Carinthia200

Thursday, 17 September 2026 · 5:00 pm · Meeting point voco Hotel Villach, Europaplatz 1, 9500 Villach

The opening of the Carinthia200 weekend belongs to you – and to two Carinthian winter-sport greats. Sabine Payer and Martin Koch take you on a relaxed loop to Lake Ossiach. No race, no pressure: the Social Ride is about arriving, chatting and spinning your legs.

The route at a glance

Distance	40.15 km
Elevation gain	274 m
Pace	26 – 28 km/h
Character	flat, sociable, lakeside

From Villach the route heads north to Lake Ossiach. Flat to rolling – ideal for loosening up the legs before the big day.

Route highlights

Lake Ossiach – Carinthia’s third-largest lake accompanies you for much of the loop. The turquoise-green water beneath the Gerlitzen is exactly the backdrop you came to Carinthia for.

Bleistätter Moor – On the lake’s eastern shore lies one of Austria’s most remarkable restoration projects: former drained farmland has been turned back into a wetland that is now a resting place for countless bird species. The loop passes right through this quiet natural gem.

Domenig Steinhaus – In Steindorf stands a piece of architectural history: Günther Domenig’s Steinhaus, built over more than 20 years and today one of Austria’s best-known icons of contemporary architecture. Well worth a photo stop.

Your guides

Sabine Payer – The St. Veit native is one of the most successful snowboarders Austria has ever had: 20 World Cup wins, three World Championship medals and, to crown it all, Olympic silver in the parallel giant slalom at Milano Cortina 2026. She retired in summer 2026 and joins the Carinthia200 as an ambassador. She is as much at home on a road bike as on a board.

Martin Koch – Villach’s local hero is Olympic ski-jumping champion in the team event at Turin 2006, team world champion in ski flying and 2012 ski-flying world silver medallist. Hardly anyone knows the roads around Villach better than he does – the ideal tour guide for you.

Both will line up at the start of the Carinthia200 on Sunday and take the stage with the other ambassadors on Saturday at 5:00 pm.