Road, Gravel, MTB - Or why not all three?

We have created the ultimate bike playground with miles of routes and trails designed to exhilarate all abilities both on- and off-road. You can ride for fun with friends, join group rides with our presenters or sign up to coaching sessions to improve your riding skills. Whatever your style, we’ll have it between our three great options as Global Bike Festival 2022! 

Or why not try out all three? There will be more than enough time at Global Bike Festival to try out any of the disciplines, and meet all of the presenters. Roadies can bring their road bike but hire an MTB for one day and learn to downhill in the learn to ride park before hitting the blue runs. Or make sure you bring some gravel tyres to easily switch between road and gravel days. Whatever you want to ride you’ll be able to at Global Bike Festival. There is no better time to try a new discipline, with like minded riders and presenters on hand to help and guide you through your cycling journey at Saalbach. Who knows, you may even leave the festival with a new lease of cycling life!! 

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Gravity, trail and cross country riders alike will all find trail nirvana in Saalbach, with over 400km of downhill, cross-country and all-mountain routes for all abilities, including Saalbach-Hinterglemm’s bike park and the BIG-5 Bike Challenge there'll never be a dull moment if you choose Mountain Biking at Global Bike Festival. Here are some of our favourite routes  that you can’t miss:

Hacklberg Trail
The Hacklberg Trail starts on Schattberg mountain in Saalbach and leads through the Westgipfel peak to Hinterglemm. It is one of the most beautiful single tracks in the valley and with a length of six kilometres, this panorama run is a true playground for mountain bikers.

Bergstadl Trail
The Bergstadl Trail on Schattberg mountain is a treat for both enduro riders and freeriders! It is a more demanding alternative to the Hacklberg Trail and offers numerous technical features that whilst a delightful nature trail still require full concentration and riding skills.

Wurzel Trail
The Wurzel Trail leads through a much quieter environment on the Kohlmais than most of the trails in Saalbach. It feels as if you were miles away from the freeride area near the cable cars; completely natural, it connects the Kohlmaisgipfel peak with the Wildenkarkogel mountain and runs without a noticeable incline.

X-Line
With a length of over 6km and descent of 1,025m the X-Line is one of the longest freeride routes in Europe and has a reputation as an intense, technical and demanding trail.

Pro-Line
The Pro-Line is a superb freeride trail that is regularly used for downhill races. Expert riders can join our presenters on the Evil-Eye-Trail which branches off the Pro-Line offering higher drops and Northshore elements to test your skills.

ROAD CYCLING

Saalbach-Hinterglemm and the valleys surrounding the Zell-am-See region offer some real hidden gems for road riders. A superb network of purpose built bike paths provide a closed road experience to explore the forests, lakes and rivers through the valleys. Here are our top three picks for Road riders coming to Global Bike Festival this summer:

Grossglockner
The famous Grossglockner is a definite bucket list climb and is one of the highlights for road riders at Global Bike Festival taking riders to the highest pass in Austria at 2571m. The climb itself averages 8.3% over 21.4km with 36 hairpin bends.

Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 119.1km
Elevation: 2,570m

Dienten Saddle
A less well known climb in the region is the Dienten Saddle located around the small village of Dienten am Hochkönig. The highlights of this loop are the ascent to the Filzensattel, the brisk and curvy descent towards Lend and the imposing panorama on the Embach plateau.

Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 101.2km
Elevation: 1,437m

Pillersee Loop
The Pillersee loop is a beautiful ride that is enjoyable for beginners and more advanced riders. The unique aspect to this route is the network of dedicated bike paths that traverse the valley taking riders off the main roads effectively providing a car free riding experience for much of the route. 

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 124.3km
Elevation: 781m

GRAVEL RIDING 

With hundreds of miles of gravel roads and trails across the resort, Saalbach is a paradise for gravel and adventure riders - with routes that will give you the chance to explore the hidden beauty of the Austrian Alps. When it comes to gravel riding there are limitations. A ‘cross bike, mountain bike or a road bike with gravel-proof 32mm+ tires (with tread!) will do, and here's the routes we recommend checking out:

Gravel-Devil
Gravel-Devil is bursting with tough climbs and beautiful views. The loop is actually short but a lot of fun with plenty of huts for rest stops and a refreshing drink (or two) - click here for full route details and map.

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 32.1km
Elevation: 922m

Dusty Ride
This gravel tour leads along picturesque bike paths with a final difficult uphill to the Spielberghaus, before returning to the center of Saalbac.

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 59.1km
Elevation: 775km 

Extreme Scream
Extreme Scream pays homage to the landscape, a creative combination of the legendary Steinberg loop with a gravel section to the Tyrolean, packed with tough elements like uphills, high-speed gravel sections where you can push your limits. 

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 103.9km
Elevation: 1,328m 

Gravel the Lakes
These 3 lakes lead from Saalback across Lake Zell to Klammsee at the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn, then onto Ritzensee in Saalfelden and then back to Saalbach. 

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 88km
Elevation: 571m 

RACING COMPS

As well as epic rides, the Global Bike Festival will also offer epic racing - whether you’re Kom god or someone who prefers going down them, there will be a competition made for your skill set. 

GCN KOM CHALLENGE
The GCN KOM Challenge will be one of the highlights of Global Bike Festival. Quite simply it is a race up a mountain! All riders who want to take part in the KOM Challenge will be given a timing chip and invited to take on the gruelling KOM course - the climb is nearly a vertical 1km as riders will ascend 977m over 10km. All racers will see their times on the leaderboard at the summit where you can enjoy some drinks as you watch the other riders roll in.

CAR PARK CRITERIUM
We will be creating a special criterium circuit that starts and finishes in the Festival village and drops in and out of the underground car park at the Schattberg X-Press gondola. The figure 8 course will host a series of races each day of Global Bike Festival. 

Whatever you decide to do at Global Bike Festival assistance will be there every step of the way, routes easily signposted and mechanical support to help you with all of your issues. There has never been a better time to try something new, and develop your skills as a rider, of one or many disciplines within cycling. 

Click here now to find out more about the different routes and disciplines happening at Global Bike Festival 2022.