Garmisch - Lake Garda

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From Grainau, the route climbs gently to Leermoos. Over a small side pass we drive into the Lechtal. There it goes a short piece in the direction of Arlberg and then left up the mountain. At the beginning and the end the Hahntennjoch is quite steep and we get a foretaste of the next days. In Imst we have lunch break. Over the Piller Höhe we drive first into the Pitztal and then back into the Inntal to Prutz, to our stage destination today.

Today we follow the Inn first always slightly uphill into the Lower Engadine. We will repeatedly ride parallel to the main road on small side roads, which brings us more meters in altitude, but in return we can fully enjoy the landscape of the Lower Engadine. From Zernez we then enter the Swiss National Park and tackle the last meters of altitude to the Ofen Pass. Up here we take a rest. Then follows a very long descent to our next stage destination, the medieval town of Glurns.

Today we have the royal stage of the tour ahead of us. Stelvio and Gavia Pass together are an absolute highlight and the dream of every alpine road cyclist. You will surely remember this stage for a long time. The first kilometers to Prad are for rolling in and warming up, then it's time for the ascent to the Stilfser Joch. At the top, at the foot of the Ortler, we take a break. A short rapid descent brings us to Bormio, then we continue to St. Catarina and our second climb of the day to the Gaviapass awaits us. With the Stilfser Joch in our legs, the climb to the Gaviapass is already a challenge. But the high alpine panorama up here compensates for the agony. At the pass we take a break and gather our strength again. Because the descent from the Gaviapass is not easy and requires full concentration. But now it's all downhill to our destination today, Ponte di Legno.

Today we cross Trentino mostly on secondary roads. The mountains here are no longer as high as yesterday, but the climbs are still quite challenging. From Tione we ride over a rather unknown pass in the direction of Lake Garda and then have to cope with our last short climb at Passo Ballino. A wonderful descent follows, past Lake Tenno, to Lake Garda. Swimming in the lake, triumph over the completed Transalp and a good Italian final dinner round off the tour.