Carinthia200

Premiere on September 20, 2026 – almost 2,000 participants from Austria and abroad, course sections closed for the riders’ passage, four-day event weekend in Villach

Villach, September 1, 2026 – On Sunday, September 20, 2026, the Carinthia200 celebrates its premiere: the international cycling event starting and finishing in Villach brings almost 2,000 road cyclists from Austria and abroad onto Carinthia’s most beautiful roads – with the declared goal of becoming Austria’s biggest road cycling event. For four days, the city on the Drau transforms into the center of road cycling: with an expo, social rides, bike service, and a competition that combines athletic challenge, the experience of nature, and the diversity of the Alps-Adriatic region.

Two distances, one decision – and every rider makes it themselves

Participants can choose between the Carinthia200 (197.4 km, 2,731 meters of climbing) and the Carinthia105 (105.7 km, 1,304 meters of climbing) – with a special twist: the decision on the distance can be made spontaneously during the ride. The start takes place at 7:05 a.m. in the heart of Villach; the course leads through the Gail Valley, over the Windische Höhe, through Stockenboi and the Drau Valley back to Carinthia’s cycling capital.

Patrick Schörkmayer, Race Director of the Carinthia200: “The Carinthia200 shows Carinthia in its many facets: from quiet roads through impressive mountain landscapes, past lakes and waterfalls, to the urban flair in the heart of Villach. To ensure a safe passage, the respective course sections are closed and then reopened to traffic.”

A new flagship for Carinthia as a road cycling destination

For Kärnten Werbung, the Carinthia200 is a strategic building block in positioning the region as a road cycling destination.

“With its unique scenery of lakes and mountains and its versatile terrain, Carinthia offers a paradise for cyclists. With the Carinthia200, this strength now gets the product it deserves: an international top event with the potential to establish itself as a fixture in the European cycling calendar,” says Mag. Klaus Ehrenbrandtner, Managing Director of Kärnten Werbung, with conviction.

Villach: cycling capital with an open city center

The premiere takes place in Villach – a city that has consistently embraced cycling for years. Something Mayor Günther Albel is proud of:

“Villach has been on a path toward becoming even more bike-friendly for years – the entire city center, including the main square, is open to cyclists. I am all the more delighted that the Carinthia200 will now put our city and the region in the sporting spotlight.”

The event weekend kicks off on Thursday, September 17, with the Carinthia200 Social Ride featuring Sabine Payer and Martin Koch. On Friday, registration, merchandise & expo, massage, and bike service open (each 11:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.); at 2:30 p.m., Nici Schmidhofer leads the second social ride. Saturday is dedicated to final preparations; at 5:00 p.m., the Carinthia200 Ambassadors take the stage – numerous former elite athletes will be part of the premiere, including Villach’s own ski jumping Olympic champion Martin Koch, former ski racers Nici Schmidhofer and Elisabeth Görgl, ski jumping legend Andreas Goldberger, biathlete Christoph Sumann, and snowboarding couple Sabine and Alexander Payer. On Sunday, the starting gun fires at 7:05 a.m., and the award ceremony takes place at 4:30 p.m. The weekend concludes on Monday at 10:00 a.m. with a joint recovery ride.

Expo in the city center: the international bike scene comes to Villach

From Friday to Sunday, the Carinthia200 Expo turns Villach’s city center into a meeting point for the cycling community: seventeen exhibitors from the international bike scene present the latest in road bikes, equipment, and accessories – with free access for participants, fans, and visitors.

Cheering welcome

Along the course, official spectator hotspots – from the Drau bridge in Villach over the Windische Höhe to Bad Bleiberg – invite fans to cheer on the riders.

Selling out soon

Demand is enormous: the premiere of the Carinthia200 is selling out soon. Anyone who wants to be part of it should register quickly at carinthia200.com/en/registration.

Road closures

All information on road closures, including the hotline: carinthia200.com/en/road-closures

Carinthia200 at a glance

Date	Sunday, September 20, 2026, start 7:05 a.m.
Start/finish	Villach, Carinthia
Distances	197.4 km (2,731 m climbing) or 105.7 km (1,304 m climbing) – free choice of distance during the ride
Participants	almost 2,000 from Austria and abroad
Special feature	course sections closed for the riders’ passage
Event weekend	September 17–21, 2026, with expo, social rides, bike service, and supporting program
Website	www.carinthia200.com