See the section for Switzerland of the Trento Bike Pages.

Central Switzerland


Contributed by Marco Buffa in November 1995

THE DESCRIPTION

Start from Goschenen at the Nord entry of St. Gotthard: the route to Andermatt is steep at once and i ride under a verglas. The route becomes flat as soon as I'm approaching Andermatt: bycicles must enter Andermatt and due to pave' I'have to go slow. Till Realp there are no more steep strecth: at my right I see a drinking fountain, the last available directly before get to Furka.

The ascent to Furka is not so difficult: I can see its development from Tiefenbach on and don't scare me. Towards the end, before a couple of hairpins, a steep stretch. It's imposiible not to stop for a moment at Furkapass (till now: 26 km. 130 min 1300mt. of devilment) and also at bends during the descent: route to Grimsel appears clearly, and I also can see the Rhonegletscher at North and Finsterahorn at West. Ascent to Grimsel from Gletsch is short: it takes less than 40 minutes.

I know that from Grimselpass another route takes to another lake in 4km. but Sustenpass is on the way so I prefer to go down to Innertkirchen. The descent is iperfast for me: 25Km. in 30 min.,never happened, and I was scared when I saw 80 Km/h on the cyclo_computer. Innertkirchen is the lowest point in the tour and it's quite hot when I arrive there from the cold of Grimsel; a drinking fountain offers me refreshment before going on (Till now: 68 Km. 270 min 1700 m. devilment)

Route to Susten turns to be very demanding from km 10 (of 28): this time seeing development of the route don't help me. Maybe descent from Grimsel was too fast and too short was the stop at Innertkirchen; I'm tired and the weather is getting worse. View of Steingletscher is magnificient before clouds cover it; at last the Sustenpass ... and the rain (Till now: 96 km. 430 min. 3300)

Sustenpass is ... a tunnel. A steep route from the refuge seems to get to a panoramic place where you can see both sides of the route but some soldiers stop me. The descent is very slow because of a traffic lights due to men at work. From Wassen the last ascent to Goschenen (5km) is not so difficult despite the rain

Questions and answers:

IS IT BETTER THE OTHER WAY ROUND STARTING FROM GOSCHENEN ?

Susten from Wassen is not very demanding; however stops be long enough to put up with the length of Grimsel from Innertkirchen and take into account that Furka ascent starts immediately after only 6 km. of descent

WHERE IS THE BETTER PLACE TO START ?

Goschenen, no doubt about it.

BEST PLACES IN THE TOUR ?

The stretch from which you see Steingletscher just before Sustenpass Start of descent from Furka