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Since 1991, Tjejvättern Saturday has been sacred for Marie Hjalmarsson Engelke. And of course, she stood at the starting line once again – with her faithful old, rusty, and single-speed tandem bicycle. Just as usual, she took her time and especially enjoyed all the goodies offered at the refreshment stations around the course. ‘The goal is to eat as many buns as possible,’ she said before the start.
The sun was shining and provided magical conditions for the over 1,700 participants in the race. In addition to seasoned veterans like Marie, there was a delightful mix of cyclists represented. From those riding fast, like Team She Rides, to groups of friends and first-timers. One of them was Klara Haraldsson, who cycled together with her mom, Lotta.
If this year’s MTB-Vättern was characterized by dark clouds, it was exactly the opposite the day after when Tjejvättern took place. Here, there was sun and warmth throughout the day, while cyclists also enjoyed tailwinds on the ‘return journey.’
In total, over 1,500 girls started, and for many of them, things went quickly on the ten-mile course. We saw, among other things, a course record set by the members of SubXX, who finished in 2 hours and 32 minutes.
‘It’s an incredible feeling. It was so awesome. But above all, it’s so insanely fun to cycle,’ says Åsa Danell, one of the new record holders.
As usual, there were also many who took it easy and thoroughly enjoyed the saddle on this beautiful summer day. Friends Ewelina Wallentinsson and Helen Kullander experienced the race for the first time… but it likely won’t be the last.
Others are more experienced – for example, Viveka Lundegård from Karlstad, who has cycled the race all 32 times.
‘I’ve said that I’ll cycle Tjejvättern until I can’t cycle anymore,’ she said.
In 2021, it was a significant anniversary for Tjejvättern as it celebrated 30 years. Ihrene Hermansson, from Vänersborg, is one of those who has cycled every edition since its inception in 1991. It’s a natural choice for her to return year after year. And there will likely be more times. ‘Once you’ve cycled so many, well, all of them… then you want to keep going,’ said Ihrene, as she was rewarded by Tjejvättern’s veteran club chairman Britt Thorén after crossing the finish line.
Conditions were fine, albeit a bit colder compared to a typical Tjejvättern, as nearly 1,000 cyclists rode the ten-mile course, and close to 300 participated in ‘Min Tjejvättern’.
After 54 consecutive years, 2020 became a year that went down in history. Due to the pandemic, Vätternrundan was forced to cancel Cykelveckan – at least the physical event in Motala. Instead, the organization shifted gears and allowed cyclists to take on the race from home. My Vätternrundan turned out to be a great success, with a total of 5,455 cyclists from 26 countries completing the various races. One of them was the pioneer Stig Johansson, thus maintaining his streak as the only one remaining to have cycled all Vätternrundas. In keeping with tradition, he rode his old Husqvarna bicycle from 1937 around Lake Vättern, but this time starting and finishing in his hometown of Fagersanna.
The total distance covered by all participants (1,375,825 meters) equates to 34 laps around the Earth.
CEO Gunilla Brynell-Johansson was pleased with the great commitment from the participants: ‘It exceeded our expectations and shows how significant the interest in cycling is. It’s about being creative and finding ways to solve situations, something our participants have proven to be very good at. A positive aspect is that about a quarter of those who registered their races were not initially registered participants,’ she said.
Happiness, fellowship, speed and action. Tjejvättern 2019 offered all types of biking – and weather, for those who spent a long time on the road. Most cyclists did indeed get to the finish line before the rain began to fall in the afternoon. Comedian and tv host Marika Carlsson did not, but had a broad smile after her finish anyway.
Marie Hjalmarsson Engelke returns every year – on a tandem bike. For Marie and everyone else who has participated in all Tjejvättern since the beginning, a big anniversary party awaits next summer when it’s time for the 30th edition.
The new bib number print system called Live Print had premiere at the 26th edition of Tjejvättern. Number bibs were printed on site at the event in Motala and it was a great success. The weather was quite chilly and windy, but as usual during this event, there was a warming joy among the participants.
2015 was the year when we celebrated the 25th Tjejvättern. A part from a few odd rain showers the weather was amazing and the 5 270 ladies who crossed the finishing line in Motala almost unanimously agreed that it had been a fantastic race.
As a part of the celebration Vätternrundan hosted a party with a three course dinner and entertainment from no less than the Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw!
The weather was a bit capricious but when the rain stopped the sun shone just as much as the participants. 5 629 girls started and 5 582 finished.
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