Tour of Austria to Feature Challenging Stages and Iconic Climbs

The Tour of Austria is set to take place from July 9 to July 13, showcasing five challenging stages with three mountain finishes. The highlight of the event, known as the king stage, will lead participants to the Kühtai in Tyrol on the penultimate day. The starting and finishing locations for the 74th edition of Austria's major cycling tour have been confirmed as Steyr and Feldkirch, with additional stage destinations including St. Johann/Alpendorf and the Gaisberg in Salzburg.

Over the course of five days, professional cyclists will cover a distance of 717.6 kilometers, ascending a total of 13,779 meters. The Kühtai, situated over 2,000 meters above sea level, previously hosted the decisive stage of the competition last year. However, due to a tragic incident involving the Norwegian cyclist Andre Drege during the descent from the Grossglockner, that stage was conducted as a neutral memorial ride. The Grossglockner is not on this year's itinerary, but Tour Director Thomas Pupp has indicated that it will return in 2026 after a year's hiatus.

The highest point of this year's tour will be the Kühtai, which will be approached from various routes beginning in Innsbruck. The initial segments of the tour promise to be equally demanding; the first stage, starting and finishing in Steyr, could see a decisive showdown on the steep Porscheberg just five kilometers from the finish line. The second stage concludes with a mountain finish in St. Johann, while the following day features a route from Schloss Hellbrunn up to the Gaisberg. The final stage in Feldkirch will present four mountain classifications, further adding to the challenge.

Pupp noted that while the overall distance of this year's tour is shorter than in recent editions, the difficulty level remains high. Riccardo Zoidl, the last Austrian to win the overall tour in 2013, anticipates a competitive race that will keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final day. The defending champion, Diego Ulissi from Italy, who has previously won stages in the Giro, will also compete. In addition to his XDS Astana team, six other WorldTour teams will participate, including Alpecin, Lidl-Trek, Jayco, Ineos, EF Education, and UAE Team Emirates, making for a robust field of competitors.

As the UCI Europe Tour (Category 2.1) event coincides with the first week of the Tour de France, Zoidl expressed optimism about the participant roster. Michael Gogl from Alpecin, who is returning to compete in his homeland, has recently undergone knee surgery due to a chronic inflammation but is hopeful about his recovery in time for the race.

Here's the detailed stage plan for the 2025 Tour of Austria:

• Stage 1: Wednesday, July 9 - Steyr to Steyr (167.8 km)
• Stage 2: Thursday, July 10 - Bischofshofen to St. Johann in Salzburg (142.1 km, Mountain Finish)
• Stage 3: Friday, July 11 - Salzburg/Schloss Hellbrunn to Salzburg/Gaisberg (142.9 km, Mountain Finish)
• Stage 4: Saturday, July 12 - Innsbruck to Kühtai (117.1 km, Mountain Finish)
• Stage 5: Sunday, July 13 - Feldkirch to Feldkirch (147.8 km)