The Endura Alpen-Traum
Crossing the Alps in a Day
News Release / 18.07.2013
The ENDURA ALPEN-TRAUM is the ultimate race for professional and amateur cyclists, following Hannibal’s legendary route across the Alps through Sonthofen, Landeck and Sulden. The race is unique – it is the only cycling competition where the Alps are crossed in just one day and which takes in so many incredible scenic highlights along the way. The inaugural Endura Alpen-Traum is a must for all endurance road cyclists.
All riders who love the mountains will be in their element at the Endura Alpen-Traum event. The 252-kilometre stretch from Sonthofen to Sulden climbs heights of 6,078 metres and incorporates six spectacular alpine passes. The lesser known passes such as Piller Höhe and Hahntennjoch are just as stunning as the more famous one, the Stilfser Joch, which at 2,757 metres high, is the third highest passroad in Europe.
The long distance race kicks off early morning on 14 September in the Bavarian Allgäu. The route continues through the Tannheimer Valley and the Lechtaler Alps and then into the Tyrolean Inntal before going over the main chain of the Alps into the Swiss Münster Valley and then into the South Tyrolean Vinschgau where the arrival is crowned with the view of "King" Ortler, Tirol's highest peak.
Each participant has the option to either compete in the Endura Alpen-Traum as a single rider or in a team and to choose the longer or the shorter route. For those who opt to complete the shorter route, they will join the race in Landeck and have 146 kilometres to the finish line, but will still experience the most beautiful terrain of the Alps. In addition, two riders can share the long distance race in a relay classification.
Oberjoch (1155 m)
incline max: 7% | incline Ǿ: 4% | route: 6 km | ascent: 235 difference in alltitude
Germany's twistiest street, the “Jochstraße”, inclines evenly with averagely 4% and it can be rhythmically driven. About 20 kilometers past the first mountain the Gaichtpass (1060 m) follows, whose ascent can be taken in a stride.
Hahntennjoch (1894 m)
incline max: 15% | incline Ǿ: 6% | route: 14,7 km | ascent: 920 difference in altitude
Green meadows and gravel deserts line the ascent which the pros had to master during the Germany tour 2006. While it is pleasant to ride the first half, the pass shows its brutal side after a short intermediary descent. Riding with up to 15% incline towards the pass summit.
Pillerhöhe (1559 m)
ncline max: 16% | incline Ǿ: 9% | route: 7,4 km | ascent: 670 difference in altitude
650 difference in altitude on only 7,4 kilometers route – this is how you can express the challenges of the Tirolean Alpine pass in bare figures. Short, but painful; thanks to a couple of ramps.
Reschenpass (1507 m)
incline max: 11,5% | incline Ǿ: 3% | route: 16,6 km | ascent: 525 difference in altitude
More moderate and almost relaxing is the ascent to the Reschen, on the other hand. It ranges over 16,6 kilometers from Martina and runs over the Norbertshöhe.
Stilfser Joch (2757 m) over Umbrail (2501 m)
incline max: 15,7% | incline Ǿ: 8% | route 16,8 km | ascent: 1354 difference in altitude
A 13 kilometers long road winds from Santa Maria in Münstertal through the wild Val Muraunza, which even leads for a couple of kilometers over an easy to use unmade road. Once you've arrived at 250 meters the route takes you to the left to Stilfser Joch. At the latest by now the air becomes thin! On the one hand, because of the height, on the other hand, because of the steep turns that are to be found on the remaining four kilometers towards Italy's highest pass.
Final ascent Sulden (1900 m)
incline max: 15,6 % | incline Ǿ: 7% | route: 7,9 km | ascent: 530 difference in altitude
Whoever can spare a glance at the mountain world after the almost 8 kilometers long final will be greeted duly by “King“ Ortler.
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