The Alpine road cycling weekend in St. Anton am Arlberg is back for the 14th time. All starting places for the main race have been allocated since the start of the year. Anyone who would still like to take part in the race weekend can register for the St. Anton Night Sprint on Friday evening. For the first time, this race is open to participants independently of the main event. The International Cycle Criterium on Saturday evening brings cycling right into the pedestrianised area of the town centre.
Arlberg Giro programme
From Friday 31 July 2026, the three-day programme begins with a group ride led by coach and former racing driver Mathias Nothegger. An expo area will serve as a meeting point for all participants throughout the weekend. The St. Anton Night Sprint starts on Friday evening in the town centre. The event is designed to be short and accessible to spectators. Last-minute entrants can still secure a starting place at the moment.
On Saturday, 1 August 2026, the pedestrian zone will be transformed into a race course for the International Cycling Criterium from 6.15 pm. Spectators will experience cycling up close. Ahead of the criterium, the programme includes rides with Mathias Nothegger and Elena Roch, the traditional pasta party and the riders’ briefing. Early on Sunday morning, the 14th Arlberg Giro will then get underway.
Arlberg Giro route
Participants will cover 142 kilometres and climb more than 2,400 metres in altitude. The Silvretta High Alpine Road will remain closed until 2030, which is why the route once again follows the tried-and-tested alternative route. Starting in St. Anton am Arlberg, the route first climbs up to the Arlberg Pass. The first climb, with gradients of up to 13 per cent, demands strength and concentration. The route then leads into the Klostertal valley, on to the Montafon, via the Ganifertal valley and the Kops Reservoir into the Paznauntal valley, and through the Stanzertal valley back to St. Anton am Arlberg.
The race is characterised by the alpine landscape and the challenging sections. Numerous spectators line the route to cheer on the riders. The Arlberg Giro forms part of the Tyrolean Road Cycling Cup, a series of races for ambitious road cyclists across the whole of Tyrol. On Sunday, the ‘King and Queen of the Mountain’ will be crowned and the ‘Hero of the Mountain’ will be decided.
Women's Cycling Camp with Elena Roch
Elena Roch, Ultracycling World Champion, is marking the race weekend with a special event. The Women’s Cycling Camp will take place from 29 July to 2 August 2026 at the Hotel Alte Post. Roch has made a name for herself on the toughest international ultracycling routes. Her races have taken her to the 24-hour time trial World Championships in Borrego Springs in the USA, the B-Hard Ultra Race through Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the 2,200-kilometre Race Around Austria.
Together with Julia Blum, she founded VibeCycling and runs various camps in Austria and Italy. The programme in St. Anton am Arlberg includes group rides and a Pilates session for recovery. Roch explains: “We want to empower women to have more confidence in themselves – on the bike, but also beyond. A community is formed in which the participants share experiences and motivate one another.”
The Arlberg Giro is the sporting highlight of the camp. The programme also includes a talk by Elena Roch on ultracycling and mental strength. Her advice for challenging moments: “Firstly, you should try to consciously shift your focus to something else, such as the scenery. Something else that plays a very big role for me is setting goals. You should answer the question of ‘why’ beforehand – then, when you’re going through a rough patch, you know why it’s worth not giving up.”
Roch himself loves adventure, which is why he chose ultracycling. “I find it fascinating to see where my own limits lie. When you cycle through the night or are on the road for several days in a row, you experience highs and lows. For me, it’s always exciting to see how you can pull yourself out of those low points.”
Kristian Bauer
Editor