Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Norwegian Festival Special
Nordsjørittet has been described as one of the most beautiful road cycling races in Norway.
Western Norway on two wheels Many people who imagine swishing past views of white sandy beaches, steep hills and cheering crowds by bike, see Italy or southern France before their mind’s eye. By joining forces, two of Norway’s biggest bicycle races – Nordsjørittet and Tour des Fjords – are on a mission to replace southern Europe with western Norway in the fantasies of both pro and amateur cyclists worldwide. “In my opinion, both Nordsjørittet and Tour des Fjords offer Norway’s most beautiful cycling routes, and encountering the spectacular nature up close like this is really a breathtaking experience,” says Siri Ommedal. By Andrea Bærland | Photos: Rune Helliesen
Nordsjørittet – a spectacular experience of nature Ommedal is the race manager for Nordsjørittet, a bicycle race that aims to take the breath away from cyclists of all 58 | Issue 84 | January 2016
abilities. “We see that cycling is a huge and increasingly popular sport, and with the slogan ‘for most people’, we want
to lower the threshold many have to overcome before signing up for a race,” says Ommedal. About 500 teams, either private or company-led, as well as individual entries total roughly 12,500 cyclists excited to pedal the 91 kilometres along the western coast from Egersund to Sandnes every year. Whether the participants choose to race for the competitive aspect or the adventure, Ommedal points out that they are in for a breathtaking experience of nature. Running from the coastal town of Egersund, the cyclists will experience everything from hilly terrain to sandy white beaches, and a substrate of both