On the 227 kilometer long Ötztaler Cycle Marathon there is one thing for sure: it takes the cyclists right to the heart of the mountains. There is no other challenge that comprises four Alpine passes and 5500 altitude meters! The original route with start and finish in Sölden leads racing cyclists past idyllic villages and along the Kühtai saddle to the province's capital of Innsbruck, and further on across the Brenner Pass to South Tyrol. In some high Alpine areas, which culminate at Jaufen Pass and Timmelsjoch at 2474 meters above sea level, the athletes also fight against quickly changing weather conditions. Especially challenging are the steep climbs with a gradient of up to 18%, followed by speedy downhill stretches. The track profile definitely shows one thing - boredom is literally unknown thanks to these demanding prospects.
