ROAD RIDING

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. At the summit there is an extra sting in the tail with an optional extra cobbled climb up to the viewing area (see adjacent picture). The route will be fully signposted and there will be guided rides across the Festival weekend - click here for route details and map.

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

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. The route will be fully signposted and there will be guided rides across the Festival weekend - click here for route details and map.

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

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. The route will be fully signposted and there will be guided rides across the Festival weekend - click here for route details and map.

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 124.3km
Elevation: 781m

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

This gravel tour leads along picturesque bike paths with a final difficult uphill to the Spielberghaus, before returning to the center of Saalbach - click here for full route details and map.

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 59.1km
Elevation: 775m

Extreme Scream pays homage to the landscape. A creative combination of the legendary Steinberg loop with gravel sections to the Tyrolean "Schreiende Brunnen"! The route is packed with tough elements like uphills and high-speed gravel sections where you can push your limits - click here for full route details and map.

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

This 3 lakes tour leads from Saalbach across Lake Zell to Klammsee at the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn. Then you ride to the Ritzensee in Saalfelden and back to Saalbach - click here for full route details and map.

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 88km
Elevation: 571m

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.

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 of 8 course will host a series of races each day of Global Bike Festival. We'll find out the fastest MTB and Road riders before hosting a mixed discipline grand final to see who truly is the fastest...