Birkebeinerrittet

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

Women

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

External links

• Official homepage

See also

• Cross-country cycling

• Marathon mountain bike races

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.