Cykelvasan 2017 – the biggest Nordic mountain bike race, growing every year

This year Cykelvasan is held for the ninth time, and once again this year sets a new registration record. To the Cykelvasan races Friday-Saturday August 11–12 there are, so far, over 23,000 cyclists registered – and it is still possible to register for the Friday races. Here we have, as tradition goes, collected news, facts, statistics and information about Cykelvasan, the biggest Nordic mountain bike race.

Ungdomscykelvasan, Cykelvasan 30 and Cykelvasan 45 will run on Friday August 11 – all these shorter races start in Oxberg – as well as Cykelvasan Öppet Spår which starts in Sälen. Cykelvasasprinten will also be held in Sälen and the Barnens Vasalopp children's bike race will take place in both Sälen and Mora. On Saturday August 12 it is time for the "main" Cykelvasan 90 race.

Every year since the start in 2009 Cykelvasan has set a new registration record, and this year is no different! The current total for all Cykelvasan 2017 races 23,213 registered participants. Cykelvasan 90 is fully booked with 13,000 registrants but the race showing the most growth is Cykelvasan Öppet Spår. From 2,733 registered in its first year, 2015, to 4,010 in 2016, and now 4,730 registered for 2017. But the other bike races are also showing an increase compared to last year.

There are still start positions available for the Friday races. Registration for these races can be made online up until Wednesday or on location during Thursday and Friday.

Registrants Tuesday 2017-08-08 at 09.00
Registered for Ungdomscykelvasan (32 km): 232 (competition)
Registered for Cykelvasan 30 (32 km): 2,903 (leisure race)
Registered for Cykelvasan 45 (45 km): 2,348 (leisure race)
Registered for Cykelvasan Öppet Spår (94 km): 4,730 (leisure race)
Registered for Cykelvasan 90 (94 km): 13,000 (competition and leisure class)

In Cykelvasan 90 on Saturday, 12 percent of the registered participants are women. (In total, 22 percent of the Cykelvasan participants are women.)

Cykelvasasprinten – open qualifier for the public and a "dress rehearsal" for the elite
Cykelvasasprinten is now counted fully as a part of Vasaloppet's Summer Week bike competitions. The sprint is an exhibition race for especially invited elite cyclists in Lindvallen, Sälen, where an crowd-friendly, fun and technical track is built in the lower sections of the Lindvallen ski slope. New for 2017 is that the Cykelvasasprinten open qualifier for the public will be held the day before, Thursday evening.

Open qualifier for Cykelvasasprinten, the Cykelvasan stage in Lindvallen, at 18:00–19:00 on August 10
Just bring your bike and helmet and you can compete in the qualifier. No pre-registration is required and no participation fee. You bike a lap around the sprint track and the three fastest ladies and gentlemen go on to challenge our invited elite cyclists in Cykelvasasprinten on Friday.

Cykelvasasprinten, the Cykelvasan stage in Lindvallen, at 15:00 on August 11
Invited elite cyclists will compete for victory in Cykelvasasprinten 2017. Here they can get a feel for one another before the score is settled in Saturday's Cykelvasan 90. The women's and men's class, consisting of about 20 cyclists, will, this year, be divided into three semi-final groups where the two fastest from each group advance to the final. Like last year, the ladies will have their own final. Prize money is awarded to the victor in each class. Each race consists of two laps. Come and cheer for your favourites!

Barnens Vasalopp Cykel
Apart from the above mentioned races there will also be a Barnens Vasalopp bike race for the very youngest, up to about 10 years of age. In Sälen it runs on August 11, and in Mora on August 12. All participants will bike a short stretch, wear a number bib, and receive a diploma and medal.

Earlier start for the ladies in Cykelvasan 90 this year too
2016 saw a new procedure where the women's competition class in Cykelvasan 90 started in Sälen at 07:30, 45 minutes before the men's competition class at 08:15. Cykelvasan's group starts makes it, as opposed to the winter Vasaloppet, relatively simple to have the ladies start earlier. Thereby the elite women can bike on their own and neither be prevented nor helped by the men. About 55 ladies are registered for the competition class 2017, while the men are about 650. (First start in the leisure class will be at 08:30.)

