St.-Gotthard-fünf-Pässe-Bike

The first part of the 120 kilometres starts in Switzerland’s sun trap and takes you down into the valley: this stage connects the Valle Leventina with the sun-drenched Blenio Valley. From Piotta, the steep cog railway takes you up to another world: into the dreamy Piora Valley where you see Lake Ritom and other small lakes. The descent across the Passo del Sole to Olivone is spectacular.

Second stage, second descent: arriving at Lukmanier by postbus, you really get started. On the historical Via Lucmagn we follow in the footsteps of princes and their armies, traders, pilgrims and scholars. The journey takes you past the reservoir and over its wall, and on side roads from Val Medel. The last part runs along the Vorderrhein to Disentis via Mumpé Medel.

From Caischavedra, you reach the panoramic mountain of Bostg with its wealth of flowers. Once you have had enough of admiring the panorama, you can enjoy the trail down to Sedrun. The train that goes to the next pass is waiting here. But has the course been set incorrectly? The red lighthouse on the Oberalp Pass looks a little out of place, and this makes it a popular photo opportunity for tourists. Of course, we are here for the descent: past Lake Oberalp and green pastures, it winds down to Nätschen, where it is time to roll out onto the pass road.

After a section through the Urseren Valley and past the smallest village in Switzerland, the postbus takes you to the Furka Pass. Partly flowy and easy, and then technical and more demanding again, you go down to Goms. It is worth stopping at the viewpoints along the way. The pass tour around the Gotthard area, which is approximately 120 kilometres long, currently ends in Oberwald.