{"id":26462,"date":"2026-04-22T21:46:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T19:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=26462"},"modified":"2026-10-05T07:45:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:45:02","slug":"vatternrundan-gravel-event-motala-sweden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/nieuws\/vatternrundan-gravel-event-motala-zweden-2026","title":{"rendered":"V\u00e4tternrundan adds gravel racing in September 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

120 km along the canal and more in September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/strong> Lanciert op 12 September 2026<\/strong> His first gravel event: V\u00e4tternrundan Gravel<\/strong>, a 120 kilometer recreational ride near Motala<\/strong> in Sweden. The route follows for a large part the G\u00f6ta Canal<\/strong> and passes by lakes and through forests, with a mix of about 70 percent gravel, 29 percent asphalt and a short trail section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The registration It has been open since April 9th<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Oskar Sundblad<\/strong>, CEO of V\u00e4tternrundan, was this the logical next step: \u201cOf course, the world\u2019s largest recreational cycling event should also have a gravel race.\u201d He added that the event is intended \u201cto make cycling accessible to more people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Biking
Patrik Svedberg\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Start and finish at Baltzar von Platen's memorial<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ride starts and finishes at the tomb monument of Baltzar von Platen<\/strong> in Motala<\/strong>. From there the route goes to Borensberg<\/strong> along More Drilling<\/strong>, Then along more than 20 kilometers of the G\u00f6ta Canal<\/strong>. Along the way, you pass the slaughterhouses at Borenshult<\/strong> and Berg<\/strong>. The route passes through the Stj\u00e4rnorp<\/strong>-area with views of the More Roxen<\/strong> (north). The end point is the ruins of Stj\u00e4rnorp Castle<\/strong> at the lake, after which you return to Motala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six support posts and four tempo-division groups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The organization has set up six aid stations along the route. Participants can register for one of four self-selected pace-division groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n