Course changes in Cykelvasan
Over the years, millions have been invested in the Vasaloppet Arena to reduce the sections run on asphalt. Instead gravel roads and paths have been made. For the first time, the whole stretch now runs outside roads with traffic. From twelve road crossings in 2009, there is now only one remaining, in Evertsberg.

For 2017, Cykelvasan 90 and Cykelvasan Öppet Spår have gotten a new section of about 2.5 kilometres between Ringnäsvägen and Mångsbodarna. Where participants previously biked on the country road, the Vasaloppet track has been reinforced and prepared for biking, and a 350-metre-long and 3.6-metre-wide wooden deck has been built.

This year's new course change does not affect the total distance nor are there any major topographic differences compared to earlier years.

Cykelvasan 90 Favourites
Last year the women's class winner Jennie Stenerhag could roll across the finish line all alone while the men's class needed a finish line photo before Lucas Eriksson could be pronounced victor. The question is: Who will win in 2017? Will it be a Swedish or Norwegian victory?

Emil Lindgren won the Swedish Championship mountain bike marathon (90 km) in Motala this past Saturday, barely ahead of Matthias Wengelin. Emil then won Finnmarksturen (68 km) this past Sunday, seconds ahead of Matthias Wengelin and Michael Olsson. But Olsson is in the lead in the Långloppscupen cup, ahead of Lindgren. It is worth noting that cyclists from Team Serneke Allebike CK have won all seven races in i Långloppscupen: Michael Olsson, Emil Lindgren, Dennis Wahlqvist and Fredrik Ludvigsson. Matthias Wengelin, who won the very first Cykelvasan in 2009, competes for Örebrocyklisterna.

Norwegian Vidar Mehl has come sixth, fourth and ninth these past three years in Cykelvasan, and he won Grenserittet this past Saturday. Last year's top Norwegian participant Fredrik Haraldseth, who came seventh in 2016, is also participating this year. Haraldseth came second in Grenserittet, only three seconds behind Vidar Mehl.

The person with the most Cykelvasan victories is Jennie Stenerhag who now has the chance to take her fourth win, making it the third in a row. Jennie is in the lead of Långloppscupen and has won all five Långloppscupen races she has participated in, the latest being Finnmarksturen this past weekend. She also won the Swedish Championship title this past Saturday ahead of Åsa Erlandsson.

Cykelvasan is Jennie Stenerhag's big goal this season, but she is challenged by, among others, Norwegian Hildegunn Gjertrud Hovdenak, winner of Cykelvasan 2014 (and second after Stenerhag in 2015).

Bike Safe 2017
The Vasaloppet organization has been working hard for several years on the "Bike Safe" project, Vasaloppet's initiative for safer biking during Cykelvasan. Vasaloppet wants all participants to feel safe and secure on their journey down to the finish in Mora. After Cykelvasan 2016 Vasaloppet's Development Manager Johan Eriksson could note that the work on reducing accidents had given a noticeable result: "An intensive work on informing cyclists in combination with improvements in the track and seeding has given good results."

For those participating in Cykelvasan 2017 it is important to keep track of signs and markings. At the starts in Sälen and Oxberg and by the finish in Mora it is, in connection with Cykelvasan, possible to go over your bike and equipment in special safety controls.

Time penalty for littering in nature
For the Winter Week 2017 Vasaloppet implemented a time penalty of 15 minutes in the event that a participant littered in nature. A measure that gave good results and that will also apply during Vasaloppet's Summer Week.

Vasaloppet will be putting up signs and clear symbols to show where throwing litter is allowed. During the bike races there will be a total of twelve littering zones, consisting of large nets that are placed to make it easy for participants to toss rubbish as they speed by. These zones are in addition to the seven standard Vasaloppet checkpoint where participants can also dispose of litter. Just like during the Winter Week, photographic evidence is required to apply the time penalty to a participant. A number of officials will be assigned along the course to try and capture images of anyone breaking this rule.

