Prudnik - Z DZIADA PRADZIADA

If you can't wait for a real challenge, to test your endurance and overcome any cycling weaknesses, this route is for you. An almost 120-kilometer expedition that you cannot undertake from one day to the next without prior preparation. A good test of strength will first be conquering Kopa Biskupia. Assuming we are ready and prepared, we set off to conquer Praděd - the highest peak in the Czech Jeseníky mountain range, at 1491 meters above sea level. Ahead of us are two steep climbs and a more than 60-kilometer descent!!! We start the route in Prudnik. We head south towards Trzebina, where we cross the Polish-Czech border. Passing through Vysoká, Amultovice, where the typical mountain landscape begins to welcome us. In Jindřichov we can make a short stop to prepare for the first serious climb, which begins in Janov. Now we have 7 km of tough climbing through Petrovice to Hermanovice. From there, a sharp descent to Mnichov to regenerate our strength and prepare for the final fight to conquer Praděd. We stop in Vrbno pod Pradědem. We have 20 km of climbing left and almost a kilometer of elevation difference. We are at 527 meters above sea level. We make a short stop in Ludvíkov. At the 45 km mark we reach Karlova Studánka, located at 800 meters above sea level. The picturesque town welcomes us with its spa and healing (smelly) springs. We recommend delicious grilled sausage at one of the inns. Only 10 km of climbing remain to the summit. After reaching the top and conquering Praděd, we can shelter and rest in the local hotel with a restaurant. Above the summit of Praděd towers the RTV transmission tower. The structure resembles a launching space rocket. At 1563 meters above sea level there is a glazed viewing terrace (accessible by elevator). With good visibility, you can see far views from Śnieżka in the west to the Tatras in the east and the Schneeberg massif in the Austrian Alps to the south. As a curiosity, it is worth adding that the tip of the tower on Praděd is the highest fixed point in the entire Sudetes. It is located at 1653 meters (1491 m + 162 m), several dozen meters higher than the highest point of the IMGW High Mountain Observatory on Śnieżka, located at 1620 meters above sea level. We are at the 56th kilometer of the route, so ahead of us is the previously mentioned more than 60-kilometer descent. The first 10 km to Červenohorské Sedlo treat us to gravel, rocky ground and typical mountain trails. At the 66th kilometer, we join car traffic and descend at breakneck speed on an asphalt road through switchbacks to Filipovice, and then to Bělá pod Pradědem. The next stop is planned in Jeseník, from where we continue on gently descending terrain towards Mikulovice, where we cross the border in Głuchołazy. The last 15 km of the route are covered on a rather busy asphalt road, but to vary the finale, we can ride through Jarnołtówek and Pokrzywna. The trip ends in Prudnik.