Stage 4: Mühlbach am Hochkönig - Flachau

Now we tear ourselves away from the Hochkönig, taking one last stroll along its flank. After relaxing a little in the valley, we look forward to the Dachstein panorama at the Sattelbauer.

This stage is very different from the last two ‘Hochkönig stages’ because it is significantly longer and includes a long, flat section where you can roll along at a relatively relaxed pace. Gravel bikes combine the characteristics of road bikes and mountain bikes. And while the last stages were pure terrain for tyres with good grip, today the road characteristics of the gravel bike are also in demand.

But first, it's back into the mountains. Between Bischofshofen and the Hochkönig, there is another wooded pre-summit, the Hochkeil. Between its gentle peak and the steep walls of the mountain range, there is a pass with gravel paths where the rock faces are close enough to touch. This is the first destination of this stage, which is climbed on a mixture of forest paths and roads. Around the Hochkeil, there are now great gravel tracks that, after a few ups and downs, soon descend at a moderate gradient to Bischofshofen. Soon, the asphalted farm tracks lead further into the centre of the town – past the start of the ski jump, which has no tower here but is built into the slope. But it is certainly quieter than on 6 January each year, when thousands of fans celebrate the final of the Four Hills Tournament.

Bischofshofen is a bustling town with a lot of industry. But there is also a village-like town centre and, not far from it, idyllic spots on the Tauern Cycle Path on the banks of the Salzach. The rolling section has been reached. It is now around 25 kilometres to Flachau, initially on the main road, which has comparatively little traffic because the nearby motorway handles long-distance traffic. The route climbs gently uphill and, after a short stretch of gravel path along the Fritzbach, you soon reach the wide valley basin between Eben, Altenmarkt and Flachau. Here, the Enns Cycle Path leads gently to Flachau. This is the most relaxed section of the day. Roll along sunny cycle paths and simply enjoy the ride.

Loosen up your muscles and off you go: A little over 400 metres of climb remain on the programme as the gravel path winds its way up to the Sattelbauer. The ancient mountain farm sits enthroned on the saddle between Flachau and Altenmarkt, where the forest opens up to reveal a few lush green alpine meadows. And, most notably, the view of the Dachstein with its crown of rocky peaks reaching up to 3,000 metres. On the border between the Salzburger Land, Styria and Upper Austria, this mountain dominates the landscape. And there are few places where the view is as enchanting as it is from here. The fact that the Sattelbauer has a restaurant with a terrace makes a break at one of Flachau's most popular excursion spots a must.

The stage is complete, at least for the legs. The mind must remain alert for the short descent on the road and forest path down to the centre of Flachau.