Tour of Austria - a day at the bike race in Alpendorf

On stage in Alpendorf

Mathias Frank wins - riding a camera?

Stage 4 - Matrei to Alpendorf
We popped over to Alpendorf to watch  the the conclusion of a stage of the Tour of Austria. Our day was a bit less demanding than the riders and their helpers. Our route to the Finish Line encompassed a cycle ride to the Train station, a half hour train ride and a 5 minute bus trip. The riders had to make their way from the Osttirol, down near Lienz via the Grosglockner Alpine Road. About 3000m. of climbs and a total distance of 146km. We did a steep climb but we used the Alpendorf Ski Lift to ride up and then a walk to a Mountain Restaurant. Even then we cheated a bit by hitching a ride on the back of a tractor trailer for part of the route. My pre-race meal was a Sausage and Chips with Beer, TW had a Ham and Cheese Toastie. Important to take on a few calories before the excitement.

Up on ghost mountain - the Geisterberg

Alpendorf in Summer

There is new chairlift under construction at the top of the mountain so it looked a bit industrial. They have also put together a bit of 'Ghost Mountain' theme park up there to attract families in Summer so it was a bit busy. The ghouls certainly frightened us away. The views were still great though and no doubt some great walks to be had through the forests and pastures.
Anyway, we needed to get to the Finish Line before the riders so it was back to the Cable Car for us. The riders were due to arrive about quarter to three so we had time to look around. The Team Sky Bus and Service Wagon were parked right by the finish so we had a gander. They take a wonderful man shed around with them full of bikes and tools. They can park on my drive anytime!
We had good viewpoints near the uphill finish to watch the riders come in. Young ladies were handing out sponsors flags, sweets and rather un-appetizing looking sausages. They looked like something a pooper- scooper might collect, I took two but TW forbade me from eating them. Amusingly the riders on the podium were later presented with gigantic versions, the size of fence posts! Am sure it made their efforts seem very worthwhile. The winning rider was a Swiss chappie Mathias Frank from BMC. Ian Boswell was the first Sky Rider home, in highly creditable eighth place. I think he hung back to avoid getting a sausage. He gave me his water bottle later on - a more useful souvenir of the day. Quite a gap to the main group of riders of about 11minutes. We did our best to get a few pictures, mine were mostly of the marshall's backs, TW did a bit better. You would think the guys would have had enough of bikes and saddles but they were on the rollers for a warm down outside the Hotel. We warmed down with a cool beer and then it was back on the bus and train to Bad Hofgastein.

Setting up at the finish

Respect the drivers for getting this bus around the route

Ian Boswell looking for his mates

Chris Sutton - nearly there - time for a warm down?

Local hero - Bernie gets on the bus

On the Team Sky bike rack

Mathias looking for a sausage

Cancellara rolls up

Holding the yellow jersey's sausage

The mobile laundry

Austria - Summer in Gastein, out and about in Gasteinertal

Mercury rising and falling - out and about in the Gastein Valley

Flowers bloom in the snow on Stubnerkogel

We needed our thermals at the top of the mountain as the temperature dipped to 2 degrees. Amazingly it had been over 30 degrees in the Valley the week before. Happy to report that it was not long before the sun appeared again and burned away the snow. Time to head out on the bike.

Heading South out of Bad Hofgastein

Up to the Kotschachtal

Old Bockstein at the end of the valley

On the Archdukes Way

Hinterschneeberg

The quiet byways in Gastein

Idyllic Austrian landscape in Gastein

Relaxing after lunch at the Baerstein Alm

Signs in Gastein - Cows take top billing over here

Taking Steps - Stiegl at the Fundner Heimalm

A working dog always looking for a game at the Fundner

She certainly can yodel

In the shade at the Alpen Arena Bad Hofgastein

The festival for the longest day

Austria - Gastein Valley bike ride - on the Gastein Radweg

Good day for a ride

In full flow in Bad Gastein

Looking North in Gastein

With snow on the hills down to about 1700m it was never going be too warm.  After a couple of false starts, when heavy showers swept past our balcony, I headed along the river towards Bad Bruck. Quite a few people were out walking, keeping low in the valley where the temperatures are at their highest. The swollen river rushed past as I headed upstream.  I took my tried and tested route up through the horse stables and then a very stiff climb up a forest track towards Gruner Baum (abt 1000m). Had to remove a top layer half-way as I struggled up in bottom gear. There is very loose gravel near the top so I had to walk the last few metres, no grip being my lame excuse. At the top it was layer back on as I took the bike route down, and then up again, towards Bad Gastein. I had to join a road for the first time as I climbed through Bad Gastein. Plenty of cafe's on the route but, for once, I managed to resist them. Water was piling down the iconic waterfall. A lot of properties awaiting restoration, must have been lovely in its heyday but looking sad today. I made a quick exit North from town down the Archduke Johann Promenade then up over the Railway Line and another climb before a cruise round the mountain towards Anger. Time for yet another climb, this time up to the Angertal Ski Centre via forest road. There is snow at the top of the mountain but the Ski Centre at 1200m and its surrounding lifts looked very uncomfortable and out of place surrounded by deep green grass. I headed down the main access road and then swung left on an upward path towards today's Alm. Bit of a zig-zag up past the Baerstein Alm, the Middle Station and the Aeroplanstadl. I could soon see the Fundner Alm (1400m) ahead. It looked closed but cows and goats were in the field outside.

Bad Hofgastein

The family dog greeted me from the doorway. Ah good, its open. Have never sat inside before, normally in Summer its warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the view. It is only a small wooded structure but comfortable enough for me, the dog, the Farmer, his wife and a waitress. One other customer was there, a rep for one of the Scandinavian Tour companies that bring walkers to the valley. She was planning to bring a group the following day. Will be bit of a squeeze if the weather does not warm up.
Enjoyed my Weiss beer with bread and ham, think I earned it. A bit cold on the winding descent back down to Bad Hofgastein (850m). Cycling without traffic - wonderful.