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Birkebeinerrittet (lit. The Birkebeiner cycling race) is a long-distance mountainbike cycling race held annually in Norway. It is the world's largest mountainbike race in number of contestants.[1] In 2009 17,164 riders signed up, and 15,140 cyclists completed the race. Compare this to the population of Norway of under 5 million inhabitants.
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The race [link]
The race starts at Rena ends at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer. Birkebeinerrittet is 94 km long along fire roads, with some paved and some single/dualtrack segments.
The race has been held since 1993 and commemorates a trip made by the Birkebeiner loyalists to save the heir to the Norwegian throne, Håkon Håkonsson, in 1206. All participants carry a backpack weighing at least 3.5 kg, symbolizing the weight of the then one-year old heir.
Past winners [link]
Men [link]
| Year | Name | Club/Nation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Hannes Genze |  Germany |
02.57.04 |
| 2009 | Andreas Kugler |  Switzerland |
03.02.05 |
| 2008 | Anders Hovdenes |  Norway |
02.40.50 |
| 2007 | Massimo De Bertolis |  Italy |
02.52.29 |
| 2006 | Lars Petter Nordhaug | Norway |
02.43.08 |
| 2005 | Thomas Frischknecht | Switzerland |
03.52.01 |
Women [link]
| Year | Name | Club/Nation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Pia Sundstedt |  Finland |
03.08.26 |
| 2010 | Pia Sundstedt | Finland |
03.19.45 |
| 2009 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå | Norway |
03.27.02 |
| 2008 | Pia Sundstedt | Finland |
03.09.06 |
| 2007 | Pia Sundstedt | Finland |
03.24.43 |
| 2006 | Pia Sundstedt | Finland |
03.08.32 |
| 2005 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå | Norway |
04.05.18 |
