The organizational team under Franz Hamedl had a budget of 80,000 Austrian Schillings at their disposal. In addition to accommodation and meals, the riders received ten Schillings a day.

The mayor of Vienna, Theodor Körner, is sending 46 riders from three nations (AUT, ITA, FRA) from the Vienna City Hall on the journey. The oldest starter: Josef Heinerer from Vienna, 43. The youngest starter: Styrian Alfred Sitzwohl at the age of 19. 33 riders found themselves in the final classification. Although Austria was divided into four occupation zones, where a four-language identity card had to be shown at the zone borders (e.g. Semmering, river Enns), the peloton was allowed to cross these borders without being checked. Winner Richard Menapace had a lead of 38:46 minutes over second Franz Deutsch, still the record at the Tour. The last, Italy's Bertolini, was already five hours and forty minutes behind. The last stage to Vienna was a triumphal ride for the "heroes of the road". Hundreds of fans drove their cars, bicycles and motorbikes towards the Tour up to the Riederberg. On Vienna's Mariahilferstrasse, people were crowded together and the trams were standing still. The crossing of the Großglockner by bike had never happened before in a cycling race and provided dramatic moments in these early years: The aluminum rims got too hot on the descent and caused numerous tire defects. In 1949 the Austrians tried wooden rims and five, notchy circuits and steel cranks with 49 and 51 teeth did not allow an easy gear ratio. The Viennese Höfner reached the finish in 1949 after several defects with a touring bike borrowed from a tourist. In 1953 there was a stage over the Pötschenpass and its dirt road with a gradient of up to 23%, where most of the riders then pushed their bikes. The riders had to change tires themselves, which explains the spare tires slung over their shoulders. The support vehicles often had more problems than the riders.

The routes in the years 1949 to 1954: During this period, starting from Vienna, clockwise in seven stages to the provincial capitals of Graz and Klagenfurt, then to Lienz and over the Großglockner to Zell am See (1949-1951) or Saalbach (1952-1954). After a rest day in Kaprun, the Tour continued to Innsbruck, then via Salzburg, with a four hour rest, to Linz with a total distance of 281 kilometers. The last stage led from Linz on the B1 to Vienna. In the early years, the riders were cheered on by thousands of spectators on this stage. The tour had become a big folk festival.

France and Italy are now joined by riders from Yugoslavia and Luxembourg, so that teams of four riders from five different countries are at the start. Richard Menapace wins a second time and ends his career at the age of 36. Until well into the 1970s, he was the symbol of the Tour of Austria.

Styrian veteran Franz Deutsch also wins twice.

He swore by a few mugs of beer, each with an Underberg, a traditional Bitter, as the ideal meal. In general, there was no scientifically devised nutrition: Steaks were eaten early in the morning, cheese was stuffed into the jerseys, and some riders drank raw eggs or lots of milk. Charly Gaul from Luxembourg became King of the Glockner in 1951 and 1952. As a professional rider, "the angel of the mountains", as he was called by the fans, wins the Tour de France (1958) and Giro d'Italia (1956, 1959). However, the Austrian Cycling Commission (ÖRK), founded in 1948, does not want to know anything about professional cyclists and rejects a tour with professionals. The Tour of Austria is therefore only advertised for amateur teams until 1995. With the introduction of a uniform license, professional teams also took part in the tour from 1996.

With Francis Gelhausen, a winegrower from Luxembourg, a guest from abroad wins for the first time. Also at the start was the later double world champion of professionals Rik van Looy.

With Adolf Christian, a Viennese wins the tour for the first time.

As a professional, he finished third overall in the 1957 Tour de France. The media reporting of these years: The radio station Rot-Weiss-Rot reports daily at 9 a.m. and 10:05 p.m., reporters are Ing. Edi Finger and Heribert Meisel. Print media: Among other, Wiener Kurier with Heribert Meisel, Neues Österreich with Ludwig Stecewicz, who wrote about the tour 11 times up to 1959 and was on the road with a Goggomobil T 700, as well as the Sportschau with Martin Maier, later in the years 1955 to 1958 at the Kurier.

In 1955 the first tour of a free Austria without zone borders took place.

And for the first time, the first stage did not lead to Graz, but to Linz on the B1. The still very defect-prone racing machines very often lead to bizarre situations. National rider Wukisevits loses his nerve after a wheel defect on the Gerlos and first throws his bike and then an unusable spare wheel into the depths. Armed with a stick, he then marched uphill until he finally got a suitable spare wheel. But with this outburst of anger he was in all the media.

1955, 1956 and 1957: The Swedes conquer the Tour and have three overall winners in a row with Nordvall, Ströhm and Göransson. The elite of the Austrians got bogged down in the fight between Junior and Puch, so that fruitful cooperation did not materialize. In 1957, a national team from the GDR took part in the tour for the first time. Stages over 200 kilometers were not uncommon in those years. In 1957, the Wels-Wattens stage with 245 kilometers and Graz-Vienna with 261 kilometers, half-stage destination in Eisenstadt, were on the program. In the course of this stage, there were more than 70 defects due to countless construction sites and a rider often stood on the side of the road changing tires every 200 meters. The Hohe Warte, the football stadium of Vienna, the oldest Viennese football club, was a unique final destination.

1958, The Tour of Austria celebrates its 10th birthday. The anniversary was marked by a number of innovations: The rest day after the Glockner was canceled at the request of the riders and an individual time trial took place for the first time: A route around Ried im Innkreis with a length of 33 kilometers. Franz Deutsch is doing his tenth tour. After an, what we call today's #metoo, affair in the hotel, a discreet exit is suggested. He should give up on the next stage with "stomach cramps". The Styrian won the stage, despite repeated requests from the race director from the accompanying car, to finally give up with "stomach cramps" and ultimately had to be disqualified. His transgression had thus become public. No honorable departure after ten tour starts. After the “Years of the Swedes”, another Austrian won with Richard Durlacher from Styria, who had previously won the Tour of England. With Kurt Schweiger and Stefan Mascha, two more Austrians landed on the podium. The reporters of these years: Edi Finger, Max Pfliger and Karl Pointner. Pointner, the typesetter apprentice from Döbling, watched the tour from the support car in 1958. From 1960 he wrote in the "Krone" and will accompany the tour for decades. He is probably one of the most excellent connoisseurs of the oldest Austrian cycling event.

For the first time the race was canceled due to bad weather (snowfall) at the Fuscher Törl.

The riders were taken down to the valley in post buses. Stefan Mascha, from RV Puch, wins in 1959 and 1961.

For the first time, a team from the USSR takes part in the tour.

Numerous innovations liven up the events.

Up until 1960, individual riders could qualify for participation alongside the international teams of four on the first stage. From 1961 teams of five, which had been put together in advance, contested the tour. With the Reutte-Bregenz stage, the tour comes to Vorarlberg for the first time, to the "Ländle". The next day the race went back to Tyrol via the Hochtannberg. Changing wheels by supporters was now allowed, the days of tires slung over the shoulders were over.

Body search makes for negative headlines.

This action, carried out by race officials before the start of the Glockner stage, led to cabaret-like scenes: Riders tried to slip the contents of their breast pockets to spectators. Only certain Austrians were examined, the foreign guests were allowed to keep their "meals". Adolf Christian, who was only reluctantly re-amateurized by the ÖRK, explained tour doctor Prof. Dr. Ludwig Prokop experienced the effects of the medication and was banned like a few others. In the newspaper "Express" of July 5, 1963, the list of pills with the price was neatly listed. The responsibility of the riders caught: “The powders were to make it easier to endure the thin air on the Glockner”, “I had powders with me that a doctor had prescribed for my mother”. Unfortunately, there were also troubles on the final stage: the Dutchman Gerben Karstens and the Viennese Franz Varga reached Vienna a minute before the field. On the way to the destination at the Vienna City Hall, Varga first took the wrong turn, followed by Karstens a lane later. The local Viennese found the right way faster and won the stage.

Franz Bachmaier, as a 19-year-old on his first stage tour, gives an insight into the experiences of weaker mountaineers in those years.

"The 15% climb to Pass Gschütt begins. The vehicles of the race management, the suporters and the press people are jammed behind the front. Dirt and dust are in the air. Press photographer Fink, always on the road in the Porsche, skilfully stabs the car and everything behind the photographer is standing. We, the latecomers, don't have a chance to get on our bikes anymore, the rear wheel is spinning. Like cross-country specialists, we shoulder our bikes and work our way up the mountain from bush to bush along the embankment”.

A target photo system is used for the first time. There is also a new points classification for the rider with the strongest sprint.

With Hans Furian, an Austrian born in the GDR and living in Carinthia won in 1965 and 1966. In international cycling, the fight against doping was now taken up. In 1965, the leading Wilhelmus Holländer, the fourth-placed Pole Andre Blawzdin and the Glockner King Rüdiger Tanneberg from the GDR had to be disqualified. Due to these events, the Tour of Austria was at its lowest point in the media.

First live broadcast of a stage on TV.

This section was held in the form of a circuit race on Vienna's city motorway near the press building. 60 laps of 2.7 kilometers had to be completed. The Austrian national team had planned an ingenious tactic: Robert Csenar was to gain four minutes with a surprising attack and thus lap the field. "Then he only needs to roll along," said coach Andre to the Kronenzeitung on June 4, 1966. Unfortunately, the competitars were too strong for this variant. This stage was also broadcast directly on TV in 1967 and 1968.

A Peugeot 204 as the winner`s prize attracted strong foreign competition.

And in fact, it were the riders from the Netherlands who dominated. The winner was "Silberlocke" Rinus Wagtmans, who was later also very successful as a professional. The Austrians, handicapped by falls and dizzy spells, only fought for the “washing machine rating” because a washing machine was advertised as the prize for the best Austrian. It was won by Kurt Schattelbauer in eighth place.

20 years Tour of Austria, Dutchman Jan Krekels wins in front of Lower Austrian Georg Postl.

Italy's Emilio Sanantonio wins three stages but not the Tour. The "enfant terrible" had accumulated too many penalty minutes, namely 20, during the course of the race. For example, he had wanted to climb over a closed railway barrier while he was at the top. Held

ack by the race director, he threatened him with a menacingly swung pump. At the finish of the last stage in front of the Vienna Votive Church, he came solo and showed the audience his tongue demonstratively.

Snowfall forces cancellation, for the first time a stage leads through South Tyrol.

Due to the extreme weather conditions, this tour is certainly one of the toughest. After the Glockner stage had already demanded a lot from the riders due to the prevailing bad weather, the 6th stage came to an end: On the ascent to the Tauern Pass, riders were surprised by the increasingly dense snowfall. The race is stopped too late at the mountain classification. Joop Zoetemelk achieves this as a soloist. Completely unimpressed by the cold and the snow, he had done his thing. It is not for nothing that he is one of the world's best professionals for many years to come. Behind him, however, drama was unfolding: Robert Csenar, known for his toughness, pushes his bike shivering from the cold, the Styrian Kurt Schattelbauer is repeatedly lifted onto his bike by the coaches, the Pole Zadrozny enters a police car, Wolfgang Steinmayr yells “Stop, stop !“, the Viennese Füzi screams „Murder, murderer!“. After this stage, only 40 riders appear in the rankings, 35 men reach the final destination in Vienna - the winner is the Dutchman Matthijs De Koning.

Mitteregger wins, but everyone is talking about "Sigi" Denk.

Siegfried "Sigi" Denk was considered one of the greatest talents in Austrian cycling. At the age of 19 he should win the Tour this year. But because of a tactical blunder by the team management and his own arrogance, this did not succeed. In the final destination of Linz, Rudolf Mitteregger was happy about his first tour victory. However, the media were dominated by the image of the crying young star. "Now there's only one thing, away from Austria," he sobbed into the microphones. This intention never came tup.

Roman “Sumse” Humenberger broke the dominance of Mitteregger (2nd) and Steinmayr (3rd).

The victory of the Upper Austrian Hummenbeger from Rohrbach was convincing. For the first time, a tour winner wore the "yellow jersey" from the first to the last stage. Dutchman Len Jansen was also happy about this. He was the ÖRK's first full-time national coach in 1971.

Steinmayr ahead of Mitteregger for the first time.

After Jansen, Austria's cyclists had a new national coach in Poland's Bernhard Pruski. He could look forward to a double victory. The Glockner ride of this tour in bright sunshine was broadcast directly on TV. The fans were able to watch on the screens how the top riders at the Hochtor had to trudge through an avalanche that had just gone off like cross-country riders. The stragglers then enjoyed a cleared road.

25th anniversary rewards the first three with cars, Steinmayr wins for the second time.

A national team from Australia also took part for the first time. Unfortunately, tragedy struck around this team. On the descent from the Arlberg in the direction of Vorarlberg, the Australian Graham Jose fell in a fast combination of curves and slipped under a stationary truck. The bad news came on the last day of the tour: Jose had succumbed to his severe head injuries. As a consequence, mandatory head protection, then called a crash ring, was introduced for all races in Austria.

Mitteregger wins for the second time and becomes a TV star with a wheel defect.

Wolfgang Steinmayr was absent due to illness. Rudolf Mitteregger replaced him perfectly and became a media star after a tire defect on the Gaberl descent. The team car was stucked in the disintegrating field, Mitteregger far ahead, had removed its rear wheel and screamed in desperation: "Wo san denn dee, diese A…!“. The accompanying TV van stopped and the whole of Austria knew about this scene the next day.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SwEKAVsSXU[/embed]

Steinmayr wins for the third time, duel on the Glockner decides the tour.

A "brother fight" between the Tyrolean Steinmayr and the Styrian Miteregger was programmed this time. Both mountain specialists had shown good performances before. The decision was made on the Glockner, which has meanwhile become a key landmark of the tour. On the eve of the crucial stage, Mitteregger worked on his gear ratio in the hotel garage, Steinmayr on the balcony. In the end they both chose 42×22. The next day both stormed shoulder to shoulder from Heiligenblut in the direction of the Hochtor. At the Hochtor, Steinmayr was crowned “Glockner King” for the second time. Mitteregger, tormented by a cold, had exhausted himself completely. In the tunnel of the Hochtor he threw up and the tour was lost for him.

Steinmayr wins for the fourth time and is the sole record winner. "No Glockner crossing" - this headline dominated the run-up to the tour.

National coach Pruski had pushed through this novelty with regard to the sporting preparation for the Olympic Games in Montreal. And although the climbers lacked an ace of trumps, clever Steinmayr won. He defended a lead of a meager two seconds over five stages to the final destination of St. Wolfgang over Italian Luca Olivetto.

Mitteregger wins for the third time – on a Steinmayr bike.

After the tour in 1976 was rather easy in terms of the route profile, this tour had it all. For the first time, a stage ended on the Großglockner, at the Franz-Josefs-Höhe. Mitteregger was not surprised by the strong competition from the "state amateurs" from the Eastern Bloc and won the tour. However, his ex-colleague and competitor Steinmayr was also happy. After the end of his active career, the enterprising businessman had brought his own racing bike brand onto the market and was of course happy about this victory on a "Steinmayr bike", weighing only eight kilos.

30 years of Tour of Austria, anniversary with 10 stages, 10 nations and prizes worth over 200,000 Schilling - Jostein Wilman the first winner from Norway.

Mag. Karol Madaj was the name of the new Austrian national coach. He had brought Polish amateur racers to the top of the world. Now he should win the tour with the Austrians. In Mitteregger he had a reliable captain. Of course, the Styrian wanted to catch up with Steinmayr in tour victories. On the Glockner, however, the mountain that had always been kind to him in the past, drama ensued. The onset of winter hit the entire peleton badly. Mitteregger, always at the weight limit, got off his bike at Hochtor, completely exhausted. Only after persuasion from team boss Madaj he continues the ride, shaking and freezing. "His mountain" had thrown him off.

A sprinter conquers the mountains - Herbert Spindler wins unexpectedly.

As a domestic, Salzburg's fast cyclist should have paved the way for Mitteregger's fourth tour win. But with a small gap at the Hochtor, he took third place at the finish of the all-important Glockner stage in Obervellach and did not let himself be denied victory on the following final stage.

Norwegians dominate, fire in a support car stops the final stage.

Karol Madaj had implemented his favorite idea: ten top cyclists trained under his direction in the Bundessportzentrum Südstadt. He also relied on the “Südstadtpartie” during the tour. After the Glockner stage, Madaj summed it up soberly, "The times of Steinmayr and Mitteregger are over". Because the race was dominated by the Norwegian duo Digerud and Saether. And this dominance would have been even clearer if the last stage on the Soboth had not been aborted. The Mikado coffee truck, which had supplied the tour with delicious drinks for many years, caught fire. Because of the risk of explosion, the field had to pause for two hours. The oldest rider in the field showed great class. The 39-year-old Rolf Eberl from Vienna won the difficult stage to Jenbach. Rolf Eberl has taken part in 19 tours of Austria, marking a lone record.

"A star was born!" - Gerhard Zadrobilek, a 19-year-old Viennese, wins at his first tour participation.

The number one contender for victory, however, was Helmut Wechselberger from Tyrol. He first attended the ski school in Stams and only started cycling at the age of 25. Within a short time he had become one of the strongest cyclists in Austria. After the Glockner stage, however, the tour was upside down. Zadrobilek had climbed the "monument" without much loss of time and stripped "yellow". The comment of the regular soldier, who is never at a loss for good sayings: "I've never seen the Glockner before, but I like it since today!". The fact that Wechselberger, tormented by bronchitis, had given up the tour was lost in the jubilation about the new young star. The rush of spectators in the final destination Vienna was reminiscent of the "Menapace times". Mitteregger's attempt to catch up with Steinmayr in terms of tour victories also went unnoticed. He even thought of giving up "his" Glockner, time and youth have overtaken him.

The world's best amateur individual time trialist wins.

Helmut Wechselberger, previously the winner of the Tour of Lower Austria and Vienna-Gresten-Vienna, left no doubt about his supremacy. Always present on the mountains, he distanced the strong competition from Poland, CSSR and USSR in the time trial. In Vienna, Gerhard Zadrobilek was one of the first to congratulate him. Last year's winner had turned professional. Mitteregger, meanwhile in the Styrian regional team, was the second best Austrian as the oldest rider in the field. Curious: "Parallel" finish of the third stage in the Bregenz Radstadion. Three men, Wechselberger, the Russian Kopyrin and the Upper Austrian Waltenberger sprinted for victory. Since the entrance wasn't exactly marked, Wechselberger and the Russian took the wrong lane and sprinted behind the finish judges next to the finish arch, while journalists and officials jumped aside in fright. Waltenberger, who was a little behind at the entrance to the stadium, drove properly on the track to the finish. After a long discussion, the Russian was allowed to keep the stage win. Austria proved to be a friendly host.

Wechselberger! - Who else? – Kurt Zellhofer!

The Tyrolean had become even stronger and brought victory in the Giro delle Regioni, one of the most important amateur stage races, as a recommendation. But once again things turned out differently, and once again the Glockner was the executioner. The onset of bad weather with rain and temperatures below ten degrees turned the Glockner stage into a tough battle. Niki Rüttimann crowned himself the first Swiss Glockner King. Wechselberger froze to death, got off his bike to put on an anorak and arrived at the stage finish in St. Johann/Tyrol six minutes behind. Kurt Zellhofer, a member of the "Südstadtpartie", had achieved this as second. In the run-up to the tour, he had already emphasized that he too would seize his chance, although he was part of the national team with Wechselberger. Now, without stopping at the mountain to put on an overcoat, he had raced down the valley through the wet, fog and cold on a lightweight time trial bikes. The reward for this brilliant performance was finally the tour victory. Nevertheless, the Viennese remained modest: "I'll stay as I am. I don't have any professional plans," he said in Innsbruck, the final destination. The “speaker” performs an important function for a successful tour. He is the link to the fans. In 1983 it was Harald "Harry" Mayer for the 25th time. The man with the snappy sports cap always found the right sayings for athletes and fans.

Fastest round trip in history (44km/h) becomes Waterloo for the Austrians.

For the Austrians, mainly represented by the “Südstadtpartie”, the omens were negative. Last year's winner Zellhofer, weakened by pneumonia, gave up on the second stage. The logical favorite, Wechselberger, was out of shape after a cold and also didn't get on his bike again after a rainy stage. Herbert Spindler, the "riding team captain", analyzed the situation after the Pyramidenkogel mountain finish, where only the regional team riders Seidl and Lammer didn't "go under", in short and aptly: "It's over for this year". With Stefan Maurer, a Swiss won the Tour for the first time. Hans Lienhart in 14th place means the worst result in the entire history of the Tour for Austria.

The GDR came, saw and conquered.

With all the stars, such as Olaf Ludwig, the "Eddy Merckx of the Eastern Bloc", Detlef Macha, double world champion on the track and team world champion Mario Kummer, the team from the workers' and farmers' state had arrived. The Austrians tried honestly to redeem the disgrace of the previous year. Wechselberger, again with a cold and not in top shape, was fifth. Winner Olaf Jentsch (GDR), ahead of Libor Matejka (CSSR), Primoz Cerin (Yugoslavia) and Viatcheslaw Ekimov, who later made headlines as a professional. National coach Madaj tried to compare ice hockey: “The foreigners are in group A, Austria belongs to group B. What should you do there?”.

For the first time, 12 nations are at the start, and Wechselberger is back in form.

Leo Karner, who was in the saddle himself until 1982, organized the tour for the first time and assembled this record field of the best amateurs in Europe. And Austria's hopes rested on Wechselberger. This year his health played no tricks on him. With a victory in the time trial, his parade discipline, he took the lead and didn't give it up until the final finish in Linz. It was difficult to raise a hand in triumph, a fall on the 7th stage with a severe shoulder bruise made things even more tense. With infusions, massages, a backpack bandage and guarded by his teammates, the Tyrolean finally managed to win the second tour. By the way: Belgian amateur Johan Museeuw finished 54th, 31:55 minutes behind.

The Soviet-Russian Dimitry Konychev wins all ratings.

With the Lower Austrian Dietmar Hauer, 19 years old, and the Viennese Wolfgang Höfer, 20 years old, Karol Madaj called two talents for the future into the team during his last tour as national coach. Helmut Wechselberger was furious about an announcement by Höfer after the Lower Austria Tour and hoped as a "lone wolf" in the Salzburg/Tyrol regional team for a third win. The USSR threw a spanner in the works. Head coach Gussjanikov came with his strongest squad. A lanky fellow protruded from this. Dimitry Konychev wore "yellow" from the first to the last stage and also won the mountain, points and sprint classification. It goes without saying that the USSR also won the team classification. Wechselberger saved the honor of the Austrians by coming second. Curious: one stage led from Innsbruck to Munich. Since no marking arrows were allowed to be placed in the Bavarian capital, the final became an "orientation ride": The peloton fought their way back to the race track across meadows, while press photographers were guided to the finish by taxi drivers. The latecomer Louis de Koning, a Dutchman, was badly hit. He cycled aimlessly through Munich, was finally put in a taxi with his bike by compassionate passers-by and reached his destination in this way. Despite "leaving the race track" he was allowed to start again the next day.

1988 to 1996: THE TOUR OF AUSTRIA IS NOW ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AMATEUR STAGE RACE IN EUROPE. From 1988 until the end of the amateur era in 1996, teams from 10 to 14 nations compete every year.

40 years of the Tour of Austria, for the first time the tour is listed under "Hors Categorie", a car for the winner, the boys take command.

Fourteen men, some of them already gray and a bit fuller, posed for a group photo at the ceremonial presentation of the 40th Tour of Austria. In total, they had achieved 39 overall wins in the past. But now it was time to look to the future. The new national coach, the Slovenian Franz Hvasti, had summoned up a team of veterans led by young star Didi Hauer. The trained carpenter from Purgstall had a meteoric rise and fulfilled the hopes placed in him. Excellent on the mountain and in time trials, he kept the strong competition, especially

from the GDR, at bay. The podium at the final destination in Vienna was dominated by the winner Hauer and the second and third placed Audehm and Gottschling, both GDR riders in the U23 category.

Tragic moment of the anniversary tour: Harry Mayer Sr., the tour's legendary spokesman, should have created a good atmosphere in the stage towns for the 30th time. He died unexpectedly in the summer of 1987. His son, Harry Mayer Jr., inherited his father's legacy and has been a worthy successor ever since.

Heart-stopping finale after 1303 kilometers, management office for the new challenges.

Rolf Slavik, himself a cyclist in the 1960s, took over the significantly increased agenda of the tour as managing director. Probably the closest decision of all the Tour of Austria fell between Peter Lammer from Styria and Valter Bonca from Yugoslavia on the final stage to Graz: Lammer was five seconds behind Bonca in winning, a third place in the stage would have brought this longed-for bonus. Lammer, ideally placed in front by the national team, was on course for victory up to ten meters from the line, finally third place. Then he missed a crank kick, Ledanois from France sped past, Lammer was fourth on the stage, and victory was missed. Valter Bonca was the first, but also the last tour winner from Yugoslavia.

For the first time, 14 nations are at the start, at the end of the "state amateurs" from the Eastern bloc, a team from Colombia is starting for the first time, and Italy is also represented for the first time since 1979.

The Glockner was the focus of this tour. First it had to be crossed from the Salzburg side. At the Hochtor, the Colombian Jose Gonzales was crowned the first non-European King of the Glockner. The next day, a 26-kilometer mountain time trial to the Franz-Josefs was on the agenda. With a win, Didi Hauer laid the foundation for his second tour win. In the future he wanted to show his class among the pros. Harald Maier had returned from these. The fifth in the 1985 World Cup rumbled behind Glockner King Gonzales on the Glockner with a solid disc rear wheel. This action definitely caused a stir in the media. A Frenchman by the name of Richard Virenque finished the tour in 26th place. Later, as multiple mountain king at the Tour de France, he would not only make positive headlines.

First Czech tour victory, Austrians without favorites. For the first time, the "Wiener Zentralsparkasse" acted as the main sponsor.

The experienced legionnaire Roman Kreuziger from Pilsen at the Vienna club RC-Keli used the lack of routine of the young Austrians Peter Luttenberger and Georg Totschnig and was happy about the tour victory. The "rescuer" of the Austrians was Albin Kern from Team Regional 3 in fourth place. The finish in Tauplitz was original. The Tyrolean Armin Purner sprinted to victory in a marquee. Cycling cannot be brought closer to the public. The

Bulgarians weren't quite in shape. Already in the first stage, four of them arrived at the finish in Linz with a delay of 38 minutes.

Bonca celebrates second victory, TV car "sprints" with it, fuss about ex-GDR coach Müller.

The opening to the east had an effect. The Russian team came with five juniors and was sent home again. The time of the well-prepared "state amateurs" was over. Due to "UN sanctions against Yuoslavia" the Yugoslavian team had to end the race on state instructions. The new national coach Müller trusted in the more mature Luttenberger and Totschnig. Hauer had returned from the pros and was hoping for his chance in a regional team. And things went well for Luttenberger. After a victory in a difficult mountain time trial and only a few seconds behind the leading Bonca, he had left his competitors behind in the last 2000 meters to the stage finish Kundl. The TV car wanted to report close up, Luttenberger sucked himself onto the bumper, whizzed past the finish line and won the stage. The target camera delivered a picture that did not please the UCI commissioner: in front the triumphant Luttenberger, in second position the TV car, then the group sprinting for the other places. Luttenberger was placed last in the group at the green table. When a group gained a 15-minute lead on a flat stage without any reaction from the Austrians, there was a loud argument between Hauer and team coach Müller, which continued at the finish. A feast for the media, of course. Hauer was suspended for three months after the tour. Bonca played the tactical inadequacy of the Austrians into their hands. He won the tour.

First stage destination Kaunertal Glacier - competition for the Glockner.

The key data inspired respect: 20 kilometers of ascent, 29 hairpin bends and 2750 meters above sea level made us expect a sweaty spectacle. Georg Totschnig, a Tyrolean from the Zillertal, was the best at mastering this sensational stage. He thus laid the foundation for his first tour victory at the fourth tour start. Hauer, who finished fourth, ended his cycling career with the words: "I'll stop after I graduate high school. Career and family are my priority."

1994 - 14 nations again, Harald Morscher from Vorarlberg surprises everyone.

Teams from the USA, Finland and Belarus took part for the first time, and Australia also took part for the first time since the 1973 tragedy. The team of mountain specialists from Colombia was one day late due to visa problems and saved themselves the prologue. The crash of the previous year ended Gerd Müller's coaching job, and Hans Lienhart took over the team on an interim basis. In this, Luttenberger, who has meanwhile been very successful in Italy, but also Hauer, had hopes of victory. Strong wind tore up the field in the 3rd stage and helped the sprinter Morscher to get the yellow jersey. With regard to the upcoming mountain stages, the "wrong" Austrian. But the man from the wrestling stronghold of Klaus – "this sport is not good for me, they all have such funny ears" - had meticulously prepared by reducing weight, mental trainer and super-light racing bike, climbed to the Kaunertal Glacier with little behind, drove a perfect time trial and stood in the Final destination Villach as the winner of the tour. For the first time there was a driver's strike because of rain and cold, the field stopped on the open track. The French UCI commissioner was waving his hands and shouting: “Allez, allez. Messieurs!“. Only former professional Arno Wohlfahrter took this to heart and became a scab. With his action, however, he had saved the situation, because now his colleagues had to continue driving. For the first time, the Glockner stage also fell victim to the bad weather. Morscher, already in "yellow", shouldn't have been inconvenient.

A Norwegian wins the last amateur tour, the best Austrian is a track rider.

For the first time since 1969, a stage led through South Tyrol. The Norwegian track specialist, Steffen Kjaergaard, whose velodrome had been demolished in his hometown of Hamar, also showed his class on the road. He won the Glockner stage and finally the tour. His goal was to become a street pro. Track specialist Dietmar Müller from Austria saved the honor of the Austrians with fifth place. His goal for the future was the Track World Cup in the individual pursuit.

The tour is noted in the international calendar with the abbreviation UCI category 2.5, for the first time "Bank Austria Tour".

From now on, professional sports groups are allowed to participate. The new era also begins with increased commitment from the main sponsor, Bank-Austria. Mapei GB, one of the strongest teams in world cycling, dominates the Tour. In 1996 they took first and third place with Frank Vandenbroucke and Franco Ballerini and celebrated three stage wins.

In 1997, the tile adhesive team celebrated a triple victory at will.

First Daniele Nardello, second Frank Vandenbroucke and third Oskar Camenzind. They also win six out of nine stages. However, the Austrians are gradually dissolving from the "role of spectators" and giving a "sporting sign of life": Track specialist Dietmar Müller wins the 3rd stage to the Trumer Seenland.

50 years Tour of Austria, Tour now UCI category 2.4, internal duel at Rabobank ends in favor of Zberg.

Rolf Slavik celebrated a personal anniversary, for the 10th time he acted as tour director. Austria, with team coach Günther Lux since 1995, continued to counter the professional teams with a national team. However, the focus of media interest was Peter Luttenberger. The Styrian had risen to become one of the world's best cyclists in 1996 with his victory in the Tour de Suisse and his excellent fifth place in the Tour de France. Now he wanted to win his home tour with his Rabobank team at the fifth attempt. "Be careful on the first stages, strike in the mountains," was his motto. He was followed by his teammate Beat Zberg from Switzerland. The Swiss set off fireworks on the Glockner and achieved an ascent time of 48.37 minutes from Heiligenblut, which is still unmatched today. At the finish of the stage, he ripped off the jersey of Bonca from Slovenia, who as the leader had hoped for the third overall victory. But Luttenberger, who arrived in the second group, was also defeated. Peter Luttenberger, one of the best Austrian riders of the post-war period, failed to win a tour.

Mountain arrival Kaunertaler-Gletscher - therefore for the fourth time in history no Glockner.

