Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (Heiligenblut side)
Hors Catégorie14 km
Distance
1200 m
Elevation Gain
8.6%
Average Gradient
14%
Max Gradient
The southern approach from the pilgrimage village of Heiligenblut is shorter, steeper, and more dramatic than the northern Bruck ascent. At 14km with 1,200m of climbing and an 8.6% average, this side more closely resembles the brutal character expected from a Giro d'Italia summit finish. The road climbs from the Gothic pilgrimage church at Heiligenblut (1,288m) through a series of tight switchbacks above the treeline before joining the main Hochalpenstrasse road for the final ascent to the Hochtor. The Grossglockner glacier — Austria's largest — is visible from multiple points on the upper road, providing a reminder that these are genuinely extreme high-Alpine environments. The Heiligenblut approach was used in the 2022 Giro stage and remains one of the hardest accessible road climbs in Austrian cycling.
Pro Tip
Combining both sides in a single day — up the Bruck side, descend to Heiligenblut, back up the steep southern approach, and final descent north — creates a 98km round trip with approximately 3,200m of climbing. This is a serious undertaking best reserved for experienced Alpine cyclists in settled weather. A car parked in Heiligenblut or Bruck simplifies the logistics considerably.