When it comes to elite participants in Cykelvasan 90, special dialogue is being held and, just like during the Winter Week, Vasaloppet is requiring that each team takes responsibility for, and picks up, any waste that is thrown along the track. All teams that Vasaloppet has been in contact with strongly support this position.

Counties and nations 2017
All counties of Sweden have at least 100 registered participants in Cykelvasan 2017. The following six counties have more than 1,000 registered cyclists: Stockholm (3,787 registered participants), Västra Götaland (3,636), Dalarna (1,927), Uppsala (1,186), Skåne (1,127), Gävleborg (1,066).

Cykelvasan's five 2017 races have participants from 30 different nations, including Sweden. The five biggest nations (excluding Sweden) are Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany and Great Britain. Over 700 Norwegian participants are registered. Participants in Cykelvasan 2017 range between ages 8 and 83! (County and national information is from August 3, 2017.)

Previous winners
13 different cyclists have taken home the 16 victory garlands in Cykelvasan since the start in 2009. Jennie Stenerhag has won three times and Jesper Dahlström twice. Most top three placements in the men's class is split between Magnus Darvell and Matthias Wengelin, who have each done it three times, and in the women's class between Hanna Bergman and Jennie Stenerhag, who have each been in the top three four times. In the men's class there have only been Swedish victories, while the women's class has seen two international winners (one Finnish and one Norwegian).

Previous winners in Cykelvasan, women
2009 Hanna Bergman, Falu CK, 3.09.05
2010 Emmy Thelberg, Härnösands CK, 2.54.53
2011 Pia Sundstedt, Finland, 2.56.19
2012 Jennie Stenerhag, Falu CK, 3.02.06
2013 Alexandra Engen, GHOST Factory RT/Jönköpings CK, 2.55.37
2014 Hildegunn Gjertrud Hovdenak, Norway, 2.53.44 (Record time!)
2015 Jennie Stenerhag, Falu CK, 2.57.22
2016 Jennie Stenerhag, Falu CK, 3.07.49

Previous winners in Cykelvasan, men
2009 Matthias Wengelin, Cykloteket RT, 2.43.27
2010 Magnus Darvell, Team Kalas/Pedalogerna, 2.39.00 (Record time!)
2011 Jesper Dahlström, Motala AIF Cykelklubb, 2.47.32
2012 Jesper Dahlström, Team Cykelcity, 2.47.20
2013 Fredrik Ericsson, CK Cykelcity.se, 2.43.01
2014 Johan Landström, Motala AIF/SCOTT 2.45.59
2015 Alexander Wetterhall, Team Tre Berg - BIANCHI, 2.44.35
2016 Lucas Eriksson, Serneke Allebike CK, 2.40.04

Top ten in Cykelvasan 90 2016
Women
1 Jennie Stenerhag, (SWE) Falu CK, 03.07.49
2 Ida Jansson, (SWE) Falu CK/Team Lapierr..., 03.08.04
3 Felicia Ferner, (SWE) Borlänge CK, 03.08.48
4 Nellie Larsson, (SWE) CKX, 03.11.29
5 Angelica Edvardsson, (SWE) Cykloteket Racing Team, 03.17.10
6 Louise Rundqvist, (SWE) Värnamo CK/Boddan Cycl..., 03.17.11
7 Åsa Erlandsson, (SWE) Varbergs MTB/Haibike, 03.17.13
8 Erika Jepson, (SWE) Ckx, 03.17.18
9 Johanna Sömskar, (SWE) Norbergs CK, 03.18.25
10 Fanny Kjellqvist, (SWE) Godegårds SK cykel, 03.18.26

