TG Sports Innsbruck Sommer 2011

106
>>> Innsbruck und das RAD
Road bike races in the Tyrol:
short and challenging
Hill climbs dominate the bicycle racing scene.
They are short, challenging climbs between 250
and 1,500 metres of elevation gain with the finish
at the end of the climb. And there are many of
these races between May and October. Traditionally,
the season opens with the Hungerburg
weekend. Last year, Harry Baumann managed
to establish a cup competition with three races.
This year, the first important date for Tyrolean cyclists
is 20–25 May. According to recent reports,
the Austrian Mountain Championships will this
year also take place during that time.
After that, one race follows the other. There are
some established races such as the Gerlosberg
Race or the race onto Erlerberg close to
Kufstein which includes the Tyrolean Mountain
Championships and some new ones such as the
Haiminger Berg Race at the beginning of June.
One of the most beautiful races is the Kühtaier
Bergkaiser Race in mid-August. The Hinterhorn
Challenge is a real classic and sets the ultimate
target time for climbs with over 600 metres of elevation
gain for everyone moving on two wheels.
The final race is the traditional Kolsassberg Race
at the beginning of October.
Marathons in the Tyrol
Cycling marathons, too, lead uphill. Ötz Valley
Marathon is the classic among all marathons and
brings over 5000 brave cyclists to Sölden these
days. The second highlight within the Tyrolean
marathon scene is the Dreiländer Giro which
starts in Nauders, in the Tyrol, and leads through
Switzerland and Italy.
The Tannheimer Tal Marathon is relatively new
with distances between 63 and 230 km leading
from Tannheim up to the Hahntennjoch and Arlberg
mountain passes. Those who are looking
for an extreme experience will enjoy the Race
Across the Alps which starts in Nauders and covers
13,000 metres of climb and 540 km of distance
in one stretch.