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What are the roads like for IM Austria?
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I'm trying to decide which tires I want to run for IM Austria. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

(Any other insight is also welcome.)

Thanks!


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Adam Duncan
New York, NY
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Re: What are the roads like for IM Austria? [aduncan] [ In reply to ]
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I just got back from a weekend in Klagenfurt checking out the course. The are some roadwork's after the 10KM for a stretch mark but the course is otherwise good. Smooth roads & only two times you will go near your breaks. It is not as flat as I was lead to believe, the big hill hits you in three sections, the first is the steepest. 2/3rds of the way round the lap look out for the Kaiser factory with a oversized chef waving a spoon, he is trying to tell you the is a corner ahead. You can probably do it at near full speed, but only if you get some road to yourself. Keep your concentration as you head back to the turnaround as it is easy to lose a couple of KPH by not concentrating. Klagenfurt itself is great. Pretty & good food. One Italian restaurant in the city so probably worth booking. The lake is a 25C bath (too hot for me) with great visibility and the run course is really flat. The course drink is the worse I have tried for along time & only Carb nothing else. Dehydration and salt will be a big issue as you will be sweating buckets from the hot lake all the way to the 90-100 Fahrenheit run. The half of the run loop near the town has shade the other does not. I can understand it being a fast course but do not think it is the "easy Ironman" some suggest. Best of luck, M
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Re: What are the roads like for IM Austria? [aduncan] [ In reply to ]
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Found it! Not my notes but agree with most of it.

M


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The road conditions are excellent except for sections where taking
the racing line can be compromised.
There is not one section of the course that is flat. What appears to
be a flat is actually either a down hill or uphill (intended to mean
that cycling does not simulate a flat and that if you chose to free
wheel then you wouldn't go anywhere). Refering to the diagram, after
Velden the inclines are what you may find on the foss way - these are
just your average hills in the uk found in an otherwise flat region
(i.e. not a big deal).

The small dip at Egyden before the massive climb is perfect road,
generous down hill before decending into a steep down hill (70km/h+
territory). This is just to make sure you are thoroughly at the
bottom of the hill! Just when your cruising at a healthy pace to
tackle the mountain you come across an aid station. Good idea guys.

The "hill", (shown on the diagram between Egyden and Rupertiberg) can
be broken down into 3 stages. First a climb of approx 10% incline
then after 1/2km drops to 8% which your quads really welcome. This
then goes back to 10% after less than a 200m up the hill before a
flat appears out of nowhere. This almost flat lasts for around 500m
before going into another 10% climb for another 100metres at least.
Then you die at the top. For those of you that have done Llanberis -
your not looking at anything more scary that Bedgelert - maybe just
over a shorter distance which gives it the impression that its a
monster. If you were to continue up Bedgelert and then go over Pen-y-
Pass then that would surely surpass what you'll find in Austria - now
just do that 3 times and your laughing! (well sweating a lot).

This change in gradient isn't reflected in the diagram because it is
quite subtle - my estimations in distance are probably inacurate due
to not looking behind me whilst cycling up this hill for the 2nd time
that day. This is out-of-the-saddle territory for those going fast.

After this the diagram shows a massive decent - this is true, but you
still have to work for it - and this is where the scenery is at its
best with Slovenia presenting gorgeous snow-doped hills. This
section of the ride is where you find the poorer quality sections of
road, but having just cycled up Rupertiberg im pretty sure your not
caring too much!

This final decent takes you through picturesque villages.

Coming into the second lap of the course the race organisers decided
to put a 180 degree turn in the road (for what reason??!!??), but is
a crowd pleaser. And away you go again!

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Re: What are the roads like for IM Austria? [Miguel] [ In reply to ]
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Miguel:

Tried to e-mail you directly, but its not listed. Any chance you recall the name of the restaurant? I NEED my pre-race pasta :)

How is the race organization? Run smoothly? Is it easy to get around the city/nearby areas? Plenty o' taxis?

Thanks

Alan
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Re: What are the roads like for IM Austria? [SFTriGuy] [ In reply to ]
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Hi SFTriGuy, I did Austria in 2000 and can confirm that which Miguel says. I raced on Michelin Axial Pros with no problems, mainly good road surface.

As to the town it is 5k straight down the canal to the lake, we stayed at a hotel lakeside which was a good idea once we got used to the trains in the early evening (the track runs alongside the lake)! There are four or five restaurants lakeside which are very nice in the evening, or for a carnivore's delight try the hotel we stayed at, its a big chalet style, I think the name is Konigschloss or similar. They serve very good meat meals Jaeger (hunter)style, all the lake restaurants serve pasta or a good carb loading equivalent.

Its a very nice area to chill out at and the organisation is excellent. You will enjoy it, also being where it is you will have a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic crowd ALL day.

Finally, I have a stopover at SF on the way back from Kona in November can you recommend any tri shops in town to visit and advise me on expected weather conditions that time of year (bear in mind I'll be leaving an English autumn/winter weather system!)

Julian in England.


"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS
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Re: What are the roads like for IM Austria? [jk_allen13] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for the great color, Miguel. Everyone else too. That helps a lot.

Good luck to everyone going to Austria for the race.
See you there!


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Adam Duncan
New York, NY
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Re: What are the roads like for IM Austria? [aduncan] [ In reply to ]
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there is a good pizza-pasta-italian-restaurant in Schiefling- small village directly on the bike-course. I'll be there on thursday night next week. cu in kärnten.michi
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Re: What are the roads like for IM Austria? [SFTriGuy] [ In reply to ]
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The town is a few KM from the Lake and Transition at Minimundus. Buses work really well and unless you have 1700 bike boxes arriving, the are plenty of Cabs.

Think Swiss German Efficiency with a smile and you have the Klagenfurt I visited a week ago.
Pizzeria Othello 0463 51 54 54 I'm booked for Friday!

Good Luck,

M
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