The road to Leithe Wirt is actually a short additional climb from Serfaus. It is best combined with the climb from Tschuppbach and provides extra altitude meters. It’s only a very short stretch, but since 2012 it’s been fully paved and it runs nicely above Serfaus through the meadows to the Leithe Wirt restaurant. In good weather, you cycle up between beautifully blooming meadows. My story about this climb starts with the Corona scare I had the week before. I didn’t suffer much from it, but at the same time, I had read that intensive sports activities could be risky. This eliminated the option of doing a significant number of climbs in the area, and the relaxed climbing was gone. So, looking for some shorter and less steep climbs nearby, I came across the road to Leithe Wirt. Also, because from my memory of the times I had run hard there, the road wasn’t so steep. Apparently, my memory was rusty or I was in shape back then, because that’s not the case.
The climb to Leithe Wirt starts at the church in Serfaus. Coming from Dorfstrasse, you go straight ahead at the church into the opposite road, Herrenanger. It goes uphill quite steeply there. Keep going straight and you’ll pass the large Hotel Bär on your right. Immediately after that, turn left towards Leithe Wirt. By the way, if you feel like adding some extra steep meters – then continue straight for an additional loop through the beautiful meadows. A nasty steep section of climbing of over 15% leads you to Malbrettweg. Turn right there and keep right on the descent, and you’ll come back to the same point. And again, and again 🙂
Anyway, back on the route to Leithe Wirt. In 2019, the Frank Schleck (former professional cyclist) bike week was organized here. On that occasion, a segment of the climb to Leithe Wirt from Hotel Bär was established; the Schleck Track. The Strava segment Serfaus – Leithe Wirt is this Schleck track, with the challenge being to beat his time. He is currently third in the general classification (summer 2023), so indeed, two riders have been faster.
Oh yes, so I had the idea that it wasn’t that steep. The climb is 1.9 kilometers long, starting at 1444 meters (I’m calculating from the church, not from the start of the segment) and ending at 1650 meters. So, you gain slightly more than 206 altitude meters with an average gradient of 11.2%. As a climb in itself, it’s not immediately worth it, but it is as a connection with the climb from Tschuppbach or Ried. The well-known drawback in this area – an endless stream of tourists awaits you on a sunny day and also makes this road very busy. Therefore, it’s nicer to choose early evening or morning when the masses are having breakfast or dinner. Nevertheless, a nice little climb!
