Via FURKA-, NUFENEN- and GOTTHARD-PASS
Starting point of this 66.5 mile long and hard tour is Andermatt (4711 ft) in the Swiss Canton URI.
Our first destination is the Furka Pass at 7978 ft above sea level.
The pass has a length of 19.26 miles and connects the Canton Uri in central Switzerland with the south western Canton Wallis.
We leave Andermatt and initially cycle on an even stretch to Hospen Valley (4898 ft), then turn to the right and carry on cycling on a slightly upward sloping road to the village of Realp (5046 ft).
From here on the road winds in narrow bends up to the Furka Pass with its impressive view of the Rhône glacier and the Valais- and the Bernese Alps with its 2,5 miles high glaciers.
On the following descent to Gletsch (5771 ft) and further on to Ulrichen (4416 ) we summon up strength again for the next climb to our second destination, the Nuvenen Pass, which is the highest alpine pass in central Switzerland. It forms the border between Valais and Ticino.
In Ulrichen we turn to the left and shortly after the small village Zum Loch the climb begins to the Nufenen Pass. Maximum gradients of up to 12% await us on the first miles.
After a few short bends, arriving on a plateau at 5250 ft above sea level, we at first cycle on a moderate ascend, which increases on the further course with gradients ranging from 9 to 12% up to the Nufenen Pass with its superb view.
The descent to Airolo (3855 ft) gives us the opportunity again to summon up strength for the next hard climb up to the Gotthard Pass at 6919 ft above sea level.
In Airolo the hard climb begins.
On the old cobbled road, which is for the most part well-preserved, we climb up to Motto Bartola (5020 ft), where we encounter gradients between 7 and 10%, and continue on a longer asphalted section into the Val Tremola.
Here the spectacular hair-pin bend passage begins. Lying narrowly one on another the mostly bricklayered serpentines wind in short successions up the slope. The gradient reaches values of up to 11%.
Having arrived on the small high plateau of the Gotthard Pass (6919 ft) we at first cycle past a little lake; afterwards we continue on the old cobbled Gotthard Passs-road to the new pass-road in order to reach Hospental (4898 ft), by carrying on riding downhill.
Until Andermatt (4711 ft), our starting point, we just have a few easy miles to do.
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Distance Set 2: ca. 49 km
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