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.Birkebeinerrittet is the world's largest cross country bicycle race with 18.000 participants In 2009, 17,164 riders signed up, and 15,140 cyclists completed the race. In 2023 the 30th edition will be held.
The race The race starts in Rena and ends at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer. Birkebeinerrittet is 84km 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 YearNameClub/NationTime2022Ole Hem Norway2:37:082021Eskil Evensen-Lie Norway2:37:512019Eskil Evensen-Lie Norway2:34:202018Erik Resell Norway 2:32:542017Erik Resell Norway 2:28:212016Åsmund Løvik Norway2015Carl Fredrik Hagen Norway2014Fredrik Wilmann Norway02.33.182013Fredrik Ericsson Sweden02.41.172012Lars Ragnar Manengen Norway02.43.242011Stian Remme Norway02.54.452010Hannes Genze Germany02.57.042009Andreas Kugler Switzerland03.02.052008Anders Hovdenes Norway02.40.502007Massimo De Bertolis Italy02.52.292006Lars Petter Nordhaug Norway02.43.082005Thomas Frischknecht Switzerland03.52.01
Women YearNameClub/NationTime2014Borghild Løvset Norway03.05.042013Borghild Løvset Norway03.12.382012Pia Sundstedt Finland03.06.422011Pia Sundstedt Finland03.08.262010Pia Sundstedt Finland03.19.452009Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå Norway03.27.022008Pia Sundstedt Finland03.09.062007Pia Sundstedt Finland03.24.432006Pia Sundstedt Finland03.08.322005Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå Norway04.05.18
External links Official homepage
See also Cross-country cycling
Marathon mountain bike races
References