Region: Austria
Climbing effort: 467 cep
Elevation meters: 549
Steepest kilometer: 10.7%
Steepest 250 m: 12%
Foot: 1012 m Top: 1538 m
Mean slope: 6.9%
Length: 7.6 km
From: Umhausen
Road conditions (2015): good
Other race bikers: 1-5 per hour
Motor vehicles: 30-60 per hour
Scenery and road:
(2/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: yes
PHOTOS    
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The climb to Niederthai, a village located about 500 meters above the Ötztal, is short, hard and somewhat monotonous. The ascent begint, when driving southward on the main road through the Ötztal, at the junction to Umhausen, From here always follow the signs Niederthai. The first two kilometers until the first hairpin turn are easy (5-6%) but from there four steep kilometers with an average gradient of 9.9% follow. The road is wide, views are rare and there is little variation, except for the curves and eight hairpin turns. This steep section ends at a parking lot overlooking the main valley. Hereafter comes the most scenic part. First, there is a short descent, in which 25 elevation meters are lost. Then the road follows a creek and Niederthai is reached. The end is located near the church. However, it is possible to gain another 40 meters of altitude by continuing to the hamlet of Ennebach. This offers a wonderful view of the mountains west of the Ötztal.