Stage 2: Southern Escape Graubünden

After a hearty athlete's breakfast, you start well fortified on today's stage from Savognin over the Septimer Pass to the Engadin at Pontresina. The highlight of today's stage is the section from Bivio over the Septimer Pass down to Casaccia in the Bergell, where you reach the third linguistic region of Graubünden. The descent from the pass down to Cranch da Sett is challenging and only for technically skilled bike experts. Some sections require pushing. From Promontogno, you take the post bus up to St. Moritz, where you tackle the last part of today's stage through the Stazerwald to Pontresina under your own power.

Discover stages:

• Stage 1: Tschiertschen - Savognin
• Stage 3: Pontresina - Poschiavo / Tirano
• to the complete route

Fit mountain bikers ride under their own power from Maloja along the south sides of the Engadin lakes to St. Moritz and Pontresina.

In the morning hours, you follow the Gelgia river valley upwards and quickly gain altitude. At the small village of Rona, we change sides of the valley and climb the steep forest area again, completely traffic-free. We reach the road to Alp Flix and follow it downhill for a short distance until the forest road branches off to the Marmorera reservoir. For a short section, the main road forms our route until a small path (with a short walking section right at the beginning) leads to the village of Marmorera. Until Bivio, we continue away from motorized traffic. The ascent to the small mountain village of Bivio, located at almost 1800 m above sea level, would also be possible by post bus. Not so for the Septimer Pass. Here, your own muscle power is required. You have to conquer 530 vertical meters on a well-developed alpine road to the historic crossing into southern Switzerland. The path is partly demanding to ride; less experienced mountain bikers should expect some pushing sections. The lower you get, the smoother the path becomes down to the valley, to Casaccia. Actually, you could board the post bus to St. Moritz here, but first the descent through the Bergell still awaits. The narrow valley has a very special charm. The route — a mix of single trails and old mule tracks — down to the picturesque village of Promontogno is particularly beautiful. The Bergell has meanwhile reached the third linguistic region. Here, a unique Italian dialect is spoken. For the ride to St. Moritz, even top athletes are advised to take the post bus. The yellow bus takes us up the Maloja Pass and along the wonderful lakes to St. Moritz. The final section through the idyllic Stazerwald to Pontresina must be mastered under your own power again — but mostly downhill.

Actual distance on the bike: 55 km.