Kaunertal - Prutz

Virtually unknown climb (to non-Austrians anyway), mostly because its a 38 km dead end street. So up and down means a 76 km ride already with nearly 1900 climbing meters. So this will take you a lot longer than the Ventoux. The first 19 km are easy, never more than about 5 percent. The biggest obstacle for me was one long tunnel with barely any lights, which scares the hell out of me. There is not a lot of traffic on this (toll)road. From km 19 to 21 you climb the dam of the Gepatsch Stausee (a reservoir), the first tough meters. Alongside the lake it is flat. At the end of the lake the actual climb towards the glacier area starts. The 12 km following are all between 9 and 11 percent with only 2 easy km. The views on the glaciers are beautiful. Towards the end of the 2750 meters you can actually have low oxigen issues, as my mate had who struggled the whole way up at 8 km/h, not being able to eat and drink properly. The last kilometers has large snow walls, giving you the real alpine feeling. The climb ends on a big parking space with a restaurant and views on the final glacier, which is right on the border with Italy. For roadbikers it ends here, on one of the highest paved roads in Europe!

My personal climb rating: