Electric Cycling Summer in Kitzbühel

As of summer of 2012, Kitzbühel will be part of the world's largest electric cycling area. 9 tourism destinations in Tyrol, have teamed up with MOVELO to offer an interconnected electric cycling area including 275 eBikes and 75 rental stations with battery recharging service.

In Kitzbühel alone, 15 partner businesses offer electric cycling services: 7 hotels offer electric bike rentals to their guests. Three Kitzbühel-based sporting goods stores rent them to locals and tourists. In addition, these three stores also sell electric bikes and provide maintenance services. 5 great outdoor destinations, double as battery-recharging stations. More than 80 outdoor destinations await biking enthusiasts in the greater Kitzbühel area. At these destinations, empty batteries can be changed for new ones free of charge.

Our business partner "MOVELO" is the world's largest provider of electric cycling services in the tourism industry. In 2011, MOVELO will have more than 2,500 electric bikes available for use in more than 30 regions in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

E-Bike Video

KITZ SPORTS ACADEMY: Electric cycling weeks 2009 in cooperation with the German Sport University Cologne

During the first two weeks in September, Kitzbühel was all about the up-and-coming cycling revolution: electric bikes. In cooperation with the German Sport University Cologne, the "Kitz Sports Academy" opened its doors for the first time to provide top-notch athletic services and background information via workshops for both locals and visiting cycling enthusiasts. The opening of the "Kitz Sports Academy" focused on the major trend of "electric cycling." The multifaceted programme included guided electric cycling tours, riders' safety training and presentations.

First things first: the programme started with technical background information. An electric bike is by no means comparable to a motorcycle. Rather, an electric bike is a bike with a small battery-powered electric motor which provides an extra push every time the cyclist pedals. This pedalling assistance can be adjusted as needed and will adapt to the cyclist's physical condition at the given time as well as to the incline and headwind. Thanks to electric bikes, people of varying performance levels can go on cycling tours together.

During two weeks, people were happily cycling in the Kitzbühel area. The programme also included excursions with the Kitz Coaches, riders' safety training provided by the Bike-Academy and free electric bike rental for all visitors. Four experts from the German Sports University Cologne were in town. As "Kitz Coaches," they shared their sports science expertise as well as their technological know-how. In addition, they gave mountain tours in the mountains surrounding Kitzbühel.

The Kitz Sports Academy's goals included bringing together locals and the region's opinion-makers to mingle with visitors and to introduce them to this new trend. Several presentations given by cycling experts, internationally renowned sports scientists and bike manufacturers as well as a variety of test-riding opportunities were well received by participants.

One of the most exciting events took place on Saturday, 5 September 2009, on the famous Kitzbüheler Horn. At 10:00 a.m., local recreational cyclists met for the "electric bike against muscle power" competition. It turned out that there is a clear answer to the question: "Can serious recreational cyclists keep up with an electric bike?" NO! They cannot, because the combination of muscle power and that extra boost provided by an electrical motor is just too efficient. Raimund Stanger, a local cyclist from Kitzbühel, literally "flew" up the 22.3% incline to the top of the mountain with this electric bike, logging the unofficial course record at 25:50 min.

Günther Aigner, the project manager in charge of improving Kitzbühel's selection of sports-related activities, believes that electric cycling harbours great opportunities for the tourism industry: "Thanks to electric bikes, tough inclines and long routes will be accessible to everybody without major problems. This opens up a lot of new opportunities of exploring