Summer sports events in Tirol 2019 – Telegraph.co.uk

The natural playground and sparkling fresh air of the Austrian Tirol attracts elite sportspeople to a host of summer events. Road cycling, mountain biking, trail running, tennis and athletics all feature on the events calendar.

Many of these invite entries from serious amateurs; otherwise, they make great spectacles to tie in with an active holiday of your own.

There are also a variety of pursuits through which you can get your own adrenaline rush.

Road cycling

Much of the 2019 Tour of the Alps in April will take place in Tirol, but there are several other top-class races through the region’s mountains and valleys.

Those keen to retrace the trails of the 2018 UCI Road World Championships (which were held in Innsbruck) can bike the routes including the Höttinger Höll (aka Höttinger Hell) which has a 28 per cent incline at its steepest point.

Centred on Lienz, the Dolomites Cycling Marathon (8-9 June) has been run for decades. Only the fittest successfully tackle the 70-mile route, which has an 1,870m elevation gain. A newer event, the SuperGiroDolomiti, more than doubles the length.

On 30 June, the action switches to Nauders for the public Three Countries Tour. About 3,000 competitors from around the world are attracted to the 42-mile course encircling the point where Austria meets Italy and Switzerland.

A great spectator event is the Ötztal Cycling Marathon at Sölden on 1 September. The 148-mile course is tough enough, but it’s the massive 5,500m of elevation gain that sorts out the winners.

Mountain biking

Teenagers, especially, will love Crankworx. Taking place in Innsbruck from 12-16 June, this festival showcases daredevil mountain bike skills in a variety of disciplines. Races and contests for amateurs and kids are organised alongside the elite performances.

Later in June (22-30), the Brixental Valley will come alive with thousands of MTB riders taking part in KitzAlpBike. Routes for the races are devised to cater for a range of levels from enthusiast to professional. Expect plenty of after-race partying.

One of the toughest mountain bike challenges in the world starts at Tux on 14 July. Bike Transalp is an international race covering 311 miles in seven days. The first part is on a brand new bike trail.

Trail running

Tirol’s grand landscapes make perfect territory for trail running.

Kicking off the season is the Innsbruck Alpine Trail Run Festival (2-4 May) – the best-known of its type in Europe. The invigorating courses, all among breathtaking scenery, range from 10.4 miles to the formidable 53-mile Ultra. There’s also a 4-mile Night Trail. Runners from more than 50 countries took part last year.

If you fancy testing yourself by running up 728 steps, register for the Stuiben Trailrun on 17-18 May. A bigger challenge will be to keep going when you have close-up views of Tirol’s biggest waterfall all the way. Courses start at Umhausen and range from 7 miles to 26 miles, with an uphill sprint and junior trails.

Next up is the Stubai Ultratrail on 29 June, featuring a 40-mile route from Innsbruck to Neustift. Three other distances from 5 miles to 22 miles cater for those with less stamina.

The legendary multi-stage race known as the will be taking place from 6-8 September in Sölden. Only 200 people can enter the competition, which starts at nightfall, with the first Downhill Sprint challenge taking place under floodlight. Only the best athlete – who can make it through the different challenges of all three days – will be crowned the Trailmaster Champion.

Billed as “Austria’s most beautiful panorama race”, the Achenseelauf (7-8 September) sees 1,500 runners encircling Tirol’s largest lake.

The Tour de Tirol (4-6 October) is a gruelling three-day, 47-mile trail run around the Wilder Kaiser mountains. Holidaymakers may be interested in the shorter races and those aimed at children.

Tennis

Post-Wimbledon, there’s a top-quality men’s tennis tournament at Kitzbühel. The Generali Open attracts leading professionals to the clay courts of the purpose-built stadium and more than 40,000 spectators, who enjoy the alpine scenery as much as the sport. It’s on from 27 July to 3 August.

Athletics

The International Golden Roof Challenge (8 June) invites elite pole vaulters and long jumpers to compete on a special mobile stage beneath Innsbruck’s iconic Golden Roof balcony in the charming old town. Spectators can get very close to the action in this unique setting.

Women’s Summer Festival  

Women can engage with a whole host of sports at this fulfilling festival in the sunny Tiroler Zugspitz Arena from 19-21 July. There’s hiking, biking, trail running, climbing, paddleboarding and functional training, all led by instructors. Visitors can chill down with yoga, pilates and beauty sessions, and check out the latest outdoor equipment and clothing at the Expo. The lively evening socials are great fun.

Endless opportunities

Should you be inspired by Tirol’s sporting calendar to indulge in fresh-air activities yourself, the choice is excitingly wide. Whether you fancy a gentle lakeside ride or a twisting single track, bike hire is readily available in all resort towns.  

Thousands of climbing routes, again for all abilities, attract those looking for a vertical challenge, while the tumbling rivers are a magnet for white-water rafters and kayakers.

Tirol has 20 golf clubs with challenging, well-groomed fairways running through majestic scenery. Those with a head for heights can try paragliding with an instructor or one of the thrilling, high-speed zip wires. For a gentler activity, why not go for a swim in one of the crystal lakes, which can become quite warm in summer?