#TotA Day 2 – A skating ring becomes a velodrome: that's the day of the Ritten Arena

Already in its first stage, the 2023 Tour of the Alps has already revealed its nature of challenging and unpredictable race. After the first round of Alpbach won by Brit Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team INEOS Grenadiers), the challenge in the Euregio Tirol-Südtirol/Alto Adige-Trentino continues with stage 2, 165,2 km from Reith im Alpbachtal to Ritten/Renon (Südtirol/Alto Adige).

The Ritten Arena, a famous speed skating ring, is ready to welcome the Euro-regional race. Over the years, the arena has hosted many international competitions, but the speed skating ring will be transformed into an open-air velodrome for a day. However, athletes will have to face several climbs before arriving at the Ritten Arena.

The "old" Brenner Pass/Passo del Brennero road will bring the peloton to Italy. At that point, the road will point down until to Brixen/Bressanone and a whole different race begins. A first short climb will take the peloton to Feldthurns/Velturno, where it will be followed by the more challenging Barbian/Barbiano ascent (Category 3 KOM of 4.5 km at 8 percent average grade). With only 18 km until the finish, most of it will be uphill with the second KOM of the day in Mittelberg/Monte di Mezzo (Category 2 climb lasting 3.9 kms with an 8.5 percent average grade) just 4 km from the finish line.

PROVISIONS

Meeting Place: 09.00, Reith im Alpbachtal, Dorf (Pfarrirke) 
Start: 10:45, Reith im Alpbachtal, Matzen Schloss Tirolerstrasse
Finish: 15.15, Ritten/Renon, Ritten Arena
Intermediate Sprints: Wattens (km 31,5), Matrei am Brenner (km 65,4)
KOM: Barbian/Barbiano (km 151,6, 3^ cat.), Mittelberg/Monte di Mezzo (km 161,2, 2^ cat.)
Permanence: Ritten/Renon, Ritten Arena, Zaberbach 15

THE STARTING LINE: REITH IM ALPBACHTAL. Reith im Alpbachtal has a population of 2,735 and is best known for the colorful floral displays on the balconies of the village’s traditional farmhouses, which have earned it the accolade as the “Most Beautiful Floral Village in Europe.” The nearby lake, the Reither See, is popular for swimming in summer. Worth a visit is the Schloss Matzen, which is home to a luxury hotel. Next to the castle is Matzen Park, which covers 38 acres.

ON THE ROAD: The city of Sterzing/Vipiteno enchants visitors with its unique charm, which garnered its inclusion in the list of "Italy's Most Beautiful Villages." Surrounded by magnificent castles, such as Tasso castle, Wolfsthurn castle, and Castel Pietra, and dominated by the Rosskopf/Monte Cavallo, there’s always something to do: traditional events, wonderful hiking, snow activities, cultural trails, and more. 

THE FLAVOR OF THE STAGE: The Eisacktal/Valle Isarco is famous for its white wines, renowned for their intense, fruity aroma and elegant, assertive body, whether they come from the ancient cellar of the Novacella Abbey, the Eisacktal Valley Social Winery in Klausen/Chiusa, or one of the area's wine producers. The cool nights, warm days, and valley breezes contribute to the Eisacktal Valley wine's typically lively flavor and marked minerality.

DON'T MISS: The medieval town of Klausen/Chiusa – also included in the list of "Italy's Most Beautiful Villages" – features narrow alleys characterized by Romanesque facades and Gothic churches. Known as a town of artists, Klausen/Chiusa is dominated by Sabiona Mountain with its monastery, the emblem of the Eisacktal/Valle Isarco, where Benedictine nuns lived in absolute seclusion for 335 years until November 2021.

THE FINISH: RITTEN/RENON. The Ritten/Renon plateau extends north of Bozen/Bolzano at an elevation between 700 and 2260 meters above sea level. The sunny plateau, with its nearly 8,000 inhabitants in the villages of Klobenstein/Collalbo, Oberbozen/Soprabolzano, Unterinn/Auna di Sotto, Lengstein/Lungostagno, Oberinn/Auna di Sopra, and Wangen/Vang, is one of the Alps’ most outstanding hiking areas. The Ritten Arena is a center for sports activities. Numerous sporting events take place there throughout the year.

TV DISTRIBUTION

Every day, two hours of live broadcast will characterize 2023 Tour of the Alps, from 13.30 to 15.30 CET, thanks to the production and international distribution by PMG Sport, together with the strategic synergy of Infront Sports&Media.

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

LIVE STREAMING: Raiplay, Eurosport, GCN – Global Cycling Network, Repubblica.it, Tuttobiciweb.it, Federciclismo, PMG Sport.

SIDE EVENTS

Reith im Alpbachtal
• 9.00 AM Reith’s orchestra enters the city
• 9.00 – 10.00 AM Show Cooking and snacks in BORA’s Truck

Ritten/Renon

• 2.00 – 4.00 PM Bikes’ parkour in the football pitch with 2 local cycling guides

• From 2.00 PM Ice Cream stand by local producer “Hotel Liechtenstern”
• 2.30 PM Local school students join the finish with handmade flags and present a dance choreography (around 3.00 PM)

WEATHER FORECAST: The riders will find cloudy sky and temperatures around 12-13° in the finale of stage 2.