{"id":293673,"date":"2025-06-14T22:51:45","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T22:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/aerospace\/how-swedens-vatternrundan-became-the-biggest-recreational-bike-ride-on-the-planet\/"},"modified":"2025-06-14T22:51:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T22:51:45","slug":"how-swedens-vatternrundan-became-the-biggest-recreational-bike-ride-on-the-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=293673","title":{"rendered":"How Sweden’s V\u00e4tternrundan Became the Biggest Recreational Bike Ride on the Planet"},"content":{"rendered":"


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For 60 years, cyclists have descended on the city of Motala in June to ride 196 miles around Lake V\u00e4ttern and promote healthy living<\/h2>\n
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\n \"Gregory\n <\/div>\n
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Gregory Wakeman<\/a><\/p>\n

– Freelance Writer<\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"bikers
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No winners are declared. No medals are handed out. There is no podium. The only aim for riders of the V\u00e4tternrundan is to complete the challenge, and doing so is a rite of passage.\u00a0
\n V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span>
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Every year in June, about 28,000 cyclists gather in Sweden over two weekends for the biggest recreational bike ride in the world. Starting in the small city of Motala, 150 miles southwest of Stockholm, competitors ride, not race, for 196 miles around the picturesque Lake V\u00e4ttern, Sweden\u2019s second-largest lake. The V\u00e4tternrundan<\/a>, or \u201cLake V\u00e4ttern ride,\u201d isn\u2019t competitive. No winners are declared. No medals are handed out. There is no podium. The only aim for riders is to complete the challenge, and doing so is a rite of passage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say you can\u2019t call yourself a cyclist unless you have broken your clavicle,\u201d says Mattias Rundgren, a cyclist and YouTuber <\/a>who rode the V\u00e4tternrundan in 2022. \u201cIn Sweden, you can\u2019t call yourself a cyclist if you haven\u2019t done the V\u00e4tternrundan.\u201d<\/p>\n

The annual event reminds people how fun and rewarding cycling is, so that entrants, who have to be at least 18 years old, will hopefully take advantage of Sweden\u2019s impressive cycling infrastructure all year round. Its capital city of Stockholm alone has 700 miles of bike lanes, and in Malmo, the third-largest city in the country, 30 percent of all trips are done on bikes thanks<\/a> to its bicycle expressways, parking facilities, car-free days, cycling festivals, company incentives and bicycle education programs in schools.<\/p>\n

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\"spectating

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About 25 percent of riders come to Sweden from abroad to take part in the V\u00e4tternrundan.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The V\u00e4tternrundan is actually held over two weekends\u2014with the first featuring a 150-kilometer (93-mile) race<\/a>, a 100-kilometer (62-mile) race<\/a>, and a women-only 100-kilometer race<\/a>, and the second weekend (June 13-14, this year) saved for the main event. Its opening salvo usually sees the arrival of anywhere between 9,000 and 10,000 riders, with between 17,500 and 18,000 people descending on Motala for the 196-mile race.<\/p>\n

2025\u2019s V\u00e4tternrundan is a particularly special moment in its history, as the event turns 60. To mark the occasion<\/a>, participants will be able to attend free talks on the evolution of the event, purchase anniversary souvenirs, test new bikes and listen to inspiring talks on cycling.<\/p>\n

History of the V\u00e4tternrundan<\/h2>\n

The origins of the V\u00e4tternrundan date back to 1964, when physician Sten-Otto Liljedahl, who was born and raised in Motala, told local bike shop owner Ewert Rydell that he wanted to cycle around Lake V\u00e4ttern to study the effects of bike riding.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiljedahl thought that Swedish health was going downwards,\u201d says Oskar Sundblad, CEO of the V\u00e4tternrundan. \u201cHe said to him, \u2018Let\u2019s do something about this. What about a cycling race?\u2019 He didn\u2019t know much about cycling, but he enjoyed it. He wanted to make it into an adventure. That\u2019s why he approached Rydell to ride around Lake V\u00e4ttern.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Cyclists

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Between 17,500 and 18,000 people descend on Motala for the 196-mile race.
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V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Thursday, August 24, 1964, Liljedahl and Rydell set out on their ride. According to the official V\u00e4tternrundan<\/a> website, they had to endure miserable weather, as the rain pummeled their bodies and intense wind swayed them off their seats. But after 22.5 hours, they arrived back in Motala, having completed the endeavor.<\/p>\n

In August 1965, Liljedahl and Rydell decided to ride the same route again. This time they were joined by Jan T\u00f6rnell, Erik Forss\u00e9n, and Kurt and Keith Kling. A few months later, Liljedahl sent Rydell a Christmas card outlining his intention, and asking for his help, to promote the V\u00e4tternrundan. In June 1966, the first official V\u00e4tternrundan took place with 334 participants. \u201cIt grew and grew each year,\u201d says Sundblad.<\/p>\n

