Stage 7 : Sat 30-Jun : Trento - Arco

Distance: 94.63 km
Vertical metres: 2,224m
Passes: Monte Bondone, Passo del Ballino

Legendary biker Charly Gaul was the inspiration for the last stage.  The first non-Italian to win the Giro twice, on a foggy and freezy day in 1956, the Luxembourger Gaul rode the ascent up to Monte Bondone, taking the last meters alone to win and be crowned champion.  We can hope for warmer weather come June  when tackling the Monte Bondone (21.5km at 6.8%).  The next part of the stage is a very fast descent into the Sarca valley, via Ponte Arche to the last small pass Passo del Ballino (10.2km at 3.6%).  The final act of the Schwalbe-Tour-Transalp is to descend and ride along the turquoise Lake Tenno and on to the finish in Arco.

Stage 6 : Fri 29-Jun : Crespano del Grappa - Trento

Distance: 146.37 km
Vertical Metres: 2,740m
Passes: Asiago, Melignon, Passo della Fricca

The penultimate stage is the longest of the Schwalbe-Tour-Transalp at 150 kilometres, however, with the peak high point of the day and only 2,740 metres of ascent it is not the the hardest.  The stage starts downhill from Crespano to the centre of Bassano del Grappa and on to Valstagna.  Here the first climb of the day is a remarkable switchback path beaten into the rocks up to Foza (14.5km at 6.5%) and on to the green high plateau at Asiago.  After the descent off the plateau to Arsiero the route climbs again towards Vena (19km at 6.3%). From here the riders proceed downhill for the final 45 kilometres via the Fricca Pass to the Cathedral Plaza in Trento.

Stage 5 : Thu 28-Jun : Falcade - Crespano del Grappa

Distance: 128.68 km
Vertical Metres: 3,047m
Passes: Passo Valles, Passo Rolle, Monte Grappa

A tough transitional stage from the Dolomites to the Southern Alps.  The stage starts with the dual climbs of Passo Valles (11km at 8%) and Passo Rolle (6km at 7.7%).  This is followed by the longest descent of Schwalbe-Tour-Transalp; 50 kilometers that start steep off the Rolle and continue at a more gradual gradient on to Ponte Serra.  The real challenge of the fifth stage will be the ascent from the floor of the valley up to the peak of Monte Grappa (averaging 21km at 6.3%, but with several kilometres at 10-15%). The ascent starts through the shaded woods of the northern mountain, before the scenery changes to scenic views down to valley of the River Po.  The switchback descent to Semonzo is spectacular before a final push on to the finish at Crespano del Grappa.

Stage 4 : Wed 27-Jun : St. Vigil - Falcade

Distance: 107.03 km
Vertical Metres: 2,561m
Passes: Grödnerjoch, Sellajoch, Passo Fedaia

This amazing stage goes through the centre of Dolomites with breathtaking mountain views and three of the most beautiful & challenging passes: Passo Gardena (Grödnerjoch) (9.5k at 6.3%), Passo Sella (Sellajoch) (5k at 6.8%) and Passo Fedaia (11.5k at 5.3%).  The mountains are best in class of the Dolomites: Langkofel, Sella, Marmolata and Civetta. There are no more sights possible to see. After the descent from Passo Fedaia riders continue via the lake at Alleghe to Falcade.

Stage 3 : Tue 26-Jun : Brixen - St. Vigil

Distance: 90.26 km
Vertical Metres: 3,046m
Passes: Würzjoch, Furkelpass

Short & sweet - Stage three might only be 90 kilometers long, but it packs a punch in the form of two tough climbs.  From the start in Brixen the route goes immediately uphill.  The 29km Würzjoch (Italian: Passo delle Erbe), which includes several short descents, is almost 1,700 metres of ascent @ 6.8%.  After enjoying the breathtaking views across the Dolomites, the route then descends the Badia valley (German: Gadertal) to Longega (Zwischenwasser). The route skirts tantalisingly close to the finish town of St Vigil before looping North.  The Furkel Pass will pose a significant test at the end of the day, averaging 8.1% over 9km it includes several steeper sections and a one kilometre ramp at 12%.  The final action for the day is the descent to San Vigilio di Marebbe.

Stage 2 : Mon 25-Jun : Sölden - Brixen

Distance: 123.87 km
Vertical Metres: 2,998 m
Passes: Timmelsjoch, Jaufenpass

Day two of the Schwalbe-TOUR-Transalp starts with one of the most breathtaking passes, the Timmelsjoch, on the border of South Tyrol with terrific views to the Dolomites.  Expect snow at this altitude, at 2,500m this is the highest summit of the 2012 Transalp.  Attention will be required for the technical descent into valley Passeier (29k at 6%).  The next challenge is the Passo Monte Giovo (German: Jaufenpass), which is a steady ascent with 1,400 meters altitude gain (20km at 7%).  Expect the remainder of the stage to be pretty fast down the Eisacktal valley with a short ascent to the finish at the plaza in Brixen, the city of cathedrals.

Stage 1 : Sun 24-Jun : Mittenwald - Sölden

Distance: 115.17 km
Vertical metres: 2,475m
Passes: Buchener Höhe & Kühtai

The tour starts in Mittenwald leading through the plateau of Leutasch lined by mountains.  Only soft ups and downs with no difficult or long ascents will make for fast start; the riders have a fast descent from Buchener Hill to Telfs in the valley of Inn.  A further 20 kilometers along the valley to Kematen, the first challenging ascent of the Transalp is reached; the Kühtai Saddle at 2,017 meters altitude is one of Austria's highest resorts (the ascent from Kematen is 26km at 5.4%).  The stage continues with a rapid descent (17.5km @ 7.5%) to Oetz before a final energy sapping 30 kilometres slog up the Ötztal valley to Sölden.

Seven Days, Seven Stages

The seven stages of the 2012 Schwalbe Tour Transalp:

Stage	From-To	Dist (km)	Ascent (m)	No.	Cols
St.1	Mittenwald-Solden	115km	2,475m	2	Buchener Höhe, Kühtai Saddle
St.2	Solden-Brixen	124km	2,988m	2	Timmelsjoch, Passo Monte Giovo (Jaufenpass)
St.3	Brixen-St Vigil	90km	3,046m	2	Passo delle Erbe (Würzjoch), Passo Furcia (Furkelpass)
St.4	St Vigil-Falcade	107km	2,561m	3	Passo Gardena (Grödnerjoch), Passo Sella (Sellajoch), Passo Fedaia
St.5	Falcade-Crespano	129km	3,047m	3	Passo Valles, Passo Rolle, Monte Grappa
St.6	Crespano-Trento	146km	2,740m	3	Foza (Asiago), Vena (Melignon), Passo della Fricca
St.7	Trento-Arco	95km	2,224m	2	Monte Bondone, Passo del Ballino
Total		806km	19,081m	17

Introducing: The Schwalbe Tour Transalp 2012

Europe´s most spectacular road cycling stage race for everybody celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012. This year the course will send the participants across the Dolomites, one of the most beautiful areas in the Alps with fantastic views and sporting challenges.  Over seven days from 24th to 30th June, 600 teams of two cyclists will cross 806 kilometres and ascend 19,091 vertical metres over 17 Alpine Cols from Mittenwald in Germany to the shores of Lake Garda.  The Schwalbe-TOUR-Transalp will lead the participants from Mittenwald, Germany via Sölden in Austria and Brixen, St. Vigil, Falcade, Crespano del Grappa & Trento (all in Italy) to the finish in Arco.