For the first time in its 20-year history, the race starts from the Austrian town of Kitzbühel, home to the famous Hahnenkamm downhill race. Athletes will run through the town before racing 900m to the top of the mountain. Start: Schulgasse 2, 6370 Kitzbühel
Images © Kitzbühel Tourismus Michael Werlberger / TVB Kitzbüheler Alpen-Brixental Mathäus Gartner
The site of the world’s most famous downhill course and a Turnpoint in 2021. Athletes will be battling nerves but it's an area they'll know well after the Prologue. From here they head south-east towards Wagrain-Kleinarl. On the way they'll pass the finish line at Zell am See. Seeing it will be a strong motivator for when morale is low later on in the race.
Image © Michael Werlberger
A Turnpoint in 2021 and 2019, the picturesque Wagrain-Kleinarl mountain resort is situated 60km south of Salzburg. The most easterly point on the route. Athletes must sign a board where the previous athlete camp used to be.
Image © Erwin Trampitsch
This Turnpoint takes athletes to the very northern fringes of the Alps. Part of the scenic Chiemgau and Achental regions of southern Germany, it is the home area of Markus Anders. Expect the field to separate on the way here as they battle against preveailing winds coming off the German plains.
Image © zooom / Felix Woelk
Athletes now head towards Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze (2,962m). The signboard has a new location for 2023. It's situated on the Austrian side of the mountain, in Lermoos, part of the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena with incredible views of the mountain - but not far from the old site. Image © zooom / Sebastian Marko
The Swiss peak of Piz Buin is situated on the Swiss-Austrian border in the heart of the Silvretta Alps and forces athletes deep into the mountains after Lermoos. Athletes have to pass within a 3km radius of the peak. From here athletes will likely follow the Rhine and Rhone valleys to Fiesch, avoiding the Overalp pass between them, which is famous for its strong headwinds.
Fiesch is situated in the Aletsch Arena in Valais, and is home to the Alps' longest glacier, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. To get here from Piz Buin it’s a straight-line distance of almost 160km across challenging mountain terrain. Image © zooom / Adi Geisegger
It’s relatively short stop from Fiesch to the Swiss village of Frutigen but it’s across the mighty Aletsch glacier where even the passes are over 3,000m. It will be very difficult flying to make it over and the direct line by foot is challenging technical mountaineering terrain. Expect athletes to try this only in perfect flying conditions – most will likely continue along the Rhone valley and then hike over the Lötschenpass to then glide to Frutigen.
Image © Frutigen
It’s just under 6km to the next Turnpoint, the summit of Niesen, which is known as the Swiss Pyramid for its perfect triangular shape. The mountain is a popular flying site well known to the Swiss athletes of Chrigel Maurer, Patrick von Känel and Sepp Inniger, who all live within gliding distance.
Image © Bruno Petroni
The highest mountain in the western Alps makes another appearance as a Turnpoint. Like 2021, athletes must cross from France to Italy. This turnpoint is unique in that it must be passed from the north, heading west – making a counterclockwise circle around Mont Blanc. Athletes don't need to reach the summit – they need to circumnavigate the Mont Blanc Massif. Still quite the challenge, and if conditions are not flyable, expect the race to slow down a bit!
It’s just a short 17km leg from Mont Blanc to the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard in the air, one of the main crossing points of the Alps, but it’s much longer on foot! Athletes will be hoping it’s flyable but they have to land and send a selfie to the race committee. What does 'picture proof' mean? Easy – they've got to take a selfie with their CAT phone!
A 5km cylinder athletes can pass in the air or on the ground. This is one of the most challening Turnpoints, forcing athletes to make their way over 2,000m passes south of the Matterhorn and almost cross the Monte Rosa massif. It's complicated terrain and it doesn't get any easier on the way to Cima Tosa.
At 234km this is the longest leg of the route. Expect the race to be wide open at this point as the remaining athletes pick diverging lines across northern Italy, most likely staying north in mountainous and technical terrain to avoid lakes Maggiore, Lugano and Como. Athletes must land by the Refugio de Brentei and snap a selfie for the race committee.
One of the most famous landmarks of the Sexten Dolomites, the three limestone rock towers of 3 Zinnen (also known as Tre Cime) are an incredible wonder and scene of some of the most famous climbing epics in the Alps. Athletes have to climb a via ferrata to tag this Turnpoint atop the peak of Paternkofel (2,740m) and take the selfie before dropping into the second part of this Turnpoint, Sexten itself. Image © Wisthaler
Nestled in the shadow of the Dolomites and just a short hop from its most famous mountain, 3 Zinnen, Sexten is the classic South Tyrolean mountain village in the holiday region 3 Zinnen Dolomites. For athletes, it’s the last stop before the final crossing of the main divide back into Austria.
Image © Wisthaler
The last and final Turnpoint for those athletes still in the race is this 1,960m peak overlooking Zell am See. At this point the race is all but over, just one final glide remains.
Image © zooom / Sebastian Marko
The finish for the few who make it this far. Zell am See is one of Austria’s most famous lakeside resorts. With camping beside the lake, it promises to be the perfect venue to finish the race – and to recover afterwards. Image © Nikolaus Faistauer Photography
