Explore the Alpine passes from Andermatt on a road bike.

Want to enjoy insane views, or looking for relaxation in one of the wellness centres or outdoor seating areas? It’s all possible in the friendly mountain village of Andermatt, which can be found in the Urseren Valley in central Switzerland. A valley bordered to the south by the Gotthard Massif.

In the evening, I sit in my hotel room and study the route for the next day using Komoot. The title: “An epic day in Andermatt with Tijn and Léon”. A 120-kilometre route with three hors catégorie climbs and nearly 4,000 metres worth of elevation gain. We’re excited about a day full of adventure, pushing through and breathtaking views along Route 1291.

For Léon and myself, the start of the route from Andermatt is ‘gentle’, passing through the Reuss Valley and heading south over the Teufelsbrücke. The Teufelsbrücke is the first place we stop briefly. An impressive bridge where we cross the wild Reuss River. Built around 1230, this wooden crossing has had a rich history over the centuries.

We continue our way through the Schöllenen Gorge, and with a healthy dose of nervous excitement we then begin the first climb of the day: the Susten Pass. This climb connects the towns of Wassen and Innertkirchen and, with a length of 17.8 kilometres and an average gradient of 7.6%, it is a pleasant first climb. We each climb steadily uphill at our own pace to a whopping 2,224 metres up. The ride is very enjoyable, with waterfalls, snow-capped peaks and the alpine meadows with chamois jumping back and forth over the rocks in the distance.

At the top of the Susten Pass, we are rewarded with spectacular views of the Gadmen Valley and the Steineng Glacier, Sustenhorn and Dammastock. We stop after the climb to regain our strength at the clear blue mountain lake at the top of the pass. Our photographer Tijn has assumed the responsibilities of the team’s medic and mechanic, offering us some energy gel and an energy bar. All of a sudden, Léon and I feel like pro cyclists again!

One drawback is that the temperature has dropped considerably due to the altitude, and combined with a strong wind it feels chilly. What to do? We put on our windbreakers and begin the nearly 28-kilometre descent. In Léon’s slipstream, I coast down a smooth asphalted road towards Innertkirchen. A town in which we stop off briefly for a real pro cyclist’s meal: pasta bolognese, a coke and a coffee.

With a well-filled stomach, we start the second climb of the day, with a distance of around 25 kilometres, during which we need to cover 1,500 metres of elevation gain. Pedalling at a consistent level of effort for two hours, with our legs not letting up, all the while continuing to enjoy the wild and rocky mountain scenery. So that’s also possible in Andermatt. Just before the pass, we cycle by three large reservoirs: the Grimselsee, the Räterichs Bodensee and the Oberaarsee, where Switzerland has invested in the generation of renewable energy. At the top of the pass (2,165 metres up) is the Totensee, and we can enjoy a view of the descent and the valley ahead as well as of the last climb of the day: the Furka Pass.

Atop the world, the three of us look out over the endless snow-capped peaks before us. The wind is increasing in strength, and we feel small. A feeling you can only experience in the mountains.

We make the descent and have a Snickers bar and a coke before starting on the last and highest pass of the day. There are another 10 kilometres to climb on the Furka Pass, but fatigue is starting to set in. Now, it becomes a mental game. As we ride along the route, we catch a glimpse of the authentic Furka steam train chugging along the famous railway below us.

Just before the top of the pass, Hotel Bélvèdere appears on the horizon, the iconic Swiss hotel on the edge of the glacier that was the setting for a chase in the James Bond film Goldfinger in 1964. Time to stop and snap some photos and get some drone footage of this amazing view. But a threatening dark sky is coming at us from the southwest. Once again, the wind picks up, and as the first raindrops start to fall, the weather suddenly turns. The drone almost ends up in the middle of the glacier due to the strong wind. Fortunately, it returns, after which a cold and wet descent to Andermatt awaits.

As soon as we get to the hotel, we hit the spa. We tuck into a well-deserved evening meal, while sharing the epic cycling stories, the exertion, the setbacks and the highlights of the day with one another. Andermatt can really dish it out to you.

Radisson Blu Reussen is an ideal base in Andermatt for those who want an all-inclusive holiday. It is a modern hotel with all the charms of an authentic Swiss chalet, including a spa and a fancy restaurant. With a bike cellar and the BikeWelt Gisler bike shop just 200 metres away, all the facilities a road cyclist or mountain biker could wish for are readily available. The picturesque small town of Andermatt has several cosy restaurants and stores, and is ideal for a rest day or in case of bad weather.

Belle de Gast is a former pro cyclist for team Parkhotel Valkenburg. Her wins include the Volta Limburg Classic. She currently works as a physical therapist, and Belle is Bicycle Mayor of Utrecht, to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy form of transportation and improve the cycling climate.

“Switzerland offers not only beautiful landscapes but also a well-developed cycling infrastructure and a cycling-friendly culture. Cycling in this country is a unique experience.”