In a beautiful setting, we invite you to the world’s largest cycling challenge.

Vätternrundan 1981 went down in history as the nightmare ride. Despite it being June, the cyclists were met with biting cold and flurries of snow — and many were forced to abandon the race long before reaching Jönköping.

Leif and Anna-Karin took an unusual detour to the altar in 1969. After 230 kilometers around Lake Vättern, they stopped at the wedding chapel at Gyllene Uttern outside Gränna and got married — right in the middle of the race. The ceremony was broadcast on both TV and radio. A 230-kilometer walk down the aisle was certainly not something you saw every day! Anna-Karin started the race as Miss Karlsson and returned to Motala on a tandem bike after 15 hours and 10 minutes — as Mrs. Bylin.

When Vätternrundan was held for the first time in 1966, Alice Hedihn from Uddevalla was one of six women in the starting field. Wearing a long skirt and riding a single-speed ladies’ bicycle, she cheerfully and effortlessly pedaled the 300 kilometers around the lake — year after year.

One single person has ridden every Vätternrundan since the start in 1966: Stig Johansson from Fagersanna. Dressed in jeans and wooden clogs – on a bicycle from 1937, with a radio in the bike basket.