Arlberg Giro 2025: Andrin Züger and Amalie Cooper triumph at the road cycling classic

142 kilometers, 2,400 meters of elevation gain, and 1,200 motivated participants: The Arlberg Giro 2025 demanded stamina, focus, and nerves of steel. In the end, Swiss rider Andrin Züger and British cyclist Amalie Cooper triumphed to great applause in the pedestrian zone finish area of St. Anton.

“The new route wasn’t easy – but everything went smoothly. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the performances were remarkable”, said Martin Ebster, Director of the St. Anton Tourism Association. All 1,500 starting spots were already allocated in advance, and around 1,200 riders ultimately took on the race under changing weather conditions – with nearly as many crossing the finish line.

While the main field still had to prepare for many more hours of riding, the decisive final phase had already begun for the leading athletes. 15 kilometers before the finish, Andrin Züger attacked again: he went on the offensive and took the lead once more. On the final climb, the Swiss rider played to his strengths, increased the pace, and created a gap.

Burke and Pammer reacted promptly, got out of the saddle, increased their cadence - but the gap grew: 15, 20 seconds separated them from the leader. Züger rode on undeterred, heading straight for the finish line. The rider from the MYVELO Pro Cycling Team pulled off his solo ride, just as he had previously at the Kops reservoir. A strong performance by the Swiss rider - and a thrilling finale for the Arlberg Giro. Among the women, Amalie Cooper ultimately triumphed ahead of Germany's Eva Schien and Austria's Corina Pichler.

International Cycling Criterium: Thrilling Laps Through the Town Center
On a technically demanding circuit, over 50 international professional athletes engaged in intense position battles – including in the spectacular curve near the Hotel Schwarzer Adler, which provided excitement for the audience.

First, the women opened the race: In the final sprint lap, Austrian Leila Gschwentner was able to prevail. Among the men, German criterium champion Dario Raps managed to gain the decisive centimeters of advantage in the sprint.

The journey began comfortably in the Railjet - at least theoretically. Practically, five carriages separated me and my bike, which was rather suboptimal when changing trains. But hey, the main thing is we arrived together in St. Anton.

Friday: Night Sprint & Celebrity Chatting
Right on time at 3:00 PM, the starting signal was given for the qualifying runs of the brand-new Night Sprint - 200 meters slightly uphill, best time: 17.3 seconds. In the evening, the knockout mode followed in pouring rain. But thanks to the LED starting ramp, pyrotechnics, and a cheerful audience, the showdown still turned into a spectacle.
Meanwhile, Ultra-Gravel legend Sebastian Breuer was also staying at the same hotel. Plenty of material for expert discussions over dinner - from Badlands to Unbound, everything was covered.

Saturday: Numbers, Noodles, Nerve-Wracking Moments
In the morning, picking up the race number was on the agenda, followed by wellness and a pasta party: gondola rides on Gampen and Galzig, then a proper sweating session at the "Wellcom." At 5:00 PM, the riders' meeting took place - and shortly after, it seamlessly continued with the bike criterium in the pedestrian zone. Exciting, especially the eliminator mode of the women's race: each lap, one rider was eliminated until only three sprinted for the final victory. In the men's race, the field was packed with over 50 riders, making it correspondingly action-packed.

Sunday: Showtime at 07:00 – with weather lottery
Alarm at 05:00, breakfast at 05:30, outfit: long, dense, waterproof. And it was a good choice! The Arlberg Pass went surprisingly smoothly in 32 minutes. On the descent to Bludenz, the classic happened: railway barriers down. No problem, it gave me a chance to take a quick bathroom break – the first and only one, the rest was sweated out.

From Bludenz, the sun even came out. A mild westerly breeze blew against me, and the group I wanted to hang on to was a bit too motivated for me, so I let them go. The focus was already on the Zeinisjoch anyway.

Ganifertal: steep, steeper, ouch
At the toll station in Partenen, it became clear: now it’s getting serious. The climb through the Ganifertal was tough – 6 kilometers averaging over 10%, ramps up to 20%, and the finale with a continuous 15%. People were pushing their bikes left and right. I was at my limit with 33-32 gearing. Normally, I’m not a fan of standing pedaling, but this time it was a matter of survival.

Luckily, there was water, cola, and moral support halfway up. At the top, it was time to refill bottles, layer up, and dive into the technical descent toward Paznaun. Unfortunately, my inner thigh muscle started acting up, apparently not a big fan of standing pedaling either. A quick stretching session, electrolyte replenishment, and on I went.

Final Sprint with Tricycle Moment
In Pians, quickly refilled the bottles, and then the tough final climb began. On paper seemingly harmless: around 2% on average. In reality? A rollercoaster of emotions with headwinds, tired legs, and mental slumps.

My most emotional highlight: Shortly after Flirsch, a little child waved to me from their tricycle. In that moment, I really had to fight back tears. When you’re completely drained, both physically and mentally, gestures like that are enough to give you goosebumps.

The last few meters in the pedestrian zone? Pure euphoria. Sausage sandwich, nut pastry, and Red Bull at the finish line: The menu of a winner (or rather, a finisher). After a shower and subsequent relaxation in the hotel spa, the person was back in their body.

My conclusion: Gladly again!
The Arlberg Giro is a genuine recommendation. The new route through the Ganifer Valley was brutal but scenically top-notch. Great organization, an amazing atmosphere, and many small moments that stick with you.