chain and the Tux Alps.
The Silberregion Karwendel is a paradise where history, culture, and nature converge. A location famous for winter sports thanks to its ski areas, whilst bike and hiking represent the two main activities in the summer where tourists can head out and explore natural wonders and a rich historical heritage.
“We are proud to introduce Silberregion Karwendel to an extensive audience through the Tour of the Alps. Here, cyclists can enjoy a multitude of routes following the Inn River across Tirol”, said Silberregion Karwendel’s CEO, Elisabeth Frontull.
Rivers, valley, mountains, pristine air and more: on the occasion of Tour of the Alps’ Tirolean stages (stage 2 finishing in Stans, and stage 3 with start and finish in Schwaz), the riders will face some of the most beautiful climbs of this territory for the first time. These ascents, short but very steep, resonate with the Cotes of the Spring Classics, perfectly suited for strong puncheurs.
After the start in Salurn ADW/Salorno sSdV, in Südtirol/Alto Adige, stage 2 with its 190,7 Km crosses the border to Tirol with the KOM of Brenner Pass/Passo del Brennero. In the Inntal/Valle dell’Inn, the peloton will tackle the challenging Gnadenwald KOM. Once on top and with 15 kilometers to go, the stage will be set for the decisive attack: the route’s finale can be tricky and unpredictable due to the last 500 metres in slight uphill toward Stans.
On Wednesday, April 17th , TotA’s peloton will face stage 3 entirely in Tirol, with start and finish in Schwaz, for a 124,8 Km route. Following 90 Km of relatively easy terrain, the second part of the stage offers a completely different setting, with the Weerberg and Pillberg climbs playing a key role. Thanks to their demanding slopes, these climbs (positioned in a final loop to be repeated twice, with only the first passage awarding KOM points) are sure to make a decisive selection and will turn the last 38 kilometers into a spectacular run towards Schwaz, worthy of an Ardennes’ classic.
While relatively short, both climbs average about 10% gradient, spiking up to 13-14 percent. From the end of the last descent, there will be only about one kilometer left, even opening a chance for a solo move to succeed- A double turn with only 300 metres to go will lead the peloton into the final straight, once again with a slight incline.
" Through the Tour of the Alps, we are fortifying our region by generating substantial added value and promoting it far beyond our borders. This development is highly beneficial for us,” concluded Frontull.
