VÄTTERNRUNDAN GRAVEL · 11 SEPTEMBER 2027
Vätternrundan Gravel 2027
120 km, mostly gravel, from Motala through the forest to the ruins of Stjärnorp Castle by Lake Roxen and back, partly along the Göta Canal. Next time: Saturday, 11 September 2027.
120KM
Rulla is not the organiser of Vätternrundan Gravel. Dates, sign-up and rules are on vatternrundan.se.
- START · MOTALA0 KM
- STJÄRNORP CASTLE RUINS60 KM
- FINISH · MOTALA120 KM
Vätternrundan Gravel in short
- 01WhenSaturday, 11 September 2027. A race of its own, not part of the Vätternrundan week in June.
- 02How far120 km, starting and finishing at Baltzar von Platen’s grave in Motala.
- 03The surfaceMostly gravel with some tarmac, on roads with almost no traffic. The route is fairly flat.
- 04Who can rideEveryone. The organiser wants anyone to be able to take part, on almost any bike.
- 05New since 2026The race was first run on 12 September 2026, with 1,150 riders.
Vätternrundan Gravel: route and map
From Motala via Borensberg north through the forest to the ruins of Stjärnorp Castle by Lake Roxen, where the route turns. Part of it follows the Göta Canal.
- 0 KMMotalaStart at Baltzar von Platen’s grave
- BorensbergAlong the Göta Canal
- The forest to the northGravel roads without traffic
- 60 KMStjärnorp Castle ruinsBy Lake Roxen, where the route turns
- 120 KMMotalaFinish
GPX
- The whole route, 119 km and 485 m of climbing, for your bike computer or phone. Free to download.
How hilly is the route?
Fairly flat. What makes it hard is the drag of the gravel and the length, not the hills: expect it to go slower than the same distance on tarmac.
How long do 120 km of gravel take?
Pick your target time and how long you stop, and see the average it takes and when you finish.
WORK OUT YOUR PACE
Average with stops
21.8KM/H
Rolling average
24.0KM/H
The turn, 60 km
10:45
Finish
13:30
Per 50 km
2 h 05
Gravel is slower than tarmac: expect an average 3–5 km/h lower than on the road.
Gravel rides on Rulla
Clubs post gravel rides in Rulla, often at weekends. Do a few long ones before the race.
Gravel, canal and almost no traffic.
How to train for 120 km of gravel
10 weeks with three key sessions a week: a long ride at the weekend, one VO2max session and one threshold or tempo session. Warm up for 15 minutes before the intervals.
- 10 WEEKS TO GOLong ride2 h, ~45 km of gravelVO2max5×3 min, 3 min restThreshold / tempo3×8 min threshold5 h
- 9 WEEKS TO GOLong ride2.5 h, ~55 km of gravelVO2max4×4 minThreshold / tempo3×10 min threshold5.5 h
- 8 WEEKS TO GOLong ride3 h, ~65 km in a groupVO2max30/15: 2 sets × 10Threshold / tempo2×15 min low cadence uphill6 h
- 7 WEEKS TO GOEASY WEEKLong ride2 h easyVO2max3×3 minThreshold / tempo2×10 min threshold4 h
- 6 WEEKS TO GOLong ride3.5 h, ~75 km of gravelVO2max5×4 minThreshold / tempo3×12 min over/under6.5 h
- 5 WEEKS TO GOLong ride4 h, ~85 kmVO2max30/15: 3 sets × 13Threshold / tempo2×20 min threshold7 h
- 4 WEEKS TO GOLong ride4.5 h, ~100 km of gravel, eat and test your tyre pressureVO2max5×5 minThreshold / tempo3×15 min, alternating high and low cadence7.5 h
- 3 WEEKS TO GOLong ride3.5 h, ~80 km, with 2×20 min tempoVO2max40/20: 3 sets × 8Threshold / tempo2×20 min over/under6.5 h
- 2 WEEKS TO GOTAPERLong ride2.5 h, ~55 kmVO2max4×4 minThreshold / tempo2×10 min threshold4.5 h
- RACE WEEKLong rideThe rideVO2max3×3 min, short openersThreshold / tempo20 min easy with 3×1 min2 h
Which bike for Vätternrundan Gravel?
A gravel bike is best, but you don’t need one. The organiser welcomes MTBs and older city bikes too. Wide tyres and slightly lower pressure make the gravel much more comfortable.
RULLA
Find your next ride on Rulla.
Clubs post their long rides before Vätternrundan in the app. See who rides near you, at your pace, and say you’re coming.
Common questions
When is Vätternrundan Gravel 2027?
Saturday, 11 September 2027. Start times and sign-up are on vatternrundan.se.
How long is Vätternrundan Gravel?
120 km, starting and finishing in Motala.
Where does the route go?
From Motala via Borensberg north to the ruins of Stjärnorp Castle by Lake Roxen and back. Mostly gravel, partly along the Göta Canal.
Do I need a gravel bike?
No. MTBs and older city bikes work too; the organiser wants everyone to be able to take part.
How long does Vätternrundan Gravel take?
Expect 5 to 7 hours if you roll at 20–25 km/h, plus stops. Gravel is slower than tarmac.
Can you ride the 315 km Vätternrundan on a gravel bike?
Yes. It is all tarmac, but a gravel bike works fine. Swap to narrower, slicker tyres and it rolls almost like a road bike.
More about Vätternrundan
THE WEEK’S OTHER RIDES, AND GRAVEL IN SEPTEMBER
Rulla is not the organiser of Vätternrundan Gravel. Dates, sign-up and rules are on vatternrundan.se. Go to vatternrundan.se
