On the road to #TotA 2026: Innsbruck and Telfs set to host the Grand Depart in Tirol

In its ten-year history, the Tour of the Alps has seen Tirol host the Grand Depart on three occasions – in Kufstein in 2017 and 2019, and in Rattenberg in 2023 – but never before in its capital city, Innsbruck.

On Sunday, April 19th, and Monday, April 20th, Innsbruck will welcome the peloton of the euro-regional stage race organised by Sport Alto Garda, scheduled to take place from April 20th to 24th. The opening day will be dedicated to teams presentation and pre-race formalities, while Monday will see the first competitive action unfold, with a 144.3 km stage starting and finishing in the northernmost capital of the Euregio Tirol–Südtirol/Alto Adige–Trentino.

As part of the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of the Euregio cooperation agreement, the 49th edition of the Tour of the Alps will also feature finishes in the other two Euregio capitals, Trento and Bozen/Bolzano.

On Tuesday, April 21st, the #TotA peloton will roll out from Telfs, a charming town set at the foot of the Wetterstein massif, before crossing into Südtirol/Alto Adige and reaching the finish in Martell/Val Martello after 147.5 kilometres.

Blending the imperial elegance of the Golden Roof and Maria Theresa Street with the raw energy of the surrounding mountains, Innsbruck will provide the backdrop for a very fast opening phase along the Inn valley floor. Running parallel to Tirol’s main river is the Innradweg, one of Europe’s longest cycle paths, stretching for more than 520 kilometres.

After passing through Telfs – the start location of Stage 2 – the route enters a circuit to be tackled twice, featuring the climb to the Mieminger Plateau, which hosts the race’s first King of the Mountains classification. Located just half an hour from Innsbruck, the plateau is renowned as a natural haven, characterised by wide-open landscapes and an extensive network of mostly flat trails.

Once out of the first loop, the course heads back towards Innsbruck before entering a second circuit of approximately 18 kilometres, also to be completed twice. This section includes the climb of Götzens: four kilometres at an average gradient of 7%, with a steep central section reaching double-digit percentages. A decisive segment for the riders, it also offers spectators the chance to admire the Sanctuary of Saints Peter and Paul, one of Austria’s finest examples of Rococo architecture. Before the fast descent towards Kematen, a short ramp leads to Axams, where a bonus sprint will be contested on the second passage.

From Axams, around twenty kilometres remain before the finish line in Innsbruck, set on the classic Rennweg straight. The same stretch of road hosted the finish of the 2018 UCI Road World Championships, where Alejandro Valverde finally claimed the rainbow jersey he had long pursued. The Rennweg is lined by some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Imperial Palace, the Tyrolean State Theatre and the Leopold Fountain, crowned by the famous equestrian statue of Leopold V.

Following the awarding of the first Melinda Green Jersey, Telfs will once again welcome the riders for Stage 2, showcasing its distinctive blend of alpine tradition and contemporary lifestyle. The hamlet of Mösern, part of the municipality, is home to the Friedensglocke des Alpenraumes – the Peace Bell of the Alps – a powerful symbol of unity among Alpine regions, and the birthplace of the Working Community of Alpine Regions, founded in 1972.

On the road to Martell/Val Martello, the peloton will face the first-category climb of Piller Höhe, a demanding ascent of 9.2 kilometres at an average gradient of 6%, set high above the Inn Valley. After the KOM, the route stays at altitude for several kilometres before descending back to the valley floor. A 25-kilometre false-flat section follows, serving as the prelude to the long climb of Reschen/Passo Resia, measuring 15.8 kilometres at an average gradient of 3.4%.

Shortly before the summit, riders will pass through Nauders, a historic customs town dating back to Roman times and overlooked by its namesake castle in the heart of the village. From there, the Tour of the Alps will leave Tirol and enter Südtirol/Alto Adige, continuing its journey across the Euregio.

“The Tour of the Alps is set to place the international spotlight firmly on the entire Innsbruck region,” said Peter Paul Mölk, President of Innsbruck Tourismus. “Starting the race here with two stages underlines the strength of our territory as a host for major sporting events, while at the same time enhancing visibility and generating a tangible economic impact across the region.”