Short and sweet

• 120 certified mountain bike routes from adrenaline to electric
• Top training opportunities for road bike pros and amateurs
• PARKADE: a cross-border bike experience in the regions of Osttirol, Friuli and Veneto
• Well thought-out measures for respectful cooperation

So close and yet so far: Just a few hours' drive from Munich and Innsbruck, travelers disappear into a completely different world - an unspoilt nature vacation awaits them in Osttirol. 266 three-thousand-metre peaks tower into the sky over a total area of more than 2,000 square kilometers. Small side valleys branch off every few minutes and open up countless tours for cyclists, from easy to sweat-inducing to challenging. Whether by road bike, mountain bike or on a family outing with an electric drive: the vacation region south of the main Alpine ridge has more than 600 kilometers of official bike trails for active cyclists. While leisure cyclists can drift along rivers such as the Drau and Isel, mountain bikers can look forward to 120 certified routes, which are divided into different levels of difficulty similar to ski slopes.

E-bikers can look forward to a sophisticated network of over 30 charging stations and routes that even allow for multi-day tours. Downhill and enduro fans can let off steam in the Lienz and Kals am Großglockner bike parks. It is not uncommon for recreational athletes to meet the world's elite bikers there, such as Alban Lakata, Felix Gall and Gabriel Wibmer, who are preparing for international competitions in their home territory. The "Land of Mountains" also offers the best training opportunities for professional and amateur racing cyclists. With highly endowed road races such as the Dolomitenrradrundfahrt or the TOUR Transalp, East Tyrol has been at the center of the international scene for many years. And if you like, you can even pedal all the way to the Adriatic in Venice, Italy.

But Osttirol would not be Osttirol if sustainability and careful treatment of nature were not at the forefront: Protected areas, responsible trail maintenance, information campaigns and visitor guidance help to protect and preserve the sensitive ecosystem around the Tyrolean enclave.

The mountain bike region of East Tyrol not only scores points with its nine mountain ranges and rewarding views of some of Austria's highest mountains, but also with routes of various levels of difficulty through pristine national park territory. The routes in the side valleys are particularly strenuous, but the unspoilt mountain landscape makes up for all the exertion. Tours through the Villgraten, Debant and Timmeltal valleys are particularly popular with off-road cyclists in good physical condition. The alpine area has a total of 120 approved routes, which are divided into different levels of difficulty depending on the slope and trail conditions. The two bike parks in Lienz on the local Hochstein mountain and Kals in the Großglockner Resort, both easily accessible by cable car, also promise an extra dose of adrenaline: Some of the single trails are suitable as practice terrain for beginners and families. Red and black markings, on the other hand, indicate high levels of difficulty and are only suitable for professionals.

In addition to qualified accommodation, bike wash and rental stations and bike stores, East Tyrol offers a comprehensive network of charging stations, which is constantly being expanded. Combination offers with and without electricity such as e-bike & via ferrata, e-bike and climb or bike and hike expand the overall portfolio. Three multi-day tours connect the capital Lienz with the nearby Adriatic Sea. By (e-)bike on low-traffic roads through Friuli and Veneto to Grado. It's not just the culinary delights that make this cross-border experience so enjoyable. On mountain passes (with transfer on request) there are hardly any more meters in altitude to conquer and the battery lasts particularly long until the Mediterranean lowlands are reached.

If you want to conquer the mountain landscape of East Tyrol by road bike, you need strength in your legs: Because the roads are constantly up and down. With its low-traffic side valleys and passes, the region south of the main Alpine ridge offers all the ingredients for a road bike Eldorado. The Staller-Sattel circuit, for example, with 150 kilometers and 1,840 meters of altitude, requires stamina and leg strength. The Glockner circuit is a real challenge. Around Austria's highest mountain, 4,700 meters of altitude have to be conquered over 180 kilometers. The highest point of the tour is at 2,505 meters, where the air gradually becomes thinner. Thanks to natural features such as varying altitudes and gradients, international cycling teams repeatedly use the vacation region for training purposes and to prepare for competitions.

It was only in July 2023 that an East Tyrolean made Austrian cycling history: 25-year-old Felix Gall won first place on the queen stage of the Tour de France. From the beginning of June, one top-class cycling event follows another in the Alpine region: The starting signal will be given on 8 June 2024 with the 36th Tour of the Dolomites, Austria's oldest cycling marathon over 112 kilometers and 1,870 meters of altitude. Eight days later on 16 June, the first stage of the international Tour Transalp 2024 will lead through Osttirol - from Lienz to Sillian. In the royal stage of the 73rd Tour of Austria on 6 July, the pros climb from the Alpine village of St. Johann via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road to the finish in the Glockner village of Kals. Excitement is also guaranteed for the spectators, as the entire Tour will be decided on this stage.

Those who prefer a more relaxed approach will find numerous enjoyable tours in East Tyrol's 600-kilometre network of cycle paths. The routes around Lienz and the surrounding villages are just as suitable for relaxed cycling fun on two wheels thanks to their low gradients as the leisurely discovery tours along the Drau and Isel rivers. Families, leisure and touring cyclists in particular appreciate the well-developed and signposted routes. For example, the cross-border Drau Cycle Path through Austria, Italy and Slovenia is one of the most beautiful of its kind in Europe, covering a total of 510 kilometers. Two of the six sections lead through East Tyrol. A real insider tip is the 29-kilometre Iseltal cycle path between Lienz and Matrei. The asphalted route mostly runs alongside the Isel, the last free-flowing glacial river in the Alps. The tour offers cyclists natural spectacles such as waterfalls, rapids and sandbanks.

Parkade is a cross-border bike experience in the regions of East Tyrol, Friuli and Veneto. In one week, bike fans can experience the most beautiful routes between the Grossglockner, the Dolomites and the Adriatic Sea. From East Tyrol's capital Lienz, the 112-kilometre day tour takes you through the mountains of the Lienz Dolomites, to the Jagdhausalmen in Defereggen Valley (82 km) or to the Oberstalleralm in Villgratental Valley (68 km). Some bike enthusiasts are drawn further south to the sea.After 190 kilometres you reach Grado, Trieste is 230 km away and a tour also leads from Lienz directly to Venice (255 km) on the Adriatic. Bikes can be rented on site, including organized return transport.

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In true "East Tyrol style", the sports destination manages cycling in the mountains with the help of well-considered measures for respectful and environmentally conscious coexistence. These include the establishment of protected areas to preserve sensitive ecosystems and animal habitats. Routes are created, approved and maintained responsibly to minimize negative impacts on the environment, for example by using natural materials and avoiding erosion. Targeted information campaigns sensitize holidaymakers and locals to nature conservation and encourage them to act ecologically. Visitor guidance measures are designed to prevent overuse and damage to sensitive areas. Through partnerships with local communities, initiatives to promote sustainable tourism and environmentally friendly cycling offers are developed and implemented.