120 km along the canal and more in September 2026
Vätternrundan Lanciert op 12 September 2026 His first gravel event: Vätternrundan Gravel, a 120 kilometer recreational ride near Motala in Sweden. The route follows for a large part the Göta Canal and passes by lakes and through forests, with a mix of about 70 percent gravel, 29 percent asphalt and a short trail section.
The registration It has been open since April 9th, with an early-bird rate available until April 21st. This is the debut edition of the gravel section of the event, which has so far focused on road races and non-competitive mass rides.
According to Oskar Sundblad, CEO of Vätternrundan, was this the logical next step: “Of course, the world’s largest recreational cycling event should also have a gravel race.” He added that the event is intended “to make cycling accessible to more people.”
Start and finish at Baltzar von Platen's memorial
The ride starts and finishes at the tomb monument of Baltzar von Platen in Motala. From there the route goes to Borensberg along More Drilling, Then along more than 20 kilometers of the Göta Canal. Along the way, you pass the slaughterhouses at Borenshult en Berg. The route passes through the Stjärnorp-area with views of the More Roxen (north). The end point is the ruins of Stjärnorp Castle at the lake, after which you return to Motala.
The terrain is mostly flat. The route is accessible for many different types of cyclists, regardless of whether you have a dedicated mountain bike, mountain bike, cyclocross bike, or even an old-fashioned city bike.
Six support posts and four tempo-division groups
The organization has set up six aid stations along the route. Participants can register for one of four self-selected pace-division groups:
- Advanced (after 3:40 hours, >32 km/h)
- Tough (under 4:40 hours, >25 km/h)
- Medium (below 5:40 am, >20 km/h)
- Moderate (under 7 hours, >15 km/h)
The start window runs from 9:30 to about 10:10. There are closing times per support post: Kolstorp closes at 12:00, Berg at 15:30, Skedevi at 17:30, and the finish in Motala at 19:30. Participants must reach each support post at least 20 minutes before it closes.
Practical details
The minimum age is the year you turn 15. Bib numbers can be picked up at Friday 11 September and on race day from 07:30 until 15 minutes before your start time Motala Sports Park (Bangårdsgatan 3). Showers and changing rooms are available at the same location.
The pioneer discount is 850 SEK and is valid until April 21st. After that, the price rises to 950 SEK (until September 7th), then 1,250 SEK (from September 8th until race day) and upon registration on-site.
Why this moment
Vätternrundan positions gravel as “one of the hottest trends in cycling” and sees the Göta Canal as one of the best cycling routes in the world. By adding a recreational gravel event, the brand is expanding its season and attracting new types of cyclists. The event is set up as a recreational tour through a landscape with a rich canal history.
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Questions & tips
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