World Cup Salad Field. Cyclists Welcome
60,000 heads of lettuce send a message of greeting to all the athletes and fans at the 2018 UCI Road World Championships here on Dörferstraße between Absam and Thaur. The lettuces were planted by farmers from Thaur, who cultivate Tyrol’s largest vegetable garden between the towns of Absam, Hall in Tirol and Thaur.
A wide variety of crops are grown in the fields, ranging from radishes, carrots, cabbage, leeks and herbs to asparagus and lettuce. The produce forms part of the ‘North Tyrolean Vegetables’ gourmet region. The 5,500-square-metre lettuce field, featuring a message of welcome to all cycling enthusiasts, consists of green lettuce and dark-red Lollo Rosso lettuce. Once the Cycling World Championships are over, these lettuce heads are sure to be used to conjure up many a healthy salad, as enjoyment and culinary delights are also a top priority in the region.
The climatic conditions on the Thaurer vegetable-growing land are ideal: A marked difference in temperature between day and night, combined with plenty of light, ensures healthy growth and a high nutrient content in the vegetables grown there – from lettuce and radishes to peppers and celery, right through to exotic vegetables such as artichokes and fruits such as melons.