Men
1 Lucas Eriksson, (SWE) Serneke Allebike CK, 02.40.04
2 Matthias Wengelin, (SWE) Almby IK/Team Bergsl..., 02.40.04
3 Alexander Wetterhall, (SWE) Team Tre Berg - BIANCH..., 02.40.04
4 Edwin Wilson, (SWE) Tranemo CS, 02.40.05
5 Emil Lindgren, (SWE) Serneke Allebike, 02.40.05
6 Calle Friberg, (SWE) Järfälla CK/Team Scott..., 02.41.46
7 Fredrik Haraldseth, (NOR) Hard Rock AB AX bu SWI..., 02.41.46
8 Alexander Vincent Blomqvist, (SWE) Serneke Allebike, 02.41.46
9 Vidar Mehl, (NOR) Sepura Toyota racing w..., 02.41.46
10 Jocke Bernström, (SWE) Motala Aif Cykel, 02.41.46

Footnote: The hill prizes in Evertsberg were won in 2016 by Jennie Stenerhag, Falu CK, time 1.43.08, and Emil Lindgren, Serneke Allebike CK, time 1.29.13.

Participant statistics through the years (all distances):
Cykelvasan 2009: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 1,911/1,760/1,747
Cykelvasan 2010: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 4,479/4,077/4,045
Cykelvasan 2011: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 7,874/7,180/7,031
Cykelvasan 2012: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 12,840/10,629/10,475
Cykelvasan 2013: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 16,855/14,811/14,546
Cykelvasan 2014: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 16,927/15,291/15,122
Cykelvasan 2015: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 19,991/18,000/17,708
Cykelvasan 2016: Registered/Starting/Finishing: 22,094/19,305/18,987
Cykelvasan 2017: Registered so far: 23,213

Some celebrities in Cykelvasan 90 on August, 2017
Emma Igelström, four-time swimming World Champion
Tomas Gustafson, three-time ice skating Olympic gold medallist, awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1988
Anders Eriksson, seven-time enduro World Champion, third place on the TV-show Mästarnas Mästare in 2016
Anders Jonell, mogul skiing competitor in the Olympics 1994
Magnus Erlingmark, former football player, bronze medallist in the World Championships 1994
Susanne Ljungskog, road cycling World Champion in 2002 and 2003, awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 2002
Anna Wijk, world's best floorball player 2015, with 4 World Championship golds
Staffan Larsson, Vasaloppet victor 1999
Petter Wastå, former football goalkeeper in Kalmar FF, Swedish Championship gold in 2008
Rikard Tynell, marathon skier Team Tynell
Kristina Roberto, marathon skier with several top ten placements in Vasaloppet/Tjejvasan
Sven von Holst, World Championship CEO for Falun 2015, Vasaloppet chairman, former elite swimmer
Christian ”Chris Dangerous” Grahn, drummer in The Hives
Carl-Johan Paulin, commercial photographer
Peter Helander, member of parliament

Other known participants:
Calle Johansson, former NHL professional, biking Cykelvasan 45
Mats Gren, former football professional, biking Cykelvasan Öppet Spår

Estimated passing times for Cykelvasan 90 on August 12, 2017
If the leading cyclists hold an average speed of 35 km/hour and the slowest bike at 10 km/hour the average passing times for the elite women, elite men, and the final cyclists will be:
Start Sälen – 07.30 08.15 13.15
Smågan – 07.48 08.30 14.00
Mångsbodarna – 08.17 08.55 15.10
Risberg – 08.38 09.13 16.00
Evertsberg – 09.15 09.45 17.30 (closing at 16.45)
Oxberg – 09.46 10.11 18.45
Hökberg – 10.05 10.27 19.30 (closing at 18.45)
Eldris – 10.27 10.46 20.25
Finish Mora – 10.46 11.02 21.10

SVT broadcasts two days
Again this year, Swedish Television will be on location and broadcasting from Cykelvasan 90. A programme will be streamed on SVT Play on Friday August 11 at 19:00, and a 45-minute summary will be broadcast on SVT1 on Sunday August 13 at 18:15-19:00. The commentator will be Björn Becksmo. The programme can also be viewed on SVT Play for the next six months.
https://www.svt.se/sport

Follow participants
For the first time the races will be live broadcast at Vasaloppet's Facebook page. Broadcast times: Friday August 11 from 08:45. Saturday August 12 from 07:15.
https://www.facebook.com/vasaloppetofficial

