Los ging’s right from the hotel doorstep – across to the train station and by train to Bregenz, the starting point of the tour. If you’re not quite awake yet, you could freshen up with a jump from the bathing jetty at the Pipeline straight into Lake Constance. Johannes decided to skip the cold plunge and set off right away, cycling past the famous festival stage and heading towards the mouth of the River Ache. From there, it was upstream to Lauterach and then across the wide Rhine wetlands, passing Jannersee and continuing towards Dornbirn – a relaxed and easy first stretch. But the leisurely part doesn’t last long – the first mountain stage is already waiting. The route climbs up over the Bödele pass towards the Bregenzerwald. Alternatively, you could take the Schwarzachtobel road, but the breathtaking views over the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance along the ascent to the Bödele clearly make this more challenging option well worth the effort.