Osttirol set to host a thrilling finale of Tour of the Alps
The 48th Tour of the Alps (April 21-25) reaches its climax in Osttirol, putting the spotlight on Obertilliach and the challenging final stage in Lienz. Riders will tackle the famous Bannberg climb from a punishing new side, and confront the double-digit gradients of Stronach in what promises to be a decisive conclusion
Osttirol's majestic alpine terrain will provide the perfect battleground for the final showdown of the 48th Tour of the Alps this April. After five intense days in the saddle across the Euregio Tirol-Südtirol/Alto Adige-Trentino region, the contenders will fight for the coveted Melinda Green Jersey in Lienz -- the same venue that witnessed Romain Bardet's heroic victory in 2022 during an epic, rain-soaked stage claimed by fellow Frenchman Thibaut Pinot.
A familiar fixture in professional cycling, Lienz has cemented its place on the Tour of the Alps circuit. The main center of Eastern Tirol had also hosted a #TotA stage finish in 2018, and was featured plenty of times in the Giro del Trentino, the race from which the Tour of the Alps evolved.
Making its Tour of the Alps debut is the picturesque mountain village of Obertilliach, offering authentic alpine character with pristine surroundings and surprisingly favorable climate conditions.
Stage four rolls out from Sillian near the Italian border, covering 160km of testing terrain that could shake up the general classification. The route crosses into Südtirol/Alto Adige and briefly into Veneto, where the peloton tackles the ascents of Lake Misurina, Passo Sant'Antonio, and Passo Monte Croce Comelico before heading back into Südtirol/Alto Adige.
The bunch will pass through tennis star Jannik Sinner's hometown of Sexten/Sesto Pusteria and birthplace of Innichen/San Candido before re-entering Osttirol for a selective finale featuring the Anras KOM, Tessenberg climb, and Kartitscher Sattel KOM. After cresting the final summit with 7km remaining, riders face a technical descent before the uphill drag to the finish in Obertilliach.
The fifth and final stage - a compact 113km circuit starting and finishing in Lienz - has all the hallmarks of a GC decider, echoing the 2022 edition when Bardet snatched the green jersey from Pello Bilbao on the final day.
At the 37km mark, the peloton hits the Bannberg, ascending it twice from a new and brutal side averaging a leg-sapping 10% over 4.5km. After descending to the valley floor, they confront the steep Stronach climb - 3km on narrow roads with gradients hitting 13%. From the summit, just 10km of fast riding separates the contenders from the finish line in Lienz's central Hauptplatz.
"We're thrilled to welcome back the Tour of the Alps to Osttirol. Our region's cycling heritage and challenging mountain parcours create the perfect stage for world-class competition. This event not only celebrates the connection between Osttirol and cycling, but also showcases our region as a premier destination for cyclists and nature enthusiasts alike," said Franz Theurl, President of the Osttirol Tourism Board.
