Hidden in the far western corner of Tyrol, the Kaunertal Glacier Road is one of the highest and most spectacular paved climbs in Austria. Starting from the Inn Valley, it winds through a long glacial valley, past the turquoise Gepatsch Reservoir, and finishes high above the treeline at the edge of the glacier. For road cyclists and mountain lovers alike, it’s a ride into the world of ice and rock—remote, quiet, and breathtaking.

Thinking of Alpine road cycling, the big names immediately come to mind — Stelvio, Tourmalet, Galibier. But there’s another, lesser-known yet equally spectacular climb: the Ötztaler Gletscherstraße above Sölden in Tyrol. This 15-kilometre ascent doesn’t serve as a classic mountain pass — it’s a dead-end road leading only to the glaciers. Perhaps that’s why the road builders didn’t bother easing the gradient, leaving us with a real challenge to tackle.