Tour Transalp: San Martino – Possagno

650 kilometres, 16,500 metres of elevation gain, and numerous Alpine passes – these are the key figures of the 22nd Tour Transalp. Around 1,000 participants from 35 nations will take part in this spectacular crossing of the Alps in 2026.

Stage 4: San Martino di Castrozza – Possagno

On day four, your visual memory will have plenty to process. You will be challenged to connect completely different landscapes. From a mountain village at the foot of the 3,000-metre peaks of the Pale di San Martino, the route leads in just a few hours to the region where Prosecco grapes thrive. These are two distinct worlds – visually, culturally, and climatically – making this stage a miniature Transalp in itself. Possagno sits in the sun at just 200 metres above sea level on the southern edge of the Monte Grappa massif.

On the way there, the Passo Brocon, the smaller Passo Gobbera, and Monte Grappa stand in your path. Consequently, your legs will be tested again on this second stage of the tour with over 3,000 metres of climbing. The Passo Gobbera leads over into the Vanoi Valley and, with a short descent, marks the first step towards the Passo Brocon. Here you can catch your breath before facing almost 900 metres of ascent. From the pass, you roll quickly down to Castello Tesino and navigate side roads through remote mountain villages to the main road in the Cimon River gorge, which soon opens into a wide plain near Fonzaso. This also reveals a view of the wooded ridge of Monte Grappa. The ascent from the north side leads largely through the forest – very pleasant in the summer heat – towards Cima Grappa, the summit crowned with a massive monument to the victims of the First World War. Once you reach the southern flank after a 1,500-metre climb, you can see as far as the Adriatic Sea on a clear day, unless the view is blocked by swarms of paragliders who have long since claimed this southern slope. The descent is a winding delight that requires focused attention on the road, though there is time here and there to enjoy the unique views. Reaching the foot of Monte Grappa, the route heads east through Crespano del Grappa, which has hosted Transalp stages several times before, to Possagno. This town was originally planned as a finish for the 2020 tour, which unfortunately had to be cancelled.

The stage finish in Possagno is visually striking and a cultural highlight. Antonio Canova, born in Possagno, was a major Neoclassical sculptor in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The Tempio Canova was built above the town based on his designs – an impressive circular building with a classical pillared facade that catches the eye from the plain below. In front of it lies a large, open square, perfect for the finish of the Transalp. It is an ideal spot to take in the vast hilly landscape south of Monte Grappa and get a glimpse of where the route goes the next day.

The Tour Transalp is considered one of Europe's premier road cycling highlights for amateur riders. In seven daily stages, the 2026 route goes from Lienz in East Tyrol via Sillian, Falcade, San Martino di Castrozza, Possagno, Semonzo, and Lavarone to Riva del Garda.

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