Stage 5: From Folgaria to Kaltern
The fifth day of the Transalp fits seamlessly into the interplay of the final stages. Excluding the high alpine, eternal white, it hardly leaves out any climatic zone of the Alps. The route climbs back up above the tree line and far down into the vineyards along the Adige. In between, lush alpine meadows line the road, for example at the start on the Alpe Cimbra plateau or on the ascent to the Manghen Pass. The stage is wild, varied and equally challenging. There is the extravagantly carved Kaiserjägerweg from the plateau down into the Valsugana. This is a small, winding road that requires confident control of the handlebars at a fast pace. Or you can take a little more time at a moderate pace to enjoy the view over Lago di Caldonazzo and Lago di Levico.
Once at the bottom, the beaches are tempting, but there is not much time left because the most challenging climb of the 2023 Transalp is now on the agenda: The steep climb up to the Manghen Pass at an altitude of 2000 metres. The road cuts through the Lagorai.
The mountain range of grey rock pyramids separates the Valsugana from the Val di Fiemme on the other side. It also offers an exciting contrast in terms of landscape, because these mountains are clearly different in colour and shape from the Dolomites, which on the other side of the Val di Fiemme present their more rugged peaks in the somewhat warmer colours of the Dolomite rock. Once you arrive in Molina di Fiemme, after another challenging descent on a narrow, winding pass road, it's not far into the Adige Valley. Here you are hit by the warm wind, which at just 200 metres above sea level provides the mild climate in which apples and grapes thrive. Lake Kaltern with its bathing beaches is also located at this altitude. However, it is another 200 metres up to Kaltern, for which you can reward yourself in the market square with an ice cream, an espresso or, of course, a wine from Lake Kaltern, for example in the "weinhaus PUNKT", the wine cooperative's restaurant.
You can stop off here
There are several places to eat on the ascent to the Manghen Pass, e.g. the Hotel Aurai (hotelaurai.it) or the Ristorante Malga Baessa. The Rifugio Passo Manghen (rifugiopassomanghen.com) awaits at the top of the pass. Before the final ascent from Lake Kaltern up to Kaltern, the Gasthof Klughammer (pensionklughammer.com) is located on the shore. Up in Kaltern, on and around the market square, there are plenty of bars and restaurants. Hungry and thirsty people are sure to find something to suit them.
Abbreviations/variants for the 5th stage of the TOUR Transalp 2023
If you don't have the legs for the demanding Mendel Pass, you can shorten this stage. For example, from Levico Terme to Pergine Valsugana and over the Passo del Redebus into the Val di Cembra. Then in this valley out into the Adige Valley to Lavis. Now flat in the valley to Kaltern. There are also shorter route options between Pergine in Valsugana and Lavis in the Adige Valley, e.g. via Baselga di Pine.
These are the 7 stages of the TOUR Transalp 2023
The 5th stage of the TOUR Transalp 2023 as a short trip
If you want to return the same day, you can find the relevant taxi addresses on kaltern.com. If you have good legs, you could cycle through the Adige Valley to Trento on the same day and try to get a bus (data: trentinotrasporti.it) up to Folgaria. However, it is much more relaxed to spend a night in Kaltern and organise a relaxed return journey the next day.
The stage as part of a round tour (2 to 4 days)
If you want to incorporate this stage into a round trip, you can play with the last three stages of this Transalp, for example simply ride the last three stages of the Transalp. Then on the fourth day from Arco back to the Adige Valley, for example again over the Passo Santa Barbara and the Passo Bordala, or a little more challenging over the summit of Monte Bondone to Trento. And then at Calliano from the Adige Valley up to Folgaria. The region offers many small roads for variations. A short two-day round trip stops in Trento, where stage 6 passes through. The town is definitely worth a visit. You can return to Folgaria either from Calliano, where the road between Trento and Rovereto leads up to Folgaria. Or from Trento directly via Vigolo Vattaro and Carbonare to Passo del Sommo.
Do not miss
Lake Kaltern is one of the warmest bathing lakes in the Alps. A dip in the lake offers wonderful refreshment after the tour. There are four bathing spots, three on the western shore and one on the eastern shore (kaltern.com/en/badespass-am-kalterer-see.html). There are no wild access points.
Cycling and events
The car-free day on the Mendel is not only popular with racing cyclists. On 16 September 2023, the road up to the Mendel Pass will be closed to traffic from 9:00 to 16:30.
Info
All information on accommodation, services and sports offers can be found on the website of the tourist board: kaltern.com
The 5th stage from Folgaria to Kaltern, 121.69 km and 3179 metres in altitude. The elevation profile and GPS data will be available to download from 18 June: If you are still thinking about switching from Touri to Race mode, you can find all the details about the race at www.tour-transalp.de.
