The toughest race on the U23 Calendar starts at Tyinkrysset. The small village is located north in Valdres at an altitude of 900 meters. The first climb of the day comes early when the riders takes on parts of the King´s Road that was built by hand in the late 1700s and was Norway’s main connection between east and west at the time.
The route goes through the national park of Jotunheimen where the highest mountain...
Read moreThe toughest race on the U23 Calendar starts at Tyinkrysset. The small village is located north in Valdres at an altitude of 900 meters. The first climb of the day comes early when the riders takes on parts of the King´s Road that was built by hand in the late 1700s and was Norway’s main connection between east and west at the time.
The route goes through the national park of Jotunheimen where the highest mountains in Northern Europe are found, including Galdøpiggen at 2469m, the tallest of them all. After following E16 Tyinvegen to Ryfoss going east, the riders break north to Beitostølen where a climb up along the ski resorts waits.
Continuing north the riders pass Bygdin Mountain Hotel and the entry point to Norway’s most famous hike across Besseggen, before following a long stretch along the rafting river Sjoa.
The final selection of the day takes place on the last climb up to Juvashytta at 1841m. It has been described as the most brutal climbs in Norway. The climb is 13 kilometers at average gradient of 10%, including several long stretches between 13% and 15%. After climbing 1300 meters the strongest of them all can celebrate at the finish line at the foot of Galdøpiggen.
Strava segment, the climb to Juvashytta:
https://www.strava.com/segments/617447
King´s Road: http://img7.custompublish.com/getfile.php/3803685.1657.qwrcaussqt/820x0/5980148_3803685.jpg