Live results and a finish line camera will, as usual, be available at vasaloppet.se. It is also possible to follow specific participants via text message and in the updated free app "Vasaloppet sommar". Read more:
http://www.vasaloppet.se/en/races/bike-races/cykelvasan90/follow-participants

Vasaloppet Radio broadcasts
Listen in Sälen at 107.5 MHz,Oxberg/Älvdalen 89.1 MHz and Mora 94.1 MHz, or on the web or your phone: www.vasaloppsradion.se
Friday August 11: Vasaloppet studio from 12:00
Saturday August 12: Cykelvasan 90 direct broadcast from 07:00, Vasaloppet studio from about 11:00

Kranskulla and Kransmas 2017
This year's Kranskulla and Kransmas are Lydia Sundin and Linus Rapp (both from Mora).

Eight races in a row
162 people have completed the main race Cykelvasan 90 all eight years 2009-2016. In 2018 Cykelvasan celebrates its tenth year.

3 x 90 km
2014 was the first year it was possible to complete "Vasaloppstrippeln" in its entirety, that is completing Vasaloppet/Öppet Spår (skis), Cykelvasan 90/Cykelvasan Öppet Spår (bike) and Ultravasan 90 (running). That year, 14 people managed the achievement. In 2017 there are over 100 people set on completing the 90 kilometres on skis, bike and running. Biking is the second part of Vasaloppstrippeln.

Events
There is a lot happening in Sälen and Mora during Vasaloppet's Summer Week 2017. Take part in the whole programme:
http://www.vasaloppet.se/en/programme/calendar

Register for the tenth Cykelvasan in 2018
Registration opens on Sunday September 10, 2017, at 09:00 on vasaloppet.se

Upcoming events in the Vasaloppet Arena

Vasaloppet Summer Week 2017
Fri 11 Aug: Cykelvasan 30. 32 km. Start Oxberg 09:10
Fri 11 Aug: Ungdomscykelvasan. 32 km. Start Oxberg 09:00
Fri 11 Aug: Cykelvasan 45. 45 km. Start Oxberg 11:15
Fri 11 Aug: Cykelvasan Öppet Spår. 94 km. Start Sälen 11:30
Fri 11 Aug: Cykelvasasprinten. 1 km. Lindvallen. Start Sälen 15.00
Sat 12 Aug: Cykelvasan 90. 94 km. Start Sälen, ladies at 07:30, men 08:15 (FULL 170427)
Sat 19 Aug: Ultravasan 45. 45 km. Start Oxberg 09:00
Sat 19 Aug: Ultravasan 90. 90 km. Start Sälen 05:00
Sat 19 Aug: Vasastafetten. 4.5–15 km. Running relay for ten-person teams. Start Sälen 09:00
Sat 19 Aug: Vasakvartetten. 19.1–24.2 km. Running relay for four-person teams. Start Sälen 07:00

Vasaloppet Winter Week 2018
Fri 23 Feb: Kortvasan. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Sat 24 Feb: Tjejvasan. 30 km. Start Oxberg.
Sun 25 Feb: Ungdomsvasan.
Sun 25 Feb: Öppet Spår Sunday. 90 km. Start Sälen.
Mon 26 Feb: Öppet Spår Monday. 90 km. Start Sälen.
Tue 27 Feb: Halvvasan. 45 km. Start Oxberg.
Fri 2 Mar: Stafettvasan. 9–24 km. Five-person teams. Start Sälen.
Fri 2 Mar: Nattvasan. 90 km. Two-person teams. Start Sälen. (FULL 170319)
Sat 3 Mar: Blåbärsloppet. 9 km. Start Eldris.
Sun 4 Mar: Vasaloppet. 90 km. Start Sälen. (FULL 170319)

High-resolution photos from Vasaloppet
http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/vasaloppet/image/list

Text and photos may be freely published.

For more information
Camilla Sandy, Communicator and Press Manager
Mobile: +46(0)70-384 95 00
Email: camilla.sandy@vasaloppet.se

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