The Grand Jogl Tour - Gravel Challenge, Birkfeld

Stage 1: Birkfeld - Wenigzell

From Birkfeld we cycle about four kilometres on the R8 Feistritztalradweg and then turn right to Strallegg. Passing the fire station, we reach the centre of the village and continue towards the ski lift. After the Posch snack station, however, we keep to the right and continue through a forest to Wenigzell.

We reach the village of Wenigzell after a short ride, almost past the Bratlalm, on forest paths and local roads. Once in the village, not only a bed & bike establishment (Mein Hotel Fast) awaits us cyclists, but also other inns, such as the Buchtelbar.

Stage 2: Wenigzell - Vorau

We start the second stage in Wenigzell. We cycle past the church and the Joglland Oasis until we reach the crossing point Toter Mann. We continue leisurely into the centre of Miesenbach.

From here we continue to the Zeiseleck and via the Wolfsgrube to the Schloffereck.

From Schloffereck, we drive a short distance on the main road to the former Kreuzwirt inn, an important orientation point for hikers and cyclists in the region. We continue on to the Wildwiese with the striking lookout post. Via Wetterkreuzstraße we go back down to Gasthof Kreuzwirt, there we turn into a forest and after a few kilometres we start our ascent to Masenberg with the Olmstoll and the Glückskapelle at the summit.

A short breather - we head downhill via Puchegg, a district of Vorau, past the Erzherzog Johann Höhe, the open-air museum and Vorau Abbey.

Stage 3: Vorau - St. Jakob im Walde

Heading towards the market centre, we first cross the main road and then Griesplatz and follow the so-called Drei-Mühlenweg and Dörflweg. After about two kilometres we turn into a wood and follow the forest and meadow path until we come to a quiet asphalt road that leads us to the Waldbacher Landesstraße and our next stage town Waldbach-Mönichwald. We are now also at the lowest point of the tour "Der große Jogl" at approx. 550 metres above sea level.

We arrive in the district of Mönichwald with its numerous inns and refreshment stops, including a bed & bike establishment, the Hold Inn, located here in the village centre. On the municipal road we head towards the Hochwechsell lifts and on to the Mönichwalder Schwaig, the toll station for the Hochwechsell road, which we follow to the summit.  Via the Rabl-Kreuz hut and Breitenbrunn we continue to the Arzberg hut.

From the Arzberghütte, our bike tour takes us on to St. Jakob im Walde, where there are also two bed & bike establishments (Familienhotel Berger, Gasthof Orthofer).

Stage 4: St. Jakob im Walde - Birkfeld

The last stage starts in St. Jakob im Walde and leads us first to Rettenegg. We follow the main road for a short distance before turning into the centre of Rettenegg. We continue along a quiet asphalt road into the municipality of Ratten and make a detour to the next peak, the Pretul. There, the Roseggerhaus awaits all hungry cyclists. . Two feeder roads lead into the centre of Ratten. However, we stay on the main route and follow it in the direction of St. Kathrein am Hauenstein. At the mining settlement, we keep to the right and continue up to the Alpl.

Continue to the right in the direction of Alpl, drive a short section on the B72 before turning left and returning along the Verbingungsweg to St. Kahrein am Hauenstein. Along the way we pass the Schlagobersbauern inn. From St. Kathrein am Hauenstein we follow the main road B72 for a short distance before continuing briefly along the cycle path R8. We turn right to follow the Landauerweg to Falkenstein. From Falkenstein to Fischbach it is only a short distance. When you arrive in Fischbach, there are various places to stop for refreshments and a bed & bike establishment (Dorfhotel Fasching). From now on it's almost all downhill. When you arrive in Birkfeld, there are again numerous places to stop for refreshments and another bed & bike establishment (Athecada).

On the overall tour "The Grand Jogl" - Gravel Challenge, we have now completed around 202 kilometres and 5600 metres in altitude.