Some Austrians had meanwhile been hired by international professional teams. So does Georg Totschnig. In the German team Telekom, he had matured into an international top rider and wanted to win the tour for the second time. Climbing in the Kaunertal was planned as the final stage, undoubtedly the highlight of 1999. However, the tour developed into a "mountain race with a six-day journey". All teams had geared their tactics to this final, crucial stage. And indeed, the last 26 steep kilometers led to the grand finale. Maurizio Vandelli, 34 years old and legionnaire at ARBÖ Stabil Graz, already tenth in the Giro during his career, became Totschnig's big opponent. In pairs, all opponents were at a distance, they cranked towards the goal. Vandelli attacked five kilometers from the finish, Totschnig desperately tried to catch up again, but failed. Vandelli won the stage and the tour ahead of Totschnig. With a dig at his racing colleagues from Austria, who had doubted his class, he said: "Now you've seen who's your best!".

Last tour in the 20th century rises - UCI category 2.3, first stage destination Kitzbüheler Horn, Totschnig "conquers" the tour back.

Before the tour started, Richard Menapace had died in Salzburg at the age of 85. The winner of 1949 and 1950 was inextricably linked to Austria's largest cycling event. Karl Pointner, one of the most renowned cycling journalists, wrote in an obituary: "The Tour of Austria can be 100 or 200 years old - the name Menapace is inevitably associated with it". With the mountain finish at the Kitzbüheler Horn, the tour had a new attraction. Seven kilometers with a continuous 15 percent climb with tight and steep curves let the Glockner recede into the background. And the fight for the horn was again a duel between Totschnig and Vandelli. This time, however, the Tyrolean had the better end for himself. Vandelli, clearly translated too harshly, had to let his opponent go on the last extremely steep ramp. Totschnig won in front of an impressive crowd of spectators and laid the foundation for his second tour victory. Tour boss Slavik had come up with something special for the Glockner. A double crossing. The journey from Salzburg, then from Heiligenblut, was intended to crown a "Glockner Kaiser". The plan failed brilliantly. At the second crossing, the field rolled in the style of a hike to the mountain classification. Luckily, Vandelli then sprinted off and crowned himself the first and probably only “mountain emperor” of the Glockner.

Ex-mountain biker Cadel Evans becomes first Australian Tour winner; shortest tour since 1949 due to cancellation of a stage, tour starts in Vorarlberg for the first time.

After the first stage, a group of 12 riders had a 14-minute lead, and the tour was decided. The decision was made on the Kitzbüheler Horn. Cadel Evans, World Cup winner of the mountain bikers, enjoyed the steep ramps, slipped into the leader's jersey and didn't give it up until the final destination in Gröbming. A missed turn-off on the stage to St. Michael im Lungau led to bizarre images on TV: team cars and race control vehicles stood radiator to radiator and racers rolled aimlessly through the area. Harald Morscher, correctly on the way in the leading group, had celebrated a flawless stage win. However, his time advantage was gone, the stage was eliminated for the overall classification. Another mountain specialist, Hans Peter Obwaller from Salzburg, took second place.

"Sunnyboy" from Salzburg is probably the coolest tour winner in history, in 2002 the tour was UCI category 2.2.

Gerrit Glomser amazed the entire tour entourage with his two victories. He made the mayors happy because he was present with a friendly smile even at official evening receptions wearing the “yellow jersey” until late at night. He was often the last to leave the finish area, as a beer had to be drunk with the promo teams. 2002 – last “Bank Austria Tour”. Glomser had unexpectedly defended the leadership jersey he had won the day before on the horn and gave a small spontaneous party, at which he danced in the yellow miniskirt of the maid of honour. He took the steep descent from the Horn too stormy and promptly landed in the barbed wire. At midnight he still had to have his hands sewn up and only went to bed after a nightcap. The next day he had to fight hard for his yellow jersey, but it worked. In a major storm, he celebrated his first tour victory in Graz, two seconds ahead of his Salzburg compatriot Hans Peter Obwaller. The opening time trial of this tour was won by Fabian Cancellara, at that time "only" two-time junior world champion in time trials.

The "Bank Austria Tour" becomes the "Wiesbauer Tour", the first grand finale on the Ringstrasse in Vienna. ORF broadcasts the ascent to the Kitzbüheler Horn directly with a motorcycle camera and helicopter.

This year Glomser was among the favorites and he lived up to the role. Even in "yellow" he distanced himself from the competition on the Kitzbüheler Horn. However, his team boss packed Gerrit's bike into the car immediately after crossing the finish line. The memory of the events of the previous year still had an effect. On the stage to Graz things got tight for Glomser. He and his team had to work hard, the temperatures in the last few days have always been above 30 degrees. At the award ceremony, an elderly lady, Gerrit's mother, took over the leadership jersey. He himself had to be refreshed after a collapse. In Vienna, Glomser was able to laugh again as a two-time tour winner. The last stage, held for the first time as a circuit race around the Vienna Ring, was a hit with the public. A worthy end for one of the oldest sporting events in Austria.

Austria has a national team for the last time, Hans Peter Obwaller failed with "alternative preparation", Cadel Evans celebrates his second tour win.

The arrival on the "Horn" on the second stage was again the focus of interest. And there was déjà vu in front of the TV cameras in 2001. Cadel Evans won the horn, dressed in yellow and eventually won the tour. Glomser and his compatriot and opponent of recent years, Hans Peter Obwaller, arrived at the Horn hand in hand, 9 minutes behind. Glomser explained the deficit with his preparation for the Tour de France. Obwaller had prepared himself in a tent on the ergometer. "I'm a victim of my idiosyncratic altitude training," he said resignedly. The prestigious final stage in Vienna, the fastest of the tour at over 46 km/h, was won by the oldest rider in the field, the over 40-year-old Belgian Ludo Dierckxsens. The best of the Austrian national team was Gerhard Trampusch as 12th. The time for the national teams had expired.

Tour of Austria is now called "Hervis Tour"; For the first time since the 1960s, there will be riding again in July, unpredictable weather conditions lead to the shortest tour in history, and the first mountain time trial on the Horn.

