Grossglockner

The idea came thanks to Michi, and it was perfect timing. Each winter, this road is buried under up to 12 meters of snow, requiring massive snowblowers to clear 500–700,000 cubic meters of it before reopening. Just before the official opening to cars, cyclists get a rare chance to enjoy the road car-free. In 2020, due to COVID-19, the usual May 1 opening was delayed, giving us a chance to ride in warmer spring temperatures with some extra training under our belts. Equipped with masks, bikes, and plenty of excitement, we drove to Zell am See.
We started our ride around noon, aiming to take advantage of the warmer weather. Clouds and occasional sun greeted us, but fortunately, there was no rain, snow, or wind—ideal conditions for this unforgettable experience. The initial views of Lake Zell and the glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn were energizing after months of local rides during lockdown. Passing through Bruck and Fusch, we reached the toll gate at Ferleiten, where the road closure for cars left the lane open exclusively for bikes.
Ahead lay 12.9 km and 1,283 meters of climbing to Fuscher Törl (2,428 m) or 19.2 km to Hochtor (2,504 m), with a descent and an additional 227-meter climb in between. The steady 12% gradient wound through hairpins, surrounded by towering 3,000-meter peaks. Milestones like Pfiff Alm, Piffkar, and Hochmais marked our progress as we left the forest behind and entered the high alpine landscape. Snow appeared around Hexenküche, and marmots peeked out after their long winter sleep.
Hairpin after hairpin, we climbed to Fuscher Törl, ascending 1,810 meters in one stretch. Determined to reach Hochtor, the true pass, we descended briefly to Fuscher Lacke before tackling the final climb to the 311-meter-long tunnel connecting Salzburg and Carinthia. The tunnel’s portals bear the inscription "In te domine speravi"—"In You, O Lord, I have hoped"—a tribute to a coin from Maria Theresa's reign found during construction. Along this stretch, we also passed the historic rotary snow blowers engineered by Franz Wallack in 1953, still hard at work clearing the road for its official opening.
Emerging on the Carinthian side, we were greeted by sunshine and breathtaking views—a perfect reward for the day’s efforts.
The descent that followed was pure freedom. With no cars in sight, it was the most liberating downhill I’ve ever experienced, allowing us to enjoy every turn and hairpin to the fullest. I’m not sure I’ll ever want to ride it again with cars on the road!


bike: Pretty Betty Specialized Tarmac S-Works
starring: Gerhard Bauer, Josef Staffa, Martin Wilk, Michael Wagenhofer, Ossi Wiesinger, Gerry Samer