More kilometres, more cycling fun, more South Tyrol – the handbike trip 12-16 June, 2023
After the positive feedback from last year, one thing was clear: There had to be another handbike trip in 2023 to the beautiful Kaltern district following the South Tyrolean Wine Road. A total of three members of the German and Austrian Teleflex Urology Care Team accompanied the event.
This year’s handbike tour offered participants even more opportunities to enjoy the area by (hand)bike. In response to the feedback of the last tour, the wish for another bike day tour was fulfilled. As if in a kilometre frenzy, the participants of this year’s handbike tour this time took three whole days to explore the breathtakingly beautiful landscape of South Tyrol. Gerda Pamler and Michael Kaltenecker (Y.E.S. Sportmarketing) created a successful comprehensive programme for the trip.
As in every year, Monday was primarily given over to the arrival at the accommodation. The Hotel Masatsch in Oberplanitzing proves every year anew that it is perfectly suited for this kind of group trip. It offers many barrier-free rooms and delicious food in the restaurant.
In the evening, the group had ample time to get to know each other during the round of introductions and at dinner. Gerda Pamler, together with Michael Kaltenecker, presented the routes for the three day tours. The Teleflex Urology Care Team, which was present on site, gave a short insight into the history of Teleflex and presented the two pre-configured and ready-to-use catheter systems Liquick X-treme and Liquick X-treme Plus.
Tuesday, 13/06/2023 – approx. 55 km
Tuesday morning started cloudy and with a brief shower of rain; however, the weather took a turn for the better and the group could start with a short delay to a promising bike tour. The route on this day was relatively flat and led through vineyard tracks past Lake Kaltern (“Kalterersee”) and through apple orchards to Salurn, the southernmost village in South Tyrol.
After a lunch break in Kurtinig, the smallest village in South Tyrol, we headed to Lake Kaltern. With a coffee or refreshing drinks, we could enjoy the view of the lake and watch the wind and kite surfers. While a few intrepid souls negotiated the steep track back to Oberplanitzing, the rest of the group was brought back to the hotel by bus.
Wednesday, 14/06/2023 – approx. 37 km
The destination of the second day’s tour was Merano. The scenic route led through the tranquil wine-growing villages of St. Pauls/ Eppan, Adrian and Nals. In addition to the beautiful narrow streets and traditional house facades, the parish church of St. Pauls has the largest bell in South Tyrol, the “Anna-Maria”, with a diameter of 1.8 metres and a weight of more than 3.5 tons.
From Gargazon, the tour continued along the Adige River to Merano, where a well-deserved lunch break was on the agenda. In the afternoon, everyone could then decide for themselves whether they wanted to explore Merano or continue the (hand) bike tour for another 21 km to St. Leonhard in the Passeier Valley. For the return trip to the accommodation, a bus transfer was available as usual.
Thursday, 15/06/2023 – approx. 35 km
The three day tour was rounded off by the Mitterberg round trip along the disused railway line to Bolzano. Via Siegmundskron we then followed the Adige river to Auer and to Lake Kaltern.
Teleflex Urology Care would like to sincerely thank all participants, the organiser Michael Kaltenecker (Y.E.S. Sportmarketing) and of course Gerda Pamler, who played a major role in making the trip an unforgettable experience for everyone by planning the tours.
Image source: Y.E.S. Sportmarketing GmbH
