Day 6: Fusch to Oberdrauburg (93 km, 2320 vm)

The day didn’t quite start as planned. I had a really bad sleep and I didn’t feel well when I woke up. The night before clouds formed and the temperature therefore did not drop much. I woke up at 4 am and decided to get up and get ready. When I had everything ready and went to get my bike I realised that the front tire had a flat. I was a bit overwhelmed having just woken up. Next thing I could not find my tire lifters. By the time I had the front tube changed – It was a small pin that pinched through the tire – it was already 5:15.

Once on the road I was surprised how much traffic there was already going up the Großglocknerpass. Busses and cars were passing me like it was during the day. After the bad start into the day I prepared myself for a busy ride up.

When I got to the “Mautstation” where cars have to pay the toll to pass I saw hundreds of people walking through the station. I took the bike pass through the station and found out that today was a pilgrimage to Heiligenblut on the other side of the pass and therefore no cars were allowed beyond the Mautstation. The day finally had turned. I cycled on and soon reached the “pilgrims’ peleton”. It was fun to pass all these people and to have short chats with them. Most of the chats went like this: Pilgrim: “Where are you going?” Me: “To Greece ... but not today anymore”. Short laugh. Repeat. It was nice to get compliments and recognition from various people and it let the time pass quicker. I felt good and strong on the way up and quickly gained altitude. At around 2000 meters (so after cyling up 1200 meters) I was starting to feel it. I was getting slower and I could feel my legs. I was relieved to reach the first peak (The pass has two) after about 3 and 20 minutes. I knew that after a short downhill I had to go up again but at this point I felt like I already made it. That feeling changed quickly once I had to climb again. After a short tunnel there was a long road with another tunnel in the distance which didn’t seem to come closer. I had to take a break and eat something about half way up. The last meters after the break where painful but what a great feeling to finally be on top of the pass. I cycled through the tunnel and had another break at the restaurant there. It was only around 12 degrees but it felt nice in the sun. What a welcomed change after cycyling in tropical heat the last 5 days.

The downhill went quite quick and after about a good hour I arrived in Winkeln where another little pass awaited me. I had pushed the thought of that last uphill aside and I was not sure if I would do it today or postpone it to tomorrow. But since Winkeln did not look that attractive and it was only around 1:00 I decided to do the pass today. I felt surprisingly well and the 300 vertical meters did not fell to bad.

From the top of this pass – Iselsbergpass – the downhill towards Lienz was steep. From there it was another 16 kilometres to Obertrauburg where I found a nice little campground with a public pool attached. The way there went mainly downhill along the river Drau.

Now I am here in the public pool with my tent set up, my clothes washed and I am so excited that I am across the main range of the alps.