Andermatt, Uri, Switzerland

An Instagram post from a friend in Switzerland triggered a little look at the roads around one of my favourite ski destinations, Andermatt.

I suspect that those weekends I spent in Northern Europe this spring have given me a bit of a pave fetish as, when I saw the picture below, I got a little excited at the thought of a possible trip to Uri in late summer!

Pave in the Alps; and it looks pretty good.

There’s a great place to stay in Andermatt that’s perfect for touring from: Basecamp-Andermatt – I’ve stayed there more than once in winter and never been disappointed. At around 40 CHF a night it’s a bit of a bargain too.

There seems to be plenty of 100km+ Circular rides with climbs in excess of 3000m from Andermatt and the train opens up quite a bit of point to point rides.

I got the following suggestions from Lars Tanninen, a keen cyclist based in Andermatt (and Majorca)…

Here are some pics from the legendary Tremola cobblestone road over Gotthardpass. You can easily ride it uphill. Downhill i would not recommend.

The ride Andermatt-Furkapass-Ulrichen-Nufenepass-Airolo-Tremola up to Gotthard pass-Andermatt is one of the swiss classics. About 3100m vertical and 100km

http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/66139-ch-drei-passe-nufenen-st-gotthard-furka/

Another great loop is:

Andermatt-Wassen-Sustenpass-Innertkirchen-Grimselpass-Gletsch-Furkapass-Andermatt

120km and 3200 vertical 

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=cxzwnxmlnggjucdn&language=en

Past rhone glacier and the Steinglacier at Sustenpass:-)

The Kingline is Andermatt-Gotthardpass-Looong downhill to Biasca-Lucomagno pass-Disentis-Oberalp pass-Andermatt

160km and 3300m vertical

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fhuarqwvprsshhcl

So, if any Wheelers fancy a trip to Switzerland this or next year let me know.

More information on the St. Gotthard pass can be found here.