Transalp - Crossing the Alps with a mountain bike

What is actually a transalp? Transalp is the crossing of the Alps with a mountain bike. Most of the times, a transalp leads from northern to southern direction over numerous mountain passes.

The apparently first one was developed by the mountain guide Andi Heckmaier at a time when the mountain bike started to be successful. For him as a person from Oberstdorf, the starting point was practically determined, and the destination was supposed to be Riva at the Garda Lake. Therewith, the original Heckmaier-route was determined and cycled for the first time in the year 1989. One of the first routes that was made over the official adidas - challenge (Alp crossing competition), runs from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Riva del Garda.

Most of the times, the transalp tours are made by some small groups of between two and ten mountain bikers. most of the times, the bikers are between five and ten days on tour. Instead of the kilometres, the altitude metres done are the measure of a transalp. The example of the "Via Claudia" that was already used by the Romans offers two different routes:

Light variant: 340 km and 3860 altitude metres, approximately 3 - 5 days
Heavy variant: 590 km and 20290 altitude metres, approximately 7 - 9 days

Meanwhile, there are, apart from the mountain bike crossing, also comptitions with the racing bike or even as mountain hiking tours.

Author: Kirsten Huber; Copyright: Patrick Wagner, www.tourist-guide.biz

Transalp - Crossing the Alps with a mountain bike

Index

Preparation

Stage 1 - Start in Miesbach

Stage 2: Zillertal, Austria

Stage 3: Sterzing, Italy

Stage 4: Meran (South Tyrol)

Transalp stage 5: Top of the pass Rabbijoch

Stage 6 im Trentino, Italien

Stage 7 - Arrival at the Lago di Garda