From June 18 to 24 2023 hundreds of enthusiastic road cyclists from more than 35 nations will once again experience majestic passes, renowned stage locations and a great cycling community. The new route is full of contrasts, surprising changes of scenery and impressive mountain landscapes, with seven stages from Lienz in Austria to Arco in Italy. A total of 827.30 kilometres and 18,233 metres of altitude gain - a challenge for the legs and an absolute treat for the eyes, because at the 19th edition there will certainly be no shortage of panoramas and prominent peaks.
Click here for the video route presentation 2023!
Race director Marc Schneider has designed a route that is full of surprises and differences. The TOUR Transalp scrapes past the glaciers of the Hohe Tauern and penetrates deep into the heart of the Dolomites. But it also leads to the Prosecco vines in Veneto, to the vineyards at Lake Kaltern, through the apple orchards in Val di Non and across the alpine pastures on the plateau of Asiago and Lavarone. "On the same day, first the cool mountain air and then the warm southern wind blow around your ears. And the next day the other way around" describes Marc Schneider. "You have to be prepared for things to turn out differently at the end of the day than you expected at the beginning" - the 2023 route reflects the spirit of discovery that has always been inherent in the Transalp adventure.
The most beautiful of all Dolomite passes
In addition to familiar locations and mountain passes, the route also offers novelties. From Lienz - for the first time part of the TOUR Transalp - it goes to Sillian in East Tyrol and from there on to the Italian Primiero / San Martino di Castrozza - in sporting terms the Passo Giau determines this stage, which insiders consider the most beautiful of all Dolomite passes. With the next stage destination Pederobba another premiere is on the program. It is the queen stage and so varied that you could speak of a small Transalp in itself. The next section to Folgaria does not fit the standard cliché of a Transalp - unexpected changes of scenery and ups and downs are significant for this fourth stage. On the fifth day, the route heads to the wine region of Caldaro, where the Manghen Pass, the longest and most demanding climb of the 19th edition, is on the agenda.
Finish in Arco
The sixth stage starts with a climb up Kaltern's "local mountain", the Mendel Pass, and scores with a high panoramic factor. The destination Comano Terme is also new on the TOUR Transalp list. From there, on the last day, it's only a stone's throw to the long-awaited finish in Arco, where the finishers can celebrate after seven exciting and challenging days.
All details concerning the route 2023 can be found here.
_____
🇮🇹 Tour Transalp: the 2023 route!
Fascinating and ruthless, demanding like few other races and precisely for this reason courted by the most tenacious cyclists from all over the world: this is the Tour Transalp, the stage race for Master categories (but professionals can also participate) that from June 18 to 24 will see its 19th edition, starting from Lienz and ending in Arco. Approximately 600 cyclists from 35 nations will compete for seven days covering 827 kilometers and over 18,000 meters of altitude gain, from the glaciers of the Hohe Tauern to the Dolomites, and then overlooking the Venetian plain from the natural terraces of Monte Grappa and the Asiago Plateau.
The opening day will be entirely in Austria with the Lienz-Sillian. After the Passo Giau, which stands out on the altimetry of the second stage, the third day will see the race from San Martino di Castrozza to Pederobba, tackling the Passo Brocon, Monte Grappa from the North, and the descent along Monte Tomba. The ascent of Monte Grappa from Caupo is the same one that professionals tackled at the Giro d'Italia in 2017 and at the Adriatica Ionica Race 2022. To reach the summit, one must cover 24 kilometers, with an elevation gain of approximately 1,300 meters.
The next stage, from Pederobba to Folgaria, will ignite the climbers' challenge on the Asiago Plateau. In the first 50 kilometers of the race, the course of the Piave river will be ascended, and once past Feltre, cycling will continue along the foothills of the massif in the direction of Arsiè. Upon reaching Primolano, the intrepid riders of the Tour Transalp will climb to Enego, the first and most rideable of the day's ascents, which in reality does not relent until the pass at the gates of Stoner. They will cross Foza, Gallio, Asiago, and Camporovere, then climb to Passo Vezzena, the day's highest point at 1400 meters. Leaving Lavarone behind, the Passo Sommo will remain to be conquered, before reaching the finish line in Folgaria after 141 kilometers.
The climbs will not give the competitors a break even in the final days of the competition. On the program are the Folgaria-Caldaro with the Passo Manghen, the longest climb of this edition, and the Caldaro-Comano Terme, with the Passo della Mendola and the Passo Predaia. The Comano Terme-Arco will conclude the event, made challenging by the Passes Daone and Duron.
The Tour Transalp features individual classifications and classifications for pairs of competitors, male, female, or mixed.
0 comments