Carinthia200: 103 days until the premiere of this racing bike event in Villach
Kristian Bauer
· 17.02.2026
The Carinthia200 is a new everyman race in Austria in the Villach region. The first event will take place on 31 May. Cyclists can choose between three distances.
Austria is getting a new cycling race for amateur cyclists: the Carinthia200 will be held on 31 May in the region of Villach will experience its premiere. The event offers three different distances - 200, 155 and 125 kilometres - and leads through the region around Villach, the Faaker See and the Lake Ossiach. The organisers have set a participant limit of 1500 people for the premiere - around half of the places have already been allocated. Behind the event is PPG Bike Concept GmbH, a company of the Pedal Performance Group, which already has experience in organising cycling events such as the Wörthersee Gravel Race (part of the UCI Gravel World Series) and the Istria300 can show.
According to Event Director Julius Rupitsch, Carinthia200 has ambitious goals: "Carinthia200 was conceived to become the biggest road bike race in Austria. Our aim is to sustainably position Villach and the surrounding region as Austria's leading road bike destination," explains Rupitsch.
Carinthia200 with a sporty concept
Patrick Schörkmayer, race director of the Carinthia200 and race director of the IRONMAN Carinthia in Klagenfurt, is responsible for the sporting concept of the event. "The course concept combines a sporting challenge, safety and scenic highlights," explains Schörkmayer. The three distances of 200, 155 and 125 kilometres on offer are designed to appeal to the entire spectrum of racing cyclists - from performance-oriented athletes to beginners.
The routes run through the Villach region and include the areas around Lake Faak and Lake Ossiach. Detailed route maps with elevation profiles have not yet been published. According to current plans, the long distance will have an elevation gain of around 3285 metres. The medium distance will have around 2630 metres of elevation gain and the short distance will still have 1575 metres of elevation gain. The promised road closures should be emphasised: the roads will be completely closed to traffic during the race. In some sections of the route, the closures will only apply to one carriageway - cyclists and public traffic will each use separate carriageways, secured by traffic cones.
Carinthia200 to promote tourism
The Villach region sees Carinthia200 as a strategic component of its tourism positioning. Georg Overs, Managing Director of Region Villach Tourismus GmbH, emphasises the importance of the project: "Carinthia200 fits perfectly into our brand world and strengthens our positioning as a lake bike destination. The event combines international appeal with regional identity."
The event is intended to help establish Villach as the road cycling capital of Austria. The region is focussing on the combination of attractive cycle routes and the scenic beauty of the Carinthian lakes. The Carinthia200 is seen as a key driver for this positioning and should generate sustainable added value for tourism.
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Supporting programme
Carinthia200 will be accompanied by a comprehensive supporting programme. This includes an expo, various side events, recovery and service offers as well as a holistic hospitality concept for participants and accompanying persons. The aim is to establish the event as a recurring signature event in the Alps-Adriatic region.
The event pursues a clear brand concept with the slogan "It's my ride" - a deliberate reference to the Carinthian motto "It's my life". The aim is to focus on individuality, personal challenge and identification with the region. The organisers emphasise that every participation is a personal decision and every route should be an individual experience.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
