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Region: Austria
Climbing effort: 1542 cep
Elevation meters: 1972
Steepest kilometer: 11.0%

Steepest 250 m: 13%
Foot: 866 m    Top: 2743 m
Mean slope: 4.9%
Length: 38.6 km

From: Prutz
Road conditions (2019): average
Other race bikers: 10-25 per hour
Motor vehicles: 30-60 per hour
Scenery and road: (5/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: yes

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Other climbs Austria

The Kaunertaler Gletscherstrasse is one of the most beautiful and hardest climbs in the Alps. Hard because of 1972 elevation meters, because the tour includes a total of 6 intervals of one kilometer with a slope of 10% or more and because of the thin air in the final part of the ascent. The ride begins along the L180 at the exit to Prutz and the Kaunertal. Over the first almost 30 kilometers, the slope varies enormously. Often the road runs only gently uphill or is even horizontal, for example during the 6 kilometer section along the Gepatsch Stausee (a reservoir). However, there are also some very steep passages, especially that after 6 kilometers of cycling (one kilometer with a gradient 9.7%), the last 2 kilometers before reaching the dam (average 9.5%; a 250-meter strip of 13%) and the first kilometer after the reservoir (10.4%). Nature steadily becomes more beautiful during the ride, especially after passing the tollgate. The Kaunertal is narrow, with a beautiful stream, forests and hardly any buildings. When, after 30 kilometers, the road crosses the stream and continues on the other side of the valley, the final begins. The almost 9 kilometers of this final (average 8.7%) are much steeper than the first 30 kilometers. The mountains are impressive and a typical valley glacier (the Gepatschferner) to the left of the road catches the eye of the nature lover. After the Weißsee (2465 m) slopes with scree dominate. Too bad that after the impressive climb at the destination the disappointment of cranes, ski lifts and a large parking lot is waiting.