Viking Tour of Norway - 2015
Back again for more fun in Norway. Last year Leah and I did the race and enjoyed so decided we would come back for more fun in Norway.
The Viking Tour of Norway is a 7 day stage race that visits the mountains and fiords of southern coastal Norway. About a 3 hour drive out of Oslo is where we start and the fun begins. Up and down over 7 days, 750km and 13,000m climbing, from sea level up through the tree line onto the tops of the mountain plains then back down again. If last year is anything to go by, it will be spectacular. The tree line is at about 500m above sea level, so you get the feeling of high altitude when really you are not. High baron, rocky, glacier scared plains above the trees, then drop steeply down to the towns by the sea for the night in local hotels.
No camping, or town halls for Leah, so I benefit you could say. Last year it was hot, very hot, above 30 degrees for a lot of the time. This year we are looking at a mixed forecast, with rain, and highs about 13-15 degrees. It will be a very different race if that is the case, and we can also expect wind. Living in Amsterdam, they know nothing about wind compared to what we put up with everyday.
What do we have to face this week?
Saturday 18th July – Geilo - Arrive, build bikes and short prologue. 7km and 280m climbing.
Sunday 19th July – Geilo – Ardalstangen. A BIG day. 171km timed, 207km total and 2,700m climbing
Monday 20th July – Ardalstangen. 28km up hill for 1,000m. A short day with a nasty climb planned and then coast back to town.
Tuesday 21st July – Ardalstangen – Sogndal. 113km and 2500m climbing, including a 26km TT, and 44km neutral transfer riding section.
Wednesday 22nd July – Sogndal – Ulvik. 185km and 2800m climbing. The day starts with a neutral transfer ride for 25km to a ferry, then the racing begins.
Thursday 23rd July –Ulvik - 44km and 1,200 climbing. A big climb, then coast back into town
Friday 24th July – Ulvik – Geilo - 121km and 2,300m back to Geilo and the big finish.
Saturday 25th July – early bus back to Oslo and fly home to Amsterdam. Tired but satisfied.
Why the Viking Tour of Norway
Leah and I enjoyed the race last year, and we enjoyed the company of the other racers. This is important as the field is 170 people, and you are sending a week together in the same hotels and riding together. It is lower key than the Houte Route that we will do later in the season but at the same time I can race this. The days are shorter with less climbing each day and that means I can keep up better with the front guys and are more inclined to go harder at the start. Then you have the added bonus of seeing parts of Norway we would not see otherwise, and it is much more affordable, as long as you do not drink. Finally, the logistics are easy. Fly into and out of Oslo. The organizer puts on a bus to the start and take you back to the airport at the end. It sounds funny, but this makes a huge difference not having to rent cars and worry about that as well.