THE ALPS ARE ALIVE

INNSBRUCK SHOULD BE ON YOUR SUMMER HIT LIST

World class trails and city living are two things that almost never go together, but Innsbruck, set in the Austrian Alps, is arguably the exception. It may be the country’s fifth largest city (and the capital of the Tyrol region), but with forested slopes rising into 2,000m tall jagged peaks right from the city limits, you don’t have to stray far from the bustle of the streets to find yourself in a two-wheeled paradise.

This explains why Innsbruck is the only European stop on the Crankworx festival world tour this year, and as a fixture on the calendar for the past three years, it’s cemented itself as a favourite destination for many of the sport’s top pros. You’d be wrong to assume that the trails are just reserved for the elite though, as away from the insane jumps and race tape there’s a whole host of amazing terrain for regular riders, too.

Here are just five reasons why you should see Innsbruck for yourself this summer…

THE TRAIL NETWORK IS AS BIG AS THE MOUNTAINS

When Innsbruck dubs itself ‘Bike City’, it doesn’t just mean a few commuter-friendly bike lanes. Rather, it’s talking about an expansive network of singletrack, including everything from scenic cross-country to gravity-fed and lift-accessed bike park descents, graded for everyone from first timers to seasoned pros.

Standout trails include the Nordkette, which starts atop the Seegrube cable car and drops 1,030m down 3.2km of steep unrelenting terrain, and The Chainless One, which arcs its way through the Bikepark Innsbruck on the opposite mountain, in curving berms and mellow jumps that are so flowy you don’t even need to pedal! The purchase of a ‘Bike City’ card gives you access to all this, including a lift pass, plus the kids’ park, pumptrack and the nearby Elferbahnen in Stubai – so the question isn’t where to ride, but how to fit it all in.