Austria Slovenia Tour

We only need to scale about 300metres, but with occasional climbs of 18% it’s serious stuff. But before we have chance to make a mistake we are already up at the border control. On the ride to Radlje we enjoy the first views of our neighbouring country. But watch out; we need to take care on the rather rough tarmac. In Radlje we cross the main street and then the Drau and slip into a completely different world. Along the railway lines we ride downstream and partly on untarmaced minor roads through the almost surreal green countryside. In Podvelka we cross the bridge to get back on to the left-hand bank of the Drau. Even on this busy road, where a cycle path is being planned, we can enjoy the green, shimmering Drau up to Ozbalt. Straight after Ozbalt we can see the most beautiful part of countryside of our tour. We branch off on a non-descript little road which follows a stream climbing slightly. Continuing slightly uphill we pass a bee keeper and then a fishing business and finally choose the path back to Austria. We have been so impressed by peaceful little roads that we haven’t even noticed the 250m which we have left behind or even below us since Ozbalt. Totally surprised we are suddenly standing at the barrier of the border crossing at Schloßberg, which isn’t always manned. Back in Austria we turn right through the protected nature area and through farms following the serpentines down into the Styrian wine growing area. From the village of Schloßberg, where we briefly meet the Wine Route Tour, we free-wheel through a hops growing area to Leutschach. Recovered from earlier we now have the last climb on two wheels. The tour takes us uphill for one last time, on Remschnigg we ride past high above Maltschach. Finally we ride downhill round fast corners to Arnfels and along a quiet road to Unterhaag. From there we can ‘have a rest from cycling’ on a section of the 2 Rivers Tour free-wheeling past Oberhaag, Pitschau and Hörmsdorf back to Eibiswald.