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

July 04, 2013

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.