BIKE Transalp 2023: Stage 7 of the anniversary route to follow
The starting signal for the 25th BIKE Transalp will be given on 9 July 2023 in Nauders . Seven days later, the racers in Riva del Garda will dust themselves down with 17,527 metres of altitude in their legs and endorphin fireworks in their heads. Would you like some of that? Here we present stage 7 of the BIKE Transalp 2023, show variants and shortcuts and give tips on how to ride it.
BIKE Transalp 2023: Stage 7 - from Lake Ledro to Riva del Garda
Actually, all you have to do at Lake Ledro is open the brakes and after just 10 to 15 minutes you could roll into the old town centre streets of Riva del Garda, blown through by the wind. But not on the BIKE Transalp, of course. Although route director Marc Schneider has not planned a queen stage for the last day, he has nevertheless planned a medium-difficulty marathon excursion through the Lake Garda mountains before the final sprint across the final finish line. After all, you want your clothes to be soaked in sweat before you throw them into the lake.
From the shores of Lake Ledro, the route first heads north and soon climbs a constant 1000 metres up to the Bocca di Trat. If you are travelling without time pressure, you can consider stopping for lunch up here. The Rifugio Nino Pernici is just a stone's throw away. However, it's better to warm up your muscles for the subsequent descent, as the Adrenalina Trail awaits. One of the great downhill challenges of the 1990s, when bikes and riders were not yet able to cushion steeply sloping scree paths so smoothly. Skilled riders try to keep to the centre lane, which has already been ridden out, so that tyres and brakes grip well. If, on the other hand, you end up in a bed of scree to the left and right of the track, it takes considerably more energy to manoeuvre your bike and body back into balance.
In any case, it's a good thing that the trail leads directly into the alpine meadow of Malga Grassi. After a stop at this rustic hut, you have the opportunity to ride straight down to Riva without any further effort. Except for the Transalp bikers with start numbers. They have booked another extra loop across the beautiful Lake Tenno. There, they climb another 600 metres in altitude in ramp-like steps on the tracks of the small marathon circuit Ronda piccola to enjoy the Bespana and Nomesino trails as a festive finale. Two downhill sections that shake up all the adrenaline in your veins - the perfect stimulant for the last ten kilometres to the finish!
More articles about our BIKE Transalp 2023:
Info stage 7 to follow - from Lake Ledro to Riva del Garda
Abbreviations & variants
If the weather is bad, you can cycle directly from Lake Ledro to Riva. The cycle path leads down first, then the old Ponale road in the rock above the shores of Lake Garda. You can shorten the stage if you simply take the road downhill from Pranzo to Riva after the first pass, the Bocca di Trat.
The stage as a short trip
A shuttle from Riva to Lake Ledro is worthwhile, whether before or after the tour. The website gardatrentino.it/en/outdoor/radwelt/bike-shuttle lists the shuttle services. Or you can complete the tour by bike: first from Riva del Garda to Lake Ledro and back on the route of stage 7. This adds up to around 2300 metres in altitude.
The stage as part of a circular tour
An all-in tour of the region between Riva del Garda and Lake Ledro, for example, would be the "Ledro Eight". From Riva along the old Ponale road up to Lake Ledro and along the cycle path through the Ledro Valley until you reach the route of the Stage 6 meets.
Now take the road to the Tremalzo Pass and over the Passo Nota to the Bocca Fortini and on the route of stage 6 down to Lake Ledro (variant: Bocca Fortini, Passo Rocchetta, Pregasina, Lake Ledro). Now close the figure of eight from Lake Ledro on the route of stage 7.
Do not miss
Finishing the Transalp without treating yourself to an ice cream is not an option. There are ice cream parlours on every corner in Riva, but in the bike scene everyone only talks about the "Flora". The pistachio ice cream is a hit. Main shop: on the main road coming from Rovereto (Viale Rovereto), branch: Flora Downtown in the pedestrianised area (Viale Dante Alighieri) behind the old town.
The 25th anniversary party of the BIKE Transalp 2023
Ortler, Livigno, Brenta, Lake Ledro and Tremalzo form the party location, and almost 1000 guests from all over the world join in the celebrations after seven hard days in the saddle. Among them are once again plenty of professional bikers, as there are UCI points in the second-highest category to be collected. The anniversary edition of the BIKE Transalp will go down in history - also with the closing party in Riva del Garda, because the DJ is also known for being in good shape ...
Cycling & Events
Make a note now! The next BIKE Festival Garda Trentino will take place from 02 to 05 May 2024. Of course with many participatory events such as the BIKE Marathon or the Junior Trophy for young racers. All information: riva.bike-festival.de.
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 Transalp 2023 (stage 1-7) download free of charge >>
