Tour of the Alps’ stage 2 was shortened due to bad weather conditions on the Brennero pass. After the transfer from Innsbruck to the new starting line in Vipiteno, the athletes rode through the Val Pusteria before heading to Innervillgraten. Live TV streaming from 2.30 PM to 4 PM
Good morning from Tour of the Alps. The second stage from Innsbruck to Innervillgraten was shortened due to bad weather conditions. Vipiteno hosted the new start.
Innsbruck, literally “bridge on the Inn”, is the fifth largest Austrian city with around 130.000 inhabitants, a nice and pleasant city full of historical buildings such as the Goldenese Dachi, symbol of the city to distinguish the Neur Hof, residence of Tirol Counts since 1400; Helblinghaus, renaissance complex of Ambras castle; Altes Landhaus; Fugger Haus and – with regards to religious buildings – the baroque Cathedral of St. James, the Hofkirche and more.
The city is full of museums and parks with many cultural activities and its pleasant lifestyle. Mountain sports are strictly linked with the city that hosted the Winter OG twice, in 1964 and 1976. One of Ski jumping “Four Hills” prestigious tournament always takes place in Innsbruck, where 2018 Road World Championships is also expected. Any kind of bike is at home here because of many facilities and beautiful places. Innsbruck already hosted cycling top events such as Giro d’Italia 1988 stage, from Meran to Innsbruck, won by the Italian Franco Vona with US Andrew Hampsten dressing the pink jersey. In 2009 another Giro d’Italia’s start from Innsbruck after the stage in Mayrhofen, won by Michele Scarponi.
The finish is in Austria but the course extensively run on Italian sole as a synthesis of this first Tour of the Alps that aims to gather territories and cultures through the bike, beyond any border.
After the miss passage on Europabrücke (Europe bridge), the large motorway bridge, here are the villages of Matrei, Steinach and Gries am Brenner with the Brenner lake climbing up the KOM at Brenner that marks the border. The Italian stretch of road in the Bozen province is all downhill to Gossensaß, Sterzing, nice city on Eisachtal river, then Mules and the majestic fortress in Franzensfeste, where the slope ends. The race reaches Mühlbach, at the confluence of rivers Rienz and Eisachtal, then Vintl, Kiens, nice and typical localities plenty of landscapes and monuments. San Lorenzo di Sebato (St. Lorenzen) is a Gadertal enclave ahead getting back to Pustertal’s Brunico, historical, cultural and economical capital of the valley overwhelmed by the Kronplats, beloved by many sportpeople either in summer and winter time.
Welsberg, Niederdorf, Toblach, Innichen are the beautiful Pustertal places met on the race way back to Austria’s, accompanied by the Drei Zinnen northern side’s superb vision, up to Sillian. The nice and sunny Oostirol city lays in the touristic resort of Hochpustertal and hosted several stages of Giro del Trentino and Giro d’Italia in recent years. Slowly down flanking the Drau up to Mittenwald an der Drau, the race leaves the valley floor and gently climbs the KOM of St. Justina, mt. 1281, in the municipality of Assling, a typical Pustertal’s bucolic contrada.
The route descends across the sunny valley to Abfaltersbach’s spring of water, followed by Heinfels with its castle. Once again up over a hillside, crossing Ausservillgraten, the finish line in Innervillgraten, 1386-mt. high, discloses the Villgratental valley, a Northern Pustertal’s sideway. The area maintained the original scenario unchanged with typical country farms and places of worship. Everything here reminds respect of nature, habits, gastronomic traditions joined to many tourist activities throughout the year.
MEETING PLACE
Innsbruck, Landhausplatz (h 9.15)
NEW DEPART
Vipiteno (h 12)
FINISH
Innervillgraten, Aussertal (h 15.30)
INTERMEDIATE SPRINT
Sillian (km 150,7)
KOM
Brennero (1ª cat., km 40,6); St Justina (2ª cat., km 170,7)
Innsbruck, April 18th, 2017
