© Ötztal Tourismus - Inscript
The cooperation between BORA - hansgrohe and Ötztal as "Official Training Destination" has existed since 2020. Both partners benefit from this mutual support. With its variety of events and the range of tourist cycling offers, Ötztal is increasingly consolidating its reputation as a top destination in the Alps - for all cyclists, be it on racing bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes or e-bikes. Recently a delegation from Ötztal traveled to BORA - hansgrohe, where there were interesting insights into the team's "service course".
At the end of last year, the tourism cooperation between Ötztal, Tirol’s longest side valley, and BORA - hansgrohe was extended for another two years. "For us, this partnership absolutely pays off. We offer the WorldTour team perfect training camp conditions for the top and junior teams and invite them to the Team Camp every year in October. From an advertising point of view, we can present impressive figures. Only at the 2020 Tour de France, the world-renowned agency Nielsen analyzed an advertising value of 30 million Euros in the TV segment and just under a million in print - especially in our most important core markets," Oliver Schwarz states. Recently, the managing director of Ötztal Tourismus also went to Bavaria to visit the team's impressive "service course". All of the equipment for the professional team and the U19 youth team, Team Auto Eder, is stored there.
The majority of summer guests in Ötztal takes their bike with them - whether racing bike, mountain bike or e-bike. Not without reason: Ötztal ranks among the most popular, but above all most innovative cycling destinations in the Alps. In the 2022 summer there were over 1.4 million overnight stays. In Sölden the focus is entirely on the sporty character! The Bike Republic Sölden alone, with its countless trails and downhill routes, recorded up to 1000 bikers per day on peak days last year. In the summer of 2022, five mountain lifts for bikers were in operation, featuring over 230,000 rides. In Sölden the bikers’ share of mountain lift rides is 30%.
Toni Palzer as star guest at the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon
What the Tour de France is to the BORA - hansgrohe team, the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon is to the national and international racing bike community. This year, one of the most legendary cycling marathons of the Alps - starting and finishing in Sölden, covering some 227 kilometers and 4 Alpine passes with 5500 altitude meters - will take place for the first time on 09 July. The 42nd edition of the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon is again limited to 4000 participants while a special star guest comes from the BORA - hansgrohe team this year: Toni Palzer. Organizer Dominic Kuen is pleased: "He will be with us all weekend and we are very happy that he will also share his expertise on ÖRM TV."
The Ötztaler Cycle Marathon has been revitalizing the hobby cycling sector with its innovations already for decades. Prior to the 42nd edition, two participants had the great opportunity to join an exclusive training program guided by BORA - hansgrohe coach Helmut Dollinger for the first time. "This has never been done before as every starter has different requirements. Many want to get through and enjoy the great atmosphere, others want to push their personal best times and very few want to win. I also supported the two chosen cyclists at a one-week training camp on Mallorca, I write their training plans in order to achieve their goals in their very personal way," describes Helmut Dollinger.
As far as innovations at the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon are concerned, there is a very special one this year: For the first time, all of the more than 4000 participants will be sent personal, digitized videos of their ride after crossing the finish line, which they can then share with their friends. Another milestone and pioneering role of the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon when it comes to digitization.
Successful summer project: Bike Republic Sölden
Mountain biking plays a very decisive role in Ötztal. Not only due to the fact that four of the most popular mountain bikers in the World Cup come from Ötztal and its immediate surroundings. New standards were set with the new Indoor Bike Park at Area47, which opened this year. One of the most successful summer projects is the Bike Republic Sölden with an incomparable added value in the Alpine region. Over 95 kilometers of fully developed trails and lines, 18 natural trails covering 36 kilometers, 30 quaint alpine huts and mountain inns, the highest starting point for mountain bikers on Fernar Trail at 2787 meters and a total of 14 MTB routes on 241 kilometers spread over Ötztal speak for themselves. Of course, there are also plenty of shops for renting bikes and equipment in Ötztal. In addition, several pump tracks in Ötztal also open up an eldorado for the youngest bikers.
