Day 2: Feldkirch to St. Anton am Arlberg (90 km, 1550 vm)

Today I had an early start. My sleep in the tent was rather bad and when I woke up at 5 again I decided to pack up and leave. Today the winds from the Sahara are due to arrive and therefore I wanted to get up the Arlberg pass which is 60 km as early as possible so I didn't have to cycle uphill in the heat. I sat on my bike at 6 am and left the camp ground. The route from Feldkirch to the top of Arlbergpass at 1800 meters is a continuous climb, first moderate and then steeper and steeper. Since have a good idea of where I had to go - I had been skiing in various resorts around the area already - I just follow the road signs. First to Bludenz then to Schruns. Schruns is 13 km from Bludenz and about 200 vertical meters climbing. In Schruns I had a Sandwich and checked the map, just in case. It turned out I don't know the area as well as I thought. Schruns is on the way to another pass, I was supposed to take another route in Bludenz. 1 hour to Schruns for nothing. At least the way back down was quick.

Once on the right route the uphill was getting steeper and the temperature hotter. After another 23 km I reached Klösterle where the highway enters the 15 km long Arlberg tunnel and where the real Arlberg pass starts. By now it was boiling. Normally I do not like to cycle through tunnels with the echoing noise of cars and motorcycles and the because of the fear of being overseen. But today I was longing for them as they were cool and gave a bit of shade. I even took a food break inside a tunnel gallery.

At a little village called Stuben I refilled my water and then zig zagged up the serpentines and then a long stretch to St. Christoph which is the top of Arlberg pass. I was more than relieved. I was already cycling for 7 hours and even at this altitude the temperature was very high. I decided to stop in St. Anton which is the next little town, a big skiing village with more hotels then normal houses.

Tomorrow's goal ist Innsbruck, about 105 km away but mainly downhill. So that should be a cruise.