BIKE Transalp 2023: Stage 6 of the anniversary route to follow
Of course, the most iconic pass on Lake Garda is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the BIKE Transalp. New trails lead up to Tremalzo in the anniversary year 2023, but the descent does not yet lead directly to Riva del Garda, but turns off to Lake Ledro! Here we present stage 6 of the BIKE Transalp 2023, show variants and shortcuts and give tips for retracing the route.
BIKE Transalp 2023: Stage 6 - from Valle del Chiese to Valle di Ledro
Anyone who has ever taken the shuttle bus up the Tremalzo and looked out of the right-hand window will have spotted the long ridge of the Cima Palone (1641 m). I wonder if you can go biking there? Yes, you can! At the top of the ridge of this natural wall between Valle del Chiese and Ledro Valley, there is a spectacular ten-kilometre trail. But this balancing act will be just one of the many highlights of the sixth Transalp stage.
From the starting point of Roncone, at the northern entrance to the Valle del Chieses, the route begins with a gently sloping valley roller before climbing up to the aforementioned mountain ridge. It follows the historic Sentiero della Pace, which runs along the former front line of the First World War.
The first 700 metres in altitude can still be covered fairly easily in serpentine mode, but shortly after Malga Ringia you have to get off your bike and trudge 150 metres uphill: the surface changes to trail and soon rears up with a whopping 25 per cent gradient.
The last few metres in altitude can be pedalled again, then the ten-kilometre-long and still unknown ridge trail over the Bocca Giumella, Passo Giovo and Passo di Rango lies ahead of you. Technically experienced Lake Garda fans will love this untamed natural trail, even if some of the intermediate ramps will make your legs burn.
You can recover on the remaining descent down to Lago d'Ampola, where the second challenge of the day awaits: the really long, winding ascent up to the Tremalzo Pass. A moderately steep 1100 metres in altitude await you - it sounds long, but once you've found your rhythm, the hairpin bends almost wind themselves uphill. And you know what you're doing for. Namely for the top classic on Lake Garda: the legendary military road descent from the 1863 metre high Tremalzo Pass!
However, this stage does not take you all the way down to Riva del Garda, but turns left at the Bocca dei Fortini towards Lake Ledro. Another highlight, you will realise, when you take a dip in its crystal-clear waters at the end.
Sentiero dei Funamboli, or "rope dancer trail", is the name given to the ridge path over the mountain ridge of Cima Palone. However, this only half describes the partly exposed path. Because of its constant ups and downs, it is one thing above all: extremely strenuous. - Markus Greber, BIKE-Transalp photographer
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Info stage 6 to follow - from Valle del Chiese to Valle di Ledro
On this stage, which crosses from Valle del Chiese eastwards into Valle di Ledro, there are no cable cars to help you. However, if you've lost too much energy on the ten-kilometre ride over the ridge trail with its ramps, you can of course roll straight down to the stage finish at Lake Ledro in Valle di Ledro and simply skip the big loop over the Tremalzo.
However, you would be depriving yourself of the great Lago classic. Therefore, if you want to ride the route at touring speed rather than in a race and are thinking about shortening it, our tip: Bite up the 1100 metres of altitude difference to the Tremalzo tunnel and then speed straight down to Riva del Garda. There is practically no better way to round off a crossing of the Alps. The detailed elevation profiles of the individual BIKE Transalp stages are already available at www.bike-transalp.de
Refreshment tips
After just under half the route (26 kilometres), you reach the small village of Tiarno di Sopra in Valle di Ledro with a few bars and restaurants. However, you must stop for refreshments at the Rifugio Garda shortly before the end of the second long ascent of the day. If only to increase the anticipation of the upcoming Tremalzo serpentines.
Stage destination Lake Ledro
The small Alpine lake lies at an altitude of 655 metres, surrounded by dense mountain forests and meadows. Compared to its big brother Lake Garda, which the BIKE Transalp 2023 will not reach until the next day, it is clearly the quieter and more beautiful lake for swimming, if only because of its sunbathing lawns
At the end, the route leads directly along the western shore of Lake Ledro, just look for a nice spot to swim and stretch your legs before the stage ends in Pieve di Ledro. In this lakeside town there are some nice little hotels, bed & breakfasts and a campsite.
Abbreviations & variants
In the Ledro Valley, you can take the cycle path directly to Lake Ledro. However, the great scenic cinema at Tremalzo is then cancelled. This would therefore be a bad weather option. You can also shorten the high route between Valle del Chiese and Valle di Ledro. At Bocca Giumella, a forest road leads down into Valle di Ledro.
The stage as a short trip
You can do it on the same day: from Lake Ledro via the cycle path to Passo Ampola, downhill on the road to Storo and finally on the cycle path through the Chiese valley back to Roncone. But it's no fun. However, there are shuttle services that organise the return journey in a more relaxed way. It is clever to take a taxi from Lake Ledro to Roncone first. Or even take a taxi from Riva del Garda to Roncone, complete the stage and add the descent to Lake Garda without any metres in altitude.
The stage as part of a circular tour
One option is to combine this stage with parts of the next stage to create a two-day loop. Then ride the seventh stage as far as Lago di Tenno and finally do not turn off towards Lake Garda, but instead climb the Passo del Ballino and Passo Duron on gravel roads. After the Passo Duron, in Zuclo, the road joins the route of the fifth stagewhich leads back to Roncone. However, as mentioned above, taking a taxi from Riva to Roncone and travelling the last two stages in two days is also a great weekend trip.
Do not miss
The descent from Passo Tremalzo to Passo Nota is a piece of biking history and the impressions are so impressive that it is almost an insult to simply tear it off without stopping for a photo.
Cycling & Events
The "Ledroman" triathlon sprint will take place in Pieve di Ledro on 9 July 2023.
BIKE Transalp 2023: Registration
Are you still thinking about switching from tour to race mode? The 25th BIKE Transalp takes place from 9 - 15 July 2023 and costs from 1299 euros per person (U23 riders 1099 euros) for the basic package including race organisation, luggage and bike service, stage catering, medical care and much more. All details about the race, information and registration: bike-transalp.de
Download GPS data
For all those who would like to ride the 25th BIKE Transalp as a tour, we offer the GPS data for download. Now here the GPX tracks the entire BIKE Transalp 2023 (stage 1-7) download free of charge >>
