Short trip Switzerland, Graubünden: Gravel tours on the Vorderrhein - On gravel and tarmac through the Surselva
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· 09.05.2020
The gravel bike opens up cross-connections between high-altitude hamlets that would not be easily accessible on a road bike. Steep gradients of well over ten per cent, sometimes on gravel or natural ground, make gear ratios close to 1:1 and good disc brakes advisable. Around half of the riding time on both stages is on tarmac. On the second day, there is a several hundred metre long pushing section on a steep root path uphill, the rest is technically unproblematic. Tyres around 40 millimetres wide are perfectly adequate.
Day 1: from Ilanz to Trun
Constant ups and downs and average gradients of twelve per cent make the tour exciting but exhausting. The toughest test begins just beyond the Rhine bridge: around 500 metres in altitude with a significant double-digit gradient on asphalt to Ruschein, where gravel bikers join MTB route 90. Great detour: to the end of the Lag da Pigniu reservoir (1,450 m) with rock faces and waterfalls. The gravel road on the eastern shore is easy to cycle on, the hiking trail on the western shore has bumpy sections. Nice: a dip in the lake in Brigels before the final descent into the valley.
Day 2: from Trun to Ilanz
The second stage also begins with a long climb, but it is easy to master on a shady forest road. After a short push uphill section (even mountain bikers would be overwhelmed in places), the alpine pastures and ski terrain open up. With a perfect view of the opposite slope and its three-thousand metre peaks, the route climbs up to the "Bündner Rigi" inn. Shortly afterwards, the rapid asphalt descent into the neighbouring Val Lumnezia begins. From there, the descent is flatter on tarmac through a gorge to Ilanz. If you want more, add a detour (worthwhile dead end) on gravel paths into the Rhine gorge north of Valendas Sagogn railway station.
