49 – (ITA STAGE1) – Brenner – Sterzing / Brenner – Sterzing

The first stage does not present difficulties, developing in mainly downhill paths, along the the river bank Isarco / Eisack to its source. We start from over 1300 meters a.s.l. from the Passo del Brennero / Brenner Pass to reach Vipiteno / Sterzing at an altidude of a.s.l. 950m

We begin our journey to Rome. Starting from the train station we cross the town and we head to the cycle path that starts behind the church of San Valentino. The route follows the ancient railway, transformed into a cycle path. After 3.5km we are at the Terme del Brennero / Brennerbad; due to work we are forced to return on the main road for 300m, then we take the cycle path to the right. Passing through 2 tunnels, we overcome what remains of the old toll booths and the Ponticolo station; at the crossroads we leave the bike path and turn left onto the road, heading for Colle Isarco / Gossensass that we see below. 200m a bend to the right, another 200m and at the fork turn left; 300m and turn right to continue straight, after another 200m, on a path that leads us to the first houses of the village; turn left, after 100m to the right, then left; 100m and enter the cemetery. After visiting the chapel of S.Barbara, we go down the steps of the miners. We turn left and arrive on the Brennero state road. We turn left, cross and take via Posta Vecchia (sent.n.2) to the right. We climb and pass under the highway; 150 and leave the road for hiking path n.21 that takes us into a beautiful forest of conifers after 1,3km we leave the forest, turn right and arrive at Castel Strasberg, descend to the small farming village of Novale di Sopra; turn left and go up, walking among meadows and various cultivations. After the farm house we take the path on the left and go back into the woods; 200m and take the left path, then another 200m and go right; 1km and start to descend and after a bar we return to the meadows on a dirt track and arrive in sight of Vipiteno. We descend to the railway, which we follow for a while, we under pass the rail way tracks, then on the right of the road, we cross the river Isarco / _Eisack and arrive in the main square of Vipiteno / Sterzing, under the Torre dei dodici / Zwölferturm.