After 16 years, Rolf Slavik has left the command bridge of the tour, his successor is Franz Steinberger. As tour director, he had to prove his nerves of steel. A violent onset of bad weather forced the termination of the Glockner stage at the Fuschertörl. Ironically, Juan Miguel Mercado from sunny Spain won with a snow cap on his helmet and of course also became "Glockner King". The premiere, mountain time trial on the Kitzbüheler Horn, saw Gerhard Trampusch in front, the first victory as a professional for the Tyrolean. The intended "queen stage" over Sölkpass and Gaberl shrank to a sprint stage. The Sölkpass sank in the snow, on the Gaberl a scree blocked the way. Finally, in Graz, some racers slipped across the finish line on the seat of their pants due to torrential rain. There was a sensation in Vienna during the extremely fast final stage. Jochen Summer, professional at Elk, defeated world-class sprinter Erik Zabel in a bunch sprint. With Mercado as the overall winner, Spain now also appeared in the Tour's book of honours.

Ursula Riha takes over management, further upgrading of the tour - now "Hors category", 9 Pro-Tour teams at the start, first individual time trial in Podersdorf.

The Tour will start again in July, coinciding with the first week of the Tour de France. The stage up the Horn, as always decisive, was surprisingly won by Elk rider Christian Pfannberger and donned the "yellow jersey". He had bridged a two-year doping ban with hard training. Strongly supported by his team colleague Thomas Rohregger, he defended his lead up to Podersdorf. In this holiday resort on Lake Neusiedl, an individual time trial was held for the first time. Pfannberger ended up only in midfield. The American Tom Danielson, who was second on the horn, delivered a very good time trial performance and completed the final stage on the Ringstrasse in Vienna in the leader's jersey. He was the first tour winner from the USA.

"Hors Categorie" again, the name "International Tour of Austria" becomes a trademark, 8 instead of 7 stages as before.

Austria's fans celebrated a double victory on the Horn in the third stage. Rohregger ahead of Pfannberger, both from the Elk team, was the ranking up to the penultimate stage. This was again the time trial in Podersdorf, which had already gone unfavorably for the Austrians last year. And this time, too, things didn't go according to plan. Pfannberger fell back to fourth overall, Rohregger was also unable to take advantage of his chance and had to let Belgian Stijn Devolder go first. Devolder was the first Belgian winner after Frank Vandenbroucke in 1996, but he had meanwhile made negative headlines.

60 years of Tour of Austria, “Hors Categorie” for the third time, a world champion and a winner from Austria make the anniversary a cycling gala, the first start abroad, the first time the ascent to the Horn is officially stopped, Rohregger ends the “time trial curse”.

The prologue in picturesque Chiusa (Klausen) in South Tyrol was ill-fated. After about two thirds of the race, a thunderstorm caused the race to be stopped and the result to be annulled. The organizers were compensated on the first stage with a fine performance by reigning world champion Paolo Bettini. On the slightly uphill home stretch to Chiusa, Glomser already felt like a winner, missed a kick and lost to Bettini after a photo at the finish. The much-noticed steep Horn stage was won by a “flatlander”, the Dane Chris Anker Sörensen in an officially timed 29:33 minutes. After two tour victories, Glomser sprinted to the “Glockner King” on the Glockner and was thus compensated for his blunder on the first day. Thomas Rohregger came to the time trial in yellow. His competitors were only just behind him and after the experiences of the last few years, hopes were not high. But to the delight of the numerous fans, the Tyrolean delivered an excellent performance and was the third Austrian to win the tour in the professional era.

For the fourth time "Hors Categorie", for the first time the final destination in front of the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austrians "only" hope to win the stage.

Unfortunately, that didn't work either. The stages for the sprinters and all-rounders were firmly in foreign hands, the German sprint ace Andre Greipel won three stages, of course also the one in front of the Burgtheater in Vienna. The Austrians only achieved respectable successes in the decisive sections for the overall classification. The Swiss Michael Albasini won the Horn stage, the Glockner and the associated stage were firmly in Dutch hands. The Swiss didn't show any weakness after that and was beaming in the final finish in front of the Burgtheater in Vienna in the overall winner's “yellow jersey”. Stefan Denifl saved the honor of the Austrians with eighth place. Perhaps Elk rider Stefan Rucker would have secured the longed-for podium finish on the stage to Horn. But the trio he was part of were stopped in the open and had to wait an hour. The main field had lost its way several times, and when all participants had been collected again, after a "status check" it continued. The trio was out of breath, in Horn Greipel won in a bunch sprint. The time trial made headlines, as Austria's parade cyclist Christiane Soeder was allowed to compete with the men out of competition. With a time that would have meant 63rd place among 111 classified riders, the world champion did remarkably well.

For the fifth time "Hors Categorie", winner from Italy remembers Marco Pantani; for the first time U25 ranking; On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, there was another arrival at the Franz Josefs-Höhe.

The Spaniard Sergio Pardilla and the Italians Riccardo Ricco and Emanuele Sella were the outstanding personalities of this tour. This trio was always in the front when it was steep and long uphill, with Ricco in particular forcing his opponents with exhausting speed changes, earning him the nickname "Cobra". Ricco therefore won on the Horn ahead of Sella and Pardilla, and the same ranking then resulted on the Franz Josefs-Höhe. The three in this sequence came to the time trial unbeatable on the mountain. There, however, something would have changed in this ranking. Ricco, bent low over the handlebars of the time trial bike, crashed into a motorcycle parked on the side of the road. Quickly back on the bike, he defended his lead covered in blood. In Vienna in front of the Burgtheater, the Italian, drawn like a knockout beaten boxer, was happy about the overall victory. Cobras bite hard.

For the sixth time "Hors Categorie", Austria without a podium place, but winner Kessiakoff has Austrian grandfather.

Rohregger, placed in the top five before the time trial, started the time trial on his bike without a transponder and rounded a corner inside the boundary, both earning him 50 second penalties. Despite the botched time trial, he ended up fourth overall. Fredrik Kessiakoff won the horn stage and won the tour. After Gunnar Göransson in 1957, he was the second Swedish overall winner in tour history.

For the seventh time "Hors Categorie", first tour start in Innsbruck, first Danish overall victory, first 2504 euro bonus for the Glocknerkönig, Giro winner 2007 Danilo di Luca at the start, first mountain finish on Sonntagberg: Tour de France atmosphere in Lower Austria.

The Italian veteran di Luca showed on the horn that he is far from being on the scrap heap. On the last steep section he distanced Rohregger, who had caught a small crisis after an energetic attack, won and took the lead. On the Glockner stage, however, opponents took di Luca and his team Acqua e Sapone by surprise. At the St. Johann/Alpendorf finish, di Luca was more than two minutes behind, the “yellow jersey” was taken over by the Dane Jakub Fuglsang. In the previous year, the top riders had crossed the Hochtor mountain classification "emotionless", the title "Glocknerkönig" meant no prestige for the guests from abroad. Fuglsang also received the prize money, which was announced for the first time, along with the title. In Vienna, as a tour winner, he let his frustration about not being nominated for the Tour de France run free: "This victory is a revenge, I showed what great shape I am". Austria's winner of 2008, Thomas Rohregger, commented on his 7th place overall: "I lost the tour on the Kitzbüheler Horn". How true, you can win the tour on the Horn, but you can also lose it.

