Road cycling route - Sölden - Tiefenbach Glacier
Description
The right "mountain riding training": Not so many kilometers but many altitude meters characterize this route.
Map & elevation profile
The Tour
The right "mountain riding training": Not so many kilometers but many altitude meters characterize this route.
At the southern end of Sölden, the road branches off to the right to the two glacier ski areas Rettenbachferner (known from the Alpine Ski World Cup season opener) and Tiefenbachferner as well as to Hochsölden. With an average gradient of 10.5%, the Ötztal glacier road is, however, no easy task. This challenging route along the road built in 1972 leads from Sölden through the spectacular Rettenbach valley up to the glacier ski areas in the Ötztal. The wild beauty of the high alpine terrain is as breathtaking as the increasingly thin mountain air. The Rettenbach Glacier is reached after 13.6 kilometers.
The connection via the Rosi-Mittermaier tunnel to the Tiefenbach Glacier is the highest road tunnel in Europe. Lighting is advisable for the tunnel to the Tiefenbach Glacier. For record chasers, this may be enough of an incentive to take the glacier road, paved with a wonderfully smooth tar surface since 2004, under their wheels, but also for those mainly interested in scenic beauty, the trip to the eternal ice is worthwhile.
In 2005 and 2007, the glacier road was conquered by the professional cyclists of the Deutschlandtour. From 2015 to 2017, the Rettenbach Glacier was the destination of the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse.
P.S.: “The red-white-red highlight at 2830 meters. Jan Ulrich called the ascent ‘animal cruelty’ and Jens Voigt wanted to ‘call the mountain rescue and issue an avalanche warning.’ Any questions?”
Regions & Places
Mountain areas
Details
Characteristics
Way types
Safety guidelines
The road traffic regulations apply. Generally valid and usual rules of conduct.
It should be noted that there is an increased risk of accidents and injuries in road cycling. Despite careful route planning, there is always a basic risk. Tour preparation through endurance sport, appropriate training and education, as well as personal caution, reduce the accident risk and dangers.
Technical difficulty
Additional information
More information about biking & cycling in the Ötztal: https://www.oetztal.com/biken
Directions
Start at the Freizeit Arena in Sölden on the B 186 heading south. After a short warm-up ride through the town center of Sölden, the ascent to the glacier ski area begins. From Sölden, take the right turn at the town’s end towards Rettenbach Glacier and Hochsölden. At the large parking lot just before the village of Innerwald, keep left. At about 1700 meters altitude, there is the last chance to choose the “gentle” variant and follow the turn-off to Hochsölden, a mountain hotel village located at 2090 meters. But here too we keep left and follow the glacier road. Hairpin bend after hairpin bend is tackled before the Rettenbach Glacier is reached. At the top, turn left and through the Rosi-Mittermaier tunnel then you reach the Tiefenbach Glacier. The sun terrace of the glacier restaurant then invites you to a relaxing break. The breathtaking view of the surrounding glacier world makes you forget some of the hardships. The rapid descent back to Sölden then becomes pure, adrenaline-filled fun.
Arrival
Public transit
Arrival by train
Travel comfortably and safely by train to the Ötztal train station. A local bus departs directly from the station forecourt towards Obergurgl. The bus ride to Sölden takes about 1 - 1.5 hours.
All important information about bus schedules, connections, and taxi companies can be found here.
Starting point
Getting there
WHERE IS SÖLDEN?
Sölden is located in the west of Austria, in the state of TYROL, in a southern side valley of the Inn Valley – the ÖTZTAL.
Arrival from the west:
from Vorarlberg to Tyrol via the Arlberg Pass or through the Arlberg Tunnel (S 16) - Landeck - motorway A 12 towards Innsbruck - exit Ötztal after Roppener Tunnel - B 186 (35km) to Sölden
From the north:
- Bad Tölz - Achen Pass - B 181 - Jenbach - A 12 Innsbruck towards Bregenz - exit Ötztal - B 186 (35km) to Sölden
- Pfronten - Reutte - Fern Pass - Imst - A 12 towards Innsbruck - exit Ötztal after Roppener Tunnel or B 171 Tiroler Straße to Ötztal (vignette free) - B 186 (35km) to Sölden
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Ehrwald - Lermoos - Fern Pass - Imst - A 12 towards Innsbruck - exit Ötztal after Roppener Tunnel or B 171 Tiroler Straße to Ötztal (vignette free) - B 186 (35km) to Sölden
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Mittenwald - Scharnitz - Seefeld in Tirol - Telfs - A 12 towards Bregenz - exit Ötztal or B 171 Tiroler Straße to Ötztal (vignette free) - B186 (35km) to Sölden
From the east:
from Munich or Salzburg on the A 93 to Kufstein, then on the A 12 towards Bregenz, via Innsbruck to the Ötztal exit, then further on B 186 (35km) to Sölden
From the south:
from Bolzano towards Brenner (toll road) - Brenner motorway via Schönberg toll station towards Innsbruck - from Innsbruck on A 12 towards Bregenz to the Ötztal approach - further on B 186 (35km) to Sölden
Parking
At the valley stations of the Gaislachkoglbahn and the Giggijochbahn, there are sufficient free parking spaces available; free parking garages are also available. Parking is free from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Paid overnight parking of cars is possible in the Gaislachkogl parking garage:
more information about overnight parking
Equipment
Personal equipment must be safe, serviceable, and comply with the respective technical standard. Every road cyclist is recommended to inform themselves in specialist literature or locally about the planned routes. Complete road cycling equipment is definitely recommended even for the experienced!
Tip: For the partially sparsely lit tunnels, lighting is advisable.