While the V\u00e4tternrundan instantly attracted cycling enthusiasts, the bike boom across Europe during the 1970s made it even more popular, says Hans Stoops, who sits on the board of the Swedish national cycling advocacy organization Cykelfr\u00e4mjandet<\/a>. In 1973, an oil crisis saw a sharp rise in fuel costs; the public became more aware of the environmental impact of cars, which precipitated a huge increase in bike sales. According to Yablochnaya-Kasha<\/a>, an urban development company that explores innovative ways to make Sweden more sustainable, Swedish cities invested in \u201ccomprehensive networks of protected bike routes, bicycle highways, and innovative safety features.\u201d Stoops adds: \u201cThere were a lot of movements and organizations promoting cycling across Europe at that time. A lot of them have been celebrating their 50th anniversaries in recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"elevation

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The festival-like event reminds people how fun and rewarding cycling is.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The emergence of the Swedish Classic<\/a> during the early 1970s also attracted more and more athletes to the V\u00e4tternrundan. To complete the Swedish Classic, a person has to cross-country ski the Vasaloppet<\/a> (56 miles) in March, bike the V\u00e4tternrundan (196 miles) in June, swim the Vansbrosimningen<\/a> (1.9 miles) in July and run the Liding\u00f6loppet<\/a> (18.6 miles) in September. \u201cThat really helps to give the V\u00e4tternrundan credibility,\u201d says Rundgren. \u201cA large portion of people are doing it to complete the Classic.\u201d<\/p>\n

About 25 percent of riders come to Sweden from abroad to take part in the V\u00e4tternrundan, too. \u201cWe will have 78 nations represented this year,\u201d says Sundblad. \u201cOur biggest market is obviously Sweden. But then we have people from the other Nordic countries, like Norway, Finland and Denmark. Germany is really big. We have more than 2,000 Germans attend every year. The U.K. is getting bigger. But we have had people from Malaysia, Venezuela, and many, many countries from around the world come to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2019<\/a>, 19,262 people from around 70 countries started the V\u00e4tternrundan, including Princess Tessy<\/a> of Luxembourg. Swedish musicians Jonas Thander and Stefan Nykvist even kicked off the main race by performing \u201cOslagbara (Unbeatable),\u201d the official song of the V\u00e4tternrundan, for its riders. But the Covid-19 pandemic saw its numbers dwindle. The race was canceled in 2020, and just 7,559 took to the starting line in 2021<\/a>. The number of entrants has been on the rise in the past five years. The 2024<\/a> edition had 14,001 starters, with Sundblad noting that the V\u00e4tternrundan\u2019s rider numbers increase by \u201capproximately 10 percent or so every year.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"views

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As it unfolds around one of the most picturesque lakes in Scandinavia\u2014Lake V\u00e4ttern is renowned for its crystal-clear water, endless sandy beaches and stunning sunset views\u2014cyclists can actually take in the idyllic sights surrounding them.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The perks of slow travel<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s another reason why the V\u00e4tternrundan is so appealing to cyclists from across the world, though. As it unfolds around one of the most picturesque lakes in Scandinavia\u2014Lake V\u00e4ttern is renowned for its crystal-clear water, endless sandy beaches and stunning sunset views\u2014cyclists can take in the idyllic sights surrounding them.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s as long as they\u2019re able to see them. The first group of riders begin the V\u00e4tternrundan at 7:30 on Friday night and spend several hours cycling through darkness. \u201cThere are around 50 to 70 people in each starting group,\u201d says Sundblad. They\u2019re released every five minutes up until 6 a.m. on Saturday, when the organizers take a little break. \u201cThen we let the really, really fast riders go at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday,\u201d adds Sundblad.<\/p>\n

While it might sound barbaric for cyclists to start a 196-mile ride at 7:30 p.m., Sundblad insists that\u2019s the traditional way to do the V\u00e4tternrundan. It\u2019s also the only way to see Lake V\u00e4ttern at its most divine and celestial, as the body of water reflects the sun setting and, then, just a few hours later, rising. \u201cThe Swedish summer nights are very exotic,\u201d says Sundblad. \u201cThe sun will go down at around 11:30 p.m., then it starts to get a little light at 3 a.m. It\u2019s just super special to bike through the night. It\u2019s an amazing experience and something that\u2019s unique and hard to do anywhere else in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Riders

