Individual classic Garmisch - Lake Garda

From the Zugspitze village of Grainau, we enter the Loisach Valley, which winds its way between the mighty pale gray rocks of the Zugspitze massif and the Ammer Mountains with their deep green flanks of dense coniferous forests all the way to Tyrol. In Ehrwald we meet the Via Claudia Augusta. The old Roman path leads us along a beautiful panoramic route off the road over the Fernpass into the Inn Valley. Wonderful forest paths and fragrant pine forests await us on the way through the Gurgltal valley to Imst. Following the wild waters of the Inn upstream, we finally reach today's stage destination Prutz at the entrance to the Kaunertal valley via Landeck.

Today we cross the main ridge of the Alps and enter South Tyrol. The beginning of the stage is initially characterized by the course of the torrential Inn River, which forces its way through an impressive narrow gorge between Pfunds and the Swiss border station Martina in the Engadine. The medieval customs fortress of Altfinstermünz still bears witness to the arduous undertaking of crossing the Alps in earlier times. In numerous serpentines, but with a pleasant gradient, the road winds its way out of the Inn Valley to Nauders and from there to the Reschen Pass. There we have reached the south side of the Alps and the highest point of the tour. The old church tower of Graun rises from the deep blue waters of Lake Reschen and in the background we can see the glacier-covered flanks of the Ortler. In the face of South Tyrol's highest mountain, we roll through seemingly endless apple orchards and magnificent South Tyrolean villages with their unmistakable medieval flair and enjoy the hospitality for which the Vinschgau region is famous.

After two sporty days in the saddle, we can take a more relaxed approach to today. We discover the alpine-Mediterranean Merano, where South Tyrolean traditions merge with the Italian Dolce Vita against the impressive mountain backdrop. A varied mix of bike paths, small side roads and forest trails leads us further through picturesque villages along the South Tyrolean Wine Road. We should definitely stop for a swim at the wonderfully situated Kalterer See lake. We will spend the night in one of the well-known wine villages of the region.

The final stage begins with a long flat warm-up. Following the Adige Valley on beautifully laid out bike paths, we arrive in Trento, the capital of the province of Trentino-Alto Adige. We should not miss a detour to the center with its numerous Gothic and Renaissance buildings, the cathedral and the Neptune fountains. An espresso or small snack will motivate you for the last steep climb of the tour. Following the tracks of the Giro d'Italia, we cross the Garda mountains with stunning views towards Monte Bondone and reach the Valle dei Laghi. Picturesque lakes and huge limestone cliffs characterize the last kilometers through the Sarca Valley to Lake Garda, where we seal our gravel tour with a jump into the cool waters.