The 75th edition of Austria’s biggest cycling event follows in the footsteps of the first Tour of Austria held in 1949. On July 12, the fifth and final stage of the Lidl Tour of Austria will celebrate a premiere: for the first time, Langenlois in the sports region of Lower Austria will feature on the route! And Lower Austrian rider Alexander Hajek of Red Bull – BORA – Hansgrohe will also celebrate his debut in the Austrian national team.
The Lower Austrian town of Langenlois is making its Tour debut. In the historic town center at Holzplatz, surrounded by impressive winegrowers’ estates and picturesque squares, the starting flag for the 109-kilometer final stage to the federal capital Vienna will drop at 1:30 p.m. The concluding stage begins with two opening laps through Schiltern. During the second of the approximately 13-kilometer loops, a Category 4 mountain classification will be contested in Schiltern. At the second passage through Langenlois, riders will battle for the first intermediate sprint before continuing via Kammern and Kirchberg am Wagram, where the second sprint takes place, and then on to Tulln. After 83 kilometers, the next mountain classification awaits in Hainbuch. Via Mauerbach, the route heads directly to Vienna, where the final stage winner will be crowned in front of the Burgtheater from 3:45 p.m.
Hajek Targets the Overall Classification
Twenty-two-year-old Alexander Hajek attended today’s presentation of the Lower Austria stage alongside Gerhard Zadrobilek, who remains the youngest overall winner of the Tour at just 19 years of age. Hajek is considered one of Austria’s most promising riders and is proud of his selection for the national team: “It’s a great honor for me to wear the red-white-red jersey on home soil. After an injury break in spring, I’m using the Tour de Suisse as targeted preparation for the Tour of Austria. This year, our home tour will be my absolute season highlight alongside the Vuelta. My goal is to achieve a strong result in the overall classification, and I’m also focusing on the tough opening stage from Graz to Gamlitz, which should suit me well.”
“When the Tour of Austria starts its final stage in Langenlois on July 12, top-level sport meets one of the most beautiful cycling regions in the country. Between gentle wine hills, idyllic cellar lanes, and magnificent gardens, the region offers ideal conditions for both leisure cyclists and ambitious riders,” says Mayor Harald Leopold. Wolfgang Schwarz, Managing Director of Ursin Haus Vinothek & Tourismusservice GmbH, highlights the area’s tourism appeal: “Whether it’s a relaxed tour through the Kamptal valley or demanding mountain bike trails, movement here combines with nature and culinary enjoyment. The international appeal of the Tour of Austria once again makes Langenlois a stage for cycling at the highest level and puts the region in the spotlight as an attractive destination for active holidays and wine experiences,” says Lower Austria’s Sports Councillor Udo Landbauer.
“The Tour of Austria is a flagship sporting event with international appeal and one of the country’s most important cycling races. The fact that the final stage of the 75th edition starts in Langenlois once again underlines Lower Austria’s strength as a major stage for top-class sporting events. It sends a strong signal for our province and especially for the Kamptal region — an area that impressively combines cycling, exercise, nature, and tourism. We are looking forward to a final stage that will inspire elite athletes, fans, and the people of Lower Austria alike.”
Six WorldTeams on the Start Line
For the first time, 22 teams with six riders each will participate in the 75th Lidl Tour of Austria, compared to 20 teams in previous years. Confirmed for the “most beautiful sightseeing tour of Austria” are the Austrian Continental teams ARBÖ Kärnten Sport Feld am See, Hrinkow Advarics, Schwingshandl Intralogistics, Team Vorarlberg, Tirol KTM Cycling Team, and WSA KTM Graz, as well as an Austrian national team for the first time since 2004. Competition for the Austrian squads will be fierce, with six UCI WorldTeams confirmed: Alpecin-Deceuninck, EF Education – EasyPost, INEOS Grenadiers, Lidl – Trek, Team Jayco AlUla, and UAE Team Emirates – XRG led by last year’s winner Isaac del Toro. The remaining places will go to Continental teams from Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Special “Tour 75” Classification in Honor of Wolfgang Steinmayr
To mark the 75th anniversary, a special classification has been created in memory of four-time Tour winner Wolfgang Steinmayr, who passed away on May 19, 2026. Tour Director Thomas Pupp and Cycling Austria introduced the new competition, featuring an additional intermediate sprint on all five stages. The classification will officially be known as the “Cycling Austria – Tour 75 – Wolfgang Steinmayr Special Classification.” The sprint will always be located at a prominent point near the finish and is also intended to serve as a meeting point for local cycling communities. The winner of the classification will be honored and celebrated on the podium at the finish and will receive both a Tchibo coffee machine and a cash prize. On the fifth stage, the special sprint will take place in front of Schönbrunn Palace.
