Stoneman Miriquidi – Mountain Bike and Road Cycling Adventures in the Ore Mountains

#YouRockStoneman – the Ore Mountains have once again been fulfilling this motto since reopening at the end of April. After the Belgian Stoneman Arduenna, which opened a few weeks earlier, the Stoneman Miriquidi is this year’s second Stoneman destination to start attracting cycling fans from all over Central Europe. And that’s no surprise – cycling and the Ore Mountains have been closely tied for many decades. There is good reason why, when it comes to both mountain bike tours and road bike tours, this region is one of the most popular areas in Germany.

The Stoneman Miriquidi has only been around since 2014, but already it has become a fixture in the German mountain bike scene. Like all Stoneman routes, the Miriquidi Bike Challenge was set up by South Tyrolean and ex-professional racer Roland Stauder. After the successful launch of his Stoneman idea in the Dolomites in 2009, the former World Cup winner was looking for a second region in which he could expand his concept internationally. He quickly found what he was looking for in the Ore Mountains, as the pristine landscapes offered the perfect conditions for a trail mountain bike adventure. In May 2014, the Stoneman Miriquidi MTB was finally opened. But that was just the start: due to its success, Stauder also launched a road bike route there in 2018. As anticipated, the Stoneman Miriquidi Road has since become an established date on the calendar for road cyclists the world over.

The name Miriquidi was not chosen for nothing – it comes from the old name for the region; the Latin word miriquidi silva meaning “dark forest”. There’s good reason why Miriquidi was described as an impenetrable forest in old Germanic sagas – a feeling that still arises today when you ride this Stoneman course on your knobby tires. Along the Ore Mountain ridge, you’ll be surrounded by the types of dark forests and pristine landscapes that you would no longer expect to find in Germany: the perfect conditions for a bike adventure. Road cyclists can also look forward to routes with little traffic because the Stoneman Miriquidi path was planned by the creators to deliver the best ride possible. 

The original route of the Stoneman Miriquidi meanders through the Ore Mountains and their deep forests, interweaving between Germany and the Czech Republic. You ride over 162 kilometres and gain 4,400 vertical meters on the most beautiful MTB trails, experiencing epic climbs, breathtaking views and speedy downhill segments. 

In addition to the impressive natural splendour, you will also pass numerous cultural and regional highlights along the way. The Fichtel Mountains, for example, are one of Germany's winter sports strongholds. The Fichtelbergschanze ski jump complex is a symbol of the sporting success of the region, which proudly boasts 53 world championship titles and 21 Olympic victories by local athletes such as Eric Frenzel and Jens Weißflog. 

In Annaberg-Buchholz you will find one of Europe’s former major mining centres. Over 500 years ago, this area was full of rich silver deposits, which gave the region a strong economic boom. Around the TrailCenter Rabenberg, you will see why the Stoneman Miriquidi has more than earned its reputation. In the bike park, there are numerous trails to explore, all guaranteed to make your mountain biking heart beat faster. Considering all of this, we are convinced that the Stoneman Miriquidi is, when it comes to mountain bike tours in Germany, truly a dream destination!

The same applies to the Stoneman Road. Between Altenberg and Oberwiesenthal, the route winds its way across the border over 290 kilometres and 4,900 meters in altitude throughout the Ore Mountain Forest.

To successfully take on the Stoneman Miriquidi, you must be well-prepared. As with all Stoneman locations, you have a maximum of three days to complete the challenge. Extremely ambitious riders can tackle the course in one day and take home the Stoneman trophy in gold. For well-trained athletes, we recommend the two-day variant and the Stoneman silver trophy. If you want to take it a little more relaxed, you can give yourself three days to secure the bronze. However, a successful Stoneman is not just a matter of fitness level, but also riding skill. On the MTB tour, a total of 33 percent of the route is on unpaved roads, paths or singletrack. The technical demands of riding range mainly from S0 to S1 with a few S2 sections. So plan enough time to navigate the technically higher demanding segments on your Stoneman adventure. On the Stoneman Miriquidi Road, it is the enormous distance and the many meters of climbing that must be considered.

In addition to training, the perfect Stoneman Miriquidi prep also includes choosing the right equipment. In accordance with the technical requirements for riding, we recommend a hardtail mountain bike for ambitious athletes and a sporty all-mountain bike for less-advanced riders. Any modern road bike is an option for road cyclists, although light components are certainly an advantage due to the large altitude differentials. As with any cycling adventure, the bike is only half the battle. The right clothing is also important for the Stoneman Miriquidi. 

This is especially true if you start the route which stays open until October during one of the unpredictable, transitional seasons. A good wind and rain jacket is just as much a crucial part of your equipment as arm and leg warmers. Due to the length of the route, you should also have enough water reserves; a hydration pack can be a good option here. You shouldn't forget an emergency repair kit, either. This becomes all the more important considering the daunting distances to the nearest bike shop on the trails in the Ore Mountains. To follow the route, we also recommend a navigation computers with a Stoneman Miriquidi map. Whether you need a Stoneman bike or a new bike computer, at BIKE24 you will find a large selection of appropriate MTB equipment.

Of course, planning is also part of good Stoneman preparation. As with every Stoneman, the Stoneman Miriquidi route is open throughout the entire summer, so you can decide for yourself when and where to start your tour through the Ore Mountains. All information about the starting points and further route information can be found on the Stoneman Miriquidi website. At BIKE24 we are happy to support your planning with our own Stoneman packing list. With this in mind: Go rock the Stoneman!