Shadows of the "Lance Armstrong" cause also affect the tour, rockfall on the Felbertauernstraße forces a rescheduling. Ricci Zoidl wins.

For the "small" anniversary - 65th Tour of Austria - after 2008 one hoped again for an Austrian victory. The cards were not looking too good, but a world-class field had arrived. On the Horn, second stage and acid test, Astana dominated with a double victory, but not far behind Riccardo Zoidl. The Upper Austrian from the Gourmetfein Simplon team proved to be the rising star of the year with major international successes in the spring. When asked about a possible tour victory, he only said: "What should we do as a small team against Astana?". But when he was in second place after the Glockner, less than a minute behind, he said combatively: "I'm also quite good at time trials!". And what the fans had hoped for actually happened. The winner of the time trial was clear, as the "King of the time trial", the Swiss Fabian Cancellara, was also at the start. He swept the course at an average speed of 51.75 km/h. Zoidl rode brilliantly and took the overall lead. Zoidl was able to enjoy the fast-paced gala laps on Vienna's Ringstrasse as the winner. After Roman Hummenberger in 1971, he was the second winner of the Tour of Austria from Upper Austria.

For the ninth time "Hors Categorie". The plan: The Tour directly in Eurosport, with Sonntagberg, Kitzbüheler Horn and for the first time Dobratsch three mountain finishes.

The first stage immediately made things clear. For the third time, the ride ended on the Sonntagberg near Amstetten. Pete Kennaugh from Team Sky celebrated a solo victory and slipped into the leader's jersey, which he didn't give up until the final finish in Vienna, despite all the heavy mountains. Before him, only the Upper Austrian Roman Humenberger in 1971 and the Russian Dmitry Konychev in 1987 had succeeded. The horn stage was won by Colombian Dayer Quintana, the younger brother of Tour de France hero Nairo. With the 20-year-old Upper Austrian Georg Mühlberger, an Austrian was crowned Glockner King for the first time since 2008. The final stage, with an average speed of 49.3 km/h the fastest stage in the history of the tour, brought a pleasant surprise. In a violent thunderstorm, Carinthian Marco Haller beat all the aces and celebrated the first Austrian stage win since 2008. At the award ceremony, the celebrated heroes were almost washed off the stands by the rain and the storm.

Ursula Riha has handed over tour management, successor Wolfgang Weiss, new motto "Creating Heroes", nobody expected Victor De La Parte, tour leads from Burgenland to Vorarlberg.

In fact, throughout its history, the tour has always been a springboard for great cycling careers. From the Austrians there was a significant number of young riders who should now prove themselves. The highlight of the tour was definitely the sixth stage, crossing the Glockner and finishing on the Kitzbüheler Horn. Luckily, a young Austrian became King of the Glockner, namely 21-year-old Felix Großschartner. This made him the 60th Glockner King in the history of the tour. On the horn, however, a Spaniard triumphed. Victor de la Parte distanced his competitors by more than a minute. Ex-professional Thomas Rohregger, who had meanwhile become a television commentator, said in astonishment: "A week ago I didn't know the name of de la Parte as a professional cyclist". The Spaniard brought the leader's jersey to the final finish in Bregenz and sent his team manager Thomas Kofler from Team Vorarlberg into a frenzy of joy. A rider from the Vorarlberg Continental Team had never won the Tour before. The "Heroes" from Austria: Stefan Denifl as 10th and Lukas Pöstelberger as the much acclaimed stage winner in Innsbruck.

Another change of tour director, final stage with the aim of Vienna's local mountain, surprise man Hermann Pernsteiner is sixth, winner Jan Hirt from the Czech Republic

Winner Stefan Denifl

Winner Ben Hermans (BEL)

The number 3 played a major role on the 70th anniversary tour: Ben Hermans was only the third Belgian to celebrate the overall tour victory and the Italian Giovanni Visconti was the stage hunter of the tour with three stage victories. The best Austrian was just behind Hermans the "fighter" Hermann Pernsteiner, who, despite a fall on Sunday mountain one day before the final, was able to save the second place in the tour final Wels. Eight stages awaited the 20 teams, including 4 WorldTeams and all six Austrian Continental teams, 1,162 kilometers and six mountain finishes with 23,141 meters in altitude! Right on the third stage from Kufstein to the Kitzbüheler Horn, the Belgian Ben Hermans slipped into the "Flyeralarm" leader's jersey and didn't give it up until the final.

Ben Hermans (BEL) wins again.

The 71st Tour of Austria made the hearts of all climbers beating faster: Demanding stages and with the Fuscher Törl and on the last day with the Kitzbüheler Horn two final climbing sections were on the program. Last year's winner Ben Hermans from the Israel Cycling Academy team showed that he is in very good shape again in 2019. On the fourth stage from Radstadt to the Fuscher Törl, he dominated with a strong ride on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and slipped into the “Flyeralarm” leader jersey. On the last day from Kitzbühel to the Kitzbüheler Horn, the Belgian was able to parry all the attacks of his opponents, especially Riccardo Zoidl (CCC), and again celebrated an impressive tour victory. He won 20 seconds ahead of Eduardo Sepulveda (Movistar) and 38 seconds ahead of Stefan de Bod (Dimension Data). Former tour winner Riccardo Zoidl ended up in seventh place, 1:10 minutes behind. For Georg Zimmermann, the German Tirol KTM rider, there was also a sense of achievement, he secured the "Wiesbauer" mountain classification. And in the team ranking, Vorarlberg-Santic came in second behind WorldTeam Dimension Data!

Corona and its consequences lead to the tour being canceled three times.

The Austrian Teams take over “their” tour. Restart after a three-year break by the Austrian Continental teams. Tour of Austria becomes the Tour of Austria.

Felbermayr Wels, Hrinkow Advarics, Tirol KTM, Team Vorarlberg and WSA Graz have founded the Tour of Austria GmbH together with Vienna City Marathon organizer Wolfgang Konrad and have reached an agreement with the Austrian Cycling Association to organize the Tour of Austria in 2023 and in the following years. An action that has charm and sympathy and is probably unique in international cycling.