#TotA Day 2: Feichten im Kaunertal expected to shake the GC

Good morning from the 2021 Tour of the Alps! After the first day of racing, stage 2 from Innsbruck to Feichten im Kaunertal proposes a much more challenging test for the GC contenders. The route of 121,5 km runs entirely in Tirol, and includes a double ascent to the Piller Sattel climb on two different slopes: the second one, the toughest, will end with 21 km to go, equally divided between the fast and technical descent and the steady ascending towards Feichten.

Gianni Moscon (INEOS Grenadiers) will try to defend the green leader’s jersey on his 27th birthday, supported by a strong team with the defending champion Sivakov and Colombians Sosa and Martinez. Yates (Team BikeExchange), Quintana (Arkea Samsic), Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation), Bardet and Hindley (Team DSM), Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and the other GC contenders will be called upon to give their first answers, while Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation) will try to bounce back after struggling on day 1.

DISPOSITION

Meeting Place: 10:15, Innsbruck, Rennweg
Start: 12:15, Innsbruck, Höttinger Au
Finish: 15.30, Feichten im Kaunertal, Feichten – Kauneralstraße
Intermediate Sprint: Silz, Km 37,1
KOM: Gachenblick-Piller Sattel (2a cat. Km 75,4), Kaunergrat-Piller Sattel (1a cat. Km 99,8)

THE STARTING LINE: INNSBRUCK. Innsbruck combines alpine tradition and urban modernity. Along with a diverse cultural offer, sports are central in the capital of Tyrol. The city is known worldwide for having hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice (1964 and 1976) and the 2018 UCI Road World Championships.

ON THE ROAD: 40 km from Innsbruck, in Mötz, stands the Maria Locherboden church of pilgrimage. It has its origin in the middle of the 18th century, when an image of the Virgin was installed next to the entrance to a cave where a worker had been saved from a collapsed mine. In 1871 a pilgrim, Maria Kalb, who was suffering from an incurable disease, was miraculously cured.

THE STAGE TASTE: Kaunertal valley is famous for its distillates from the Edelweiss hotel. Mountain guide Sepp Praxmarer is the third generation of his family to refine traditional base products into fine drinks at his own distillery, together with hotelier Klemens Praxmarer. Only the finest ingredients from the Kaunertal park & Glacier Region are used.

DON’T MISS: The Kaunergrat Nature Park units three regions: Pitztal, Kaunertal e Fließ. The Natura Park Building is a successful combination of architecture and nature, where an extensive network of well-maintained paths invites the visitors to explore its natural diversity. The Naturparkhaus combines relaxation and culture in a highly enjoyable way.

THE FINISH: FEICHTEN IM KAUNERTAL. Feichten Im Kaunertal is located among the mighty summits of Ötztaler Alps, surrounded by high paths and Alpine huts and lodges. The panoramic Kaunertal Glacier road is framed by majestic peaks and covers every level of Alpine vegetation up to 2750m. The Berneck castle, mentioned for the first time in 1225, stands proud and imposing above the entrance of the valley.

TRAFFIC CLOSURES

For stage 2, the authorities of the Tyrolean authorities have issued an order to suspend the traffic, in both directions, on all roads crossed by the race, at least 40 minutes before the passage of the start vehicle and until the passage of the closing vehicle.

TV DISTRIBUTION

Two hours of Live broadcast each day characterized 2021 Tour of the Alps, from 2.00 pm CET to 4.00 pm CET.

TV: Eurosport (Europe, East Asia, USA, Canada, South America, Central America, Pacific Area, Indian Subcontinent), RaiSport (Italy, San Marino, Vatican City), ORF (Highlights in Austria), Equipe TV (France), TV2 (Denmark).

LIVE STREAMING: Eurosport Player, GCN – Global Cycling Network, Repubblica.it, Tuttobiciweb.it, Federciclismo, K19.at, PMG Sport (Facebook Page and Youtube channel in Austria, Japan, Cina, New Zealand and Mexico).