The Kaunertal Glacier Road

Taking cyclists from the valley floor all the way to the edge of the glacier, the Kaunertal Glacier Road is a real highlight for road bike riders and one of the most spectacular climbs in the Alps. From the village of Prutz it winds its way up 29 corners and 1,900 vertical metres to an altitude of 2,750m metres. It has featured several times in the Tour of Austria and hosts the annual "Kaunertaler Gletscherkaiser" race to determine who is fastest rider from bottom to top.
Starting from Prutz, the first 20 kilometres have a relatively low uphill incline. Only just before the Gepatschstausee Reservoir at around 1,800 metres does the gradient increase to around 10% along a few winding turns. Magnificent views of the reservoir with the glacier in the background can be enjoyed from the dam. In order to completely avoid the generally low levels of traffic, you should cross the dam and ride along the side of the lake which is closed to public traffic, before you turn back onto the toll road again after around 6.5 kilometres.