Vätternrundan
 
| |
Location of the starting point Motala in southern Sweden |
Vätternrundan is a 300 km cycling tour in Sweden that takes place on a weekend in June. With 18,000 participants who came to the finish (2009), it is the largest outdoor cycling event in the world (calculated: number of participants times km driven). The number of participants had to be limited, especially since there are two smaller races, 150 km Halvvättern and the 100 km Tjejvättern (women only). A total of around 35,000 cyclists will take part in the three races.
The event in 2020 had to be canceled due to the corona pandemic .
route
The route circles the second largest lake in the country ( Vättern ) and is part of the Scandinavialoppet . The race was started for the first time in 1966 and has been held annually since then. The organizer classifies the race as a keep-fit race, which is also expressed in the fact that the times of the individual drivers are recorded, but no placement is derived or published. Due to the large number of participants, who mostly start with the support of friends and family, the event is sometimes more like a festival than a cycling race, but it is one of the greatest sporting challenges for an amateur cyclist, which requires meticulous and time-consuming training preparation.
The start is in Motala heading south to circumvent Lake Vättern in a clockwise direction. The other stations on the 300 km long route with an altitude of approx. 1,500 meters are:
- Ödeshög (until around 2014 still Hästholmen )
- Ölmstad (until around 2014 still Gränna)
- Jonkoping
- Fagerhult
- Hjo
- Karlsborg
- Boviken
- Hammarsundet
- Medevi
Only upright bicycles, including tandems, are allowed. Recumbents , tricycles, scooters or motorized bikes are not permitted. Helmets are compulsory.
The Vätternrundan is part of the " Swedish classic ", the combination of four long distance competitions in different sports in Sweden.
Development of the number of participants
Since the first event in 1966 with 344 participants, Vätternrundan has been able to announce new participant records almost every year. More than 1,000 participants registered for the second start. In 1981 more than 10,000 registrations were counted for the first time, and in 2010 already over 20,000. In 2013, 19,406 of the 22,800 registered drivers started. 18,475 reached the finish in the given time limit.
Further trips as part of the Vätternrundan
Three further events take place about a week beforehand. The Tjejvättern is a 90 km race for women only. The organizers assume that there are comparatively few women who want to take part in Vätternrundan. The 150 km Halvvättern serves both as a small variant of the Vätternrundan and as a preparation for ambitious drivers. For cyclists between 6 and 10 years of age, there is also a mini leaf with 1.3 or 2.6 km, depending on age.
For women, the participation of Tjejvättern is considered part of the Scandinavian opet .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Official site
- ↑ Vätternrundan: biggest leisure race in Europe canceled. In: radsport-news.com. April 3, 2020, accessed April 4, 2020 .
- ↑ History of Vätternrundan ( Swedish ) Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
