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ItalianoUpdated 31.05.2022
Jai Hindley has made cycling history: The pro from BORA-hansgrohe is the first Australian winner of the Giro d'Italia. For two years now, the Ötztal has been the tourism partner of the German professional team and has thus also played a significant role in the team's success. And the cycling season in Ötztal is really starting now.
Ötztal has been a tourism partner of BORA-hansgrohe since the 2020 season. Since then, the cycling pros have undertaken many training camps in the Ötztal mountains, team-building camps and, of course, ski days were also on the programme. Just last week, ex-ski mountaineer Anton Palzer and Giro stage winner Lukas Pöstlberger set up their training tents in the Ötztal again. "We are preparing for the next races and last week we also rode the course of the Ötztal cycling marathon. That's quite a hammer lap. Respect to all hobby cyclists who manage the 227 kilometre distance with heavy 5,500 metres altitude difference over the four Alpine passes Kühtai, Brenner, Jaufenpass and Timmelsjoch," said Palzer, who rode the lap himself in training in a time of 7:30 hours. Of course, many hobby cyclists can only dream of such a time ... true to the motto of this year's Ötztaler, for which the starting signal is given on 28 August at 06:30.
By the way, the Ötztal Cycling Marathon will have a new date from 2023. The marathon classic in the Alps will change its starting date to Sunday, 9 July 2023. This year, the 41st "Ötztaler" will still take place on its regular date on 28 August.
Back to the Girod'Italia, which brought a brilliant overall victory for Team BORA-hansgrohe. But the season so far has also been impressive with numerous victories. And just last week Marco Haller from Carinthia also took his first stage win in years, again at the Tour of Norway. "The guys are all in a very good mood and after a somewhat challenging spring, things are going better than expected now. The fact that we are back on the road to success is due not only to our staff and coaches, but also to our partners and sponsors. As well as Ötztal Tourismus, where we find perfect training conditions, also at altitude," describes team manager Ralph Denk, who continues: "In the Ötztal, cycling - whether road cycling, mountain biking or eBiking - is lived and breathed. You also notice that with the hoteliers, for example, where they really take care of the cycling community."
The cycling pros have already been on the roads since January, and in the Ötztal the cycling summer is now really starting, because on 10 June the Bike Republic Sölden will open with the new event format, the Bike Republic Rallye. "In the Bike Republic - the bike park for every biker from old to young, from pro to beginner - we offer twelve lines, 17 trails and two pump tracks. For all cycling guests who want to take it easy, we have over 50 kilometres of cycle paths across the Ötztal on offer," says Ötztal Tourism Managing Director Oliver Schwarz.