The winding mountain road overcomes a difference in altitude of almost 1,000 metres over 7.6 kilometres. The average gradient is 12.7 per cent - the steepest ramps have a top gradient of 22 per cent. The climb is considered one of the most difficult in the Alps and has already been a stage finish in the Tour of Austria for professional cyclists several times. Information on the road and opening times at the Alpenhaus: www.alpenhaus.at
Cyclists can use the dead-end road toll-free. As a reward for your efforts, you will receive an award at the Alpenhaus restaurant at the mountain station of the Horn cable car at an altitude of 1670 metres. For particularly persistent climbers, there is also the tarmac ascent to the summit at 1970 metres above sea level - up to the transmitter mast at the summit of the Kitzbüheler Horn, the region's landmark. With an average gradient of 13.3 per cent, it gets even steeper - the peak values in the thin mountain air are around 20 per cent!
Those who want to compete on the super steep bike mountain will have the opportunity to do so at the 45th edition of the Kitzbühel Horn Mountain Bike Race on 26 July 2025 (www.kitzsport.at) and at the Kitzbühel Bike Marathon on 7 September 2025 (www.kitzbueheler-radmarathon.at)
Although the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is open to motorised traffic, it is currently still closed to cyclists. The Timmelsjoch is closed in winter. The Kühtai saddle and the Rossfeld-Höhenringstraße (https://www.rossfeldpanoramastrasse.de) in Berchtesgadener Land are currently alternatives for long climbs on a road bike.
Andreas Kublik
Editor
