Birkebeinerrittet (lit. The Birkebeiner cycling race) is a long-distance mountain bike cycling race held annually in Norway. It is the world's largest mountain bike race in number of contestants.[1] In 2009, 17,164 riders signed up, and 15,140 cyclists completed the race. In 2023 the 30th edition will be held.[2]

The race

The race starts in Rena and ends at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer. Birkebeinerrittet is 84km[3] long along fire roads, with some paved and some single/dual-track segments.

The race has been held since 1993 and commemorates a trip made by the Birkebeiner loyalists to save the heir to the Norwegian throne, Håkon Håkonsson, in 1206. All participants carry a backpack weighing at least 3.5 kg, symbolizing the weight of the then one-year-old heir.

Past winners

Men

Year Name Club/Nation Time
2022 Ole Hem Norway Norway 2:37:08
2021 Eskil Evensen-Lie Norway Norway 2:37:51
2019 Eskil Evensen-Lie Norway Norway 2:34:20
2018 Erik Resell Norway Norway 2:32:54
2017 Erik Resell Norway Norway 2:28:21
2016 Åsmund Løvik Norway Norway
2015 Carl Fredrik Hagen Norway Norway
2014 Fredrik Wilmann Norway Norway 02.33.18
2013 Fredrik Ericsson Sweden Sweden 02.41.17
2012 Lars Ragnar Manengen Norway Norway 02.43.24
2011 Stian Remme Norway Norway 02.54.45
2010 Hannes Genze Germany Germany 02.57.04
2009 Andreas Kugler Switzerland Switzerland 03.02.05
2008 Anders Hovdenes Norway Norway 02.40.50
2007 Massimo De Bertolis Italy Italy 02.52.29
2006 Lars Petter Nordhaug Norway Norway 02.43.08
2005 Thomas Frischknecht Switzerland Switzerland 03.52.01

Women

Year Name Club/Nation Time
2014 Borghild Løvset Norway Norway 03.05.04
2013 Borghild Løvset Norway Norway 03.12.38
2012 Pia Sundstedt Finland Finland 03.06.42
2011 Pia Sundstedt Finland Finland 03.08.26
2010 Pia Sundstedt Finland Finland 03.19.45
2009 Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå Norway Norway 03.27.02
2008 Pia Sundstedt Finland Finland 03.09.06
2007 Pia Sundstedt Finland Finland 03.24.43
2006 Pia Sundstedt Finland Finland 03.08.32
2005 Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå Norway Norway 04.05.18

See also

References

  1. ↑ Birkebeinerrittet is the world's largest cross country bicycle race with 18.000 participants Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Birken | Birkebeinerrittet celebrates 30 years". Birken. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  3. ↑ "Birken | Cycling". Birken. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
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