For several years now, professional and amateur mountain bikers have been competing in the surroundings of “King Ortles” in June.
Image gallery: Ortles Bike Marathon
Every year at the beginning of June, the medieval town of Glorenza (Glurns) becomes the venue for the Ortles Bike Marathon, which attracts numerous fans and athletes to the Val Venosta valley. The surroundings are ideal for MTB tours, and so three routes have been worked out which, in addition to beautiful views on Ortles & Co, demand a lot from the athletes:
-
Fun Distance:
25 km, 800 m of altitude difference
Glorenza - Malles - Mazia - Coira Castle - Sluderno - Glorenza -
Classic Distance:
51 km, 1,600 m of altitude difference
Glorenza - Malles - San Valentino alla Muta - Mazia - Coira Castle - Sluderno - Glorenza -
Long Distance:
90 km, 3,000 m of altitude difference
Glorenza - Malles - Monte Maria Monastery - Lake San Valentino alla Muta - Resia - Curon - Mazia - Sluderno - Glorenza
A highlight for the spectators are also the sights along the routes, such as the majestic Coira Castle and Monte Maria, the highest situated Benedictine abbey in Europe. Both places can be visited. Together with five other bike races, such as the Iron Bike Race and the Eiger Bike Challenge, the Ortles Bike Marathon is part of the Bike Marathon Classics (582 km, 20,000 m of altitude difference) and the Swiss Mountain Bike Marathon race series.