{"id":26462,"date":"2026-04-22T21:46:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T19:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=26462"},"modified":"2026-04-22T21:46:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T19:46:24","slug":"vatternrundan-gravel-event-motala-zweden-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/nieuws\/vatternrundan-gravel-event-motala-zweden-2026","title":{"rendered":"V\u00e4tternrundan is adding a gravel race in September 2026."},"content":{"rendered":"

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

V\u00e4tternrundan<\/strong> launches on 12 September 2026<\/strong> his first gravel event: V\u00e4tternrundan Gravel<\/strong>, a 120 kilometre recreational ride near Motala<\/strong> in Sweden. The route largely follows the Gota Canal<\/strong> en runs past lakes and through forest, with a mix of approximately 70 percent gravel, 29 percent asphalt and a short trail section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The registration is open since 9 April<\/a>, with an early-bird rate available until 21 April. This is the debut edition of the gravel branch of the event, which until now has focused on road races and non-competitive mass participatory events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Oskar Sundblad<\/strong>, CEO of V\u00e4tternrundan, this was the logical next step: \u201cOf course, the world's biggest 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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Patrik Svedberg\/imagebank.sweden.se<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Start and finish at the tomb of Baltzar von Platen.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ride starts and finishes at the monument of Baltzar von Platen<\/strong> at Motala<\/strong>. From there the route goes to Borensberg<\/strong> Languages More drills<\/strong>, and along more than 20 kilometres of the Gota Canal<\/strong>. En route you will pass the lock complexes at Borenshult<\/strong> and Mountain<\/strong>. The route goes through the Stj\u00e4rnorp<\/strong>-area with views of the Meer Roxen<\/strong> (north). The terminus is the ruin of Stj\u00e4rnorp Castle<\/strong> at the lake, after which you return to Motala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The terrain is predominantly flat. The route is accessible to many different cyclists, regardless of whether you have a dedicated gravel bike, mountain bike, cyclocross bike, or even an old-fashioned city bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six support posts and four pace-setting groups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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