Alpine Adventure

Devastated during the 1990s Balkan war, it has almost completely recovered and is often referred to as the ‘Jerusalem’ of Europe for its cultural and religious variety. Cyclists will head toward the Adriatic coast, passing through Mostar and its famous old bridge, destroyed in the Balkan conflict but recently meticulously rebuilt. Turning northwards riders will pedal along the water’s edge bound for a rest day in Split, a beautiful seaside town of bustling bars, fashionable shops, intimate cafes and ancient churches.

The next few days will be spent spinning up Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, island-hopping on some of the numerous ferries, passing by abandoned fortresses and cruising through charming red-roofed villages, perhaps stopping for one of the region’s renown herbal grappas on a waterfront patio. Eventually, the cyclists will turn inland and race 30 km across Slovenia to reach the shipbuilding city of Trieste.

After a day of exploring Trieste’s medieval old city, riders will tackletwo days of climbing through stunning Dolomite alpine scenery that delivers them to Cortina, a favourite ski resort for the European jet set and the host of the 1956 Winter Olympics. The route then snakes through the Italian Alps and into Austria over impossibly beautiful passes and through deep river valleys.

A rest day in another Olympic host city, Innsbruck 1976, will allow the riders to catch their breath and ride the futuristic, Zaha Hadid-designed Hungerburgbahn funicular which climbs 2,256m from the city center up to the Nordpark resort. If they are still energetic, there are numerous hiking trails to try out. Another day of biking brings another Winter Olympic city, this time the village of Garmisch-Partenkirchen which hosted the event way back in 1936. From there a short downhill ride takes the riders into Munich, its famous beer halls where they can raise a glass to the end of this amazing section.

Highlights

• Medieval bridge in Mostar
• Croatian coast and islands
• Cycling the Italian Alps
• Beer halls of Munich