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V\u00e4tternrundan founder Sten-Otto Liljedahl\u2019s original mission to increase Sweden\u2019s health through cycling has paid off in dividends.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Claude Walter, who runs the biking blog Cycling Claude<\/a> and has done the V\u00e4tternrundan 13 times, insists the experience of watching the sunrise and riding during dawn is exactly what makes the event \u201cdifferent to everything else [he\u2019s] seen and done.\u201d Rundgren adds that it\u2019s not just the sight of the \u201ctruly amazing, beautiful lake\u201d glistening from the sun that took his breath away. \u201cYou can see the farmlands, the hills around you, and in the distance these towns like Karlsborg and Hjo become visible. Parts of the ride are just stunning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nine full-service depots, positioned every 45 miles or so along the course, allow riders to take rests and recuperate. At each of them, Swedish delicacies\u2014like meatballs with mashed potatoes, warm blueberry soup, salads, fruit, and hot and cold drinks\u2014are served by the mass of volunteers. \u201cOver 4,000 volunteers from 75 or so football, ice hockey and sporting clubs help us to take care of the cyclists over the weekends,\u201d says Sundblad. This also gives riders a chance to meet each other and bask in the jovial atmosphere that makes the V\u00e4tternrundan so special. \u201cIt\u2019s a great festivity because there\u2019s this mix of professionals and semi-pros,\u201d says Rundgren. \u201cI think three-quarters of the people who are doing it are doing it for fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

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V\u00e4tternrundan finishers cool off alongside the lake.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stoops notes that many people will complete the V\u00e4tternrundan on \u201csilly novelty bikes\u201d that are decades old, while some have even done it on tandem bikes and in costumes. Such sights help to lift the spirits of everyone involved, says Walter, while the locals that live around the course are always on hand to shout out words of encouragement, too. Especially those that are emptying the pubs and bars in the middle of the night. \u201cEven in the smallest towns, people sit by the track and cheer you on,\u201d Walter adds. \u201cYou see the drunk people, they cheer you on. People have signs and they sit in hot water tubs in their gardens, drinking and cheering.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding cozy accommodations can be a little tricky, especially as many of the 20,000 cyclists bring friends and family. Sundblad estimates that around 100,00 people descend on Motala, which has a population of 43,717. \u201cWe usually find a campsite a few kilometers from the start,\u201d says Walter. \u201cThe sandy beach of the lake is actually one of the longest in Northern Europe. We have camped there. But it can be very windy and rainy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Europe\u2019s cycling culture and its health impact<\/h2>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan founder Sten-Otto Liljedahl\u2019s original mission to increase Sweden\u2019s health through cycling has paid off in dividends. In 2022, Statista<\/a> reported that 73 percent of Swedish households have access to a bike. According to Run Repeat<\/a>, Sweden has the fourth most daily bike riders in the world, with 31 percent of its inhabitants using bikes as transportation two times per week or more. \u201cRecreational road cycling has certainly grown in the last 20 years into something that I didn\u2019t recognize at all,\u201d says Stoops. This might explain why Sweden\u2019s life expectancy is around 83 years old, two years higher than the OECD Better Life Index<\/a> average of 81.<\/p>\n

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\"Stig

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Stig Johansson has ridden the V\u00e4tternrundan every single year.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last year, 281 people over the age of 70 took part in the V\u00e4tternrundan, according to Bicycling.com<\/a>. \u201cWe actually have one guy, Stig Johansson, who has done the V\u00e4tternrundan every year since it began,\u201d says Sundblad. \u201cThis year will be his 60th race. A guy who is 90 has also signed up to do it this year. It\u2019s just out of this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Promoting cycling as a way to keep Swedes healthy is just as integral to the V\u00e4tternrundan in 2025 as it was to Liljedahl when he initially devised the race. \u201cEvery year we split our money back between the local sporting clubs that volunteer for us,\u201d says Sundblad. \u201cWe look at it as part of promoting Swedish health.\u201d<\/p>\n

While thousands of Swedes become obsessed with cycling in the months leading up to the V\u00e4tternrundan, with roads packed with riders training for the event, Sundblad admits that after it\u2019s finished these riders suddenly disappear. \u201cLots of people put their bikes away and do something else for the rest of the year,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s sad to me, because I actually think the best season for cycling starts around June and continues into September.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sundblad\u2019s aim is that the V\u00e4tternrundan will help Swedes make cycling a permanent fixture of their lives all year round. He\u2019s hopeful that can be a reality, as the event continues to attract more and more young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had a 30 percent growth in the amount of 18- to 29-year-olds taking part,\u201d says Sundblad. \u201cYounger people are finding their way into cycling. It\u2019s important for us to make people get in the saddle and make good choices in their lives. That\u2019s a higher meaning for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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