Star studded lineup for Cykelvasan 90, 2026

Even more of the course is now being moved onto the classic Vasaloppet trail. In addition, exciting new developments await in the sprint prize competition, while a truly accomplished elite field will be battling for victory in Cykelvasan 90. Here, cycling expert and TV commentator Roberto Vacchi presents some of the favourites ahead of Saturday’s race.

On Saturday, it’s time for the 18th edition of Cykelvasan 90, which will also be broadcast live in four countries. The race starts in Sälen and passes through all the classic Vasaloppet checkpoints. This year, participants will get even more of that Vasaloppet feeling, as over 7 kilometres of the course move from asphalt and gravel roads into the classic winter Vasaloppet trail. The total distance will now be 92 kilometres instead of 95 kilometres.

“The new sections look really good, and on the elite side they’ll suit riders with a road cycling background especially well. I’m thinking, for example, of the Swedish road cycling champion Hugo Forssell, who rode hard through the first half of Cykelvasan last year. He’ll be sharp again this year too,” says cycling expert and commentator Roberto Vacchi, who will be commentating on Saturday’s race for Vasaloppet.TV.

Who else do you see as favourites on the men’s side?
“Last year’s winner Østen Brovold Midtsundstad is tall, powerful, and a proven strong rider on this course. Veteran Matthias Wengelin (winner of the very first Cykelvasan 90 back in 2009) has a trick or two up his sleeve and huge experience, so he’ll be dangerous again this year. On top of that, this year’s number one and two in the Swedish Long Distance Cup, Viktor Lindqvist and Edvin Elofsson, have ridden well all year, and their strengths suit what’s waiting on Saturday,” says Roberto Vacchi.

The men start at 9.00am. By then, the women will already have been out riding for an hour.

“The main favourite is last year’s winner Amanda Bohlin, who has taken two wins from two starts in this year’s Long Distance Cup. But there are challengers too, in the shape of last year’s runner-up Lejla Njemcevic from Bosnia and Herzegovina; Swedish long-distance champion Terese Andersson; and Madelene Höglund, leader of the Swedish Long Distance Cup, who has won the last two rounds,” says Vacchi, continuing:

“A few others who will also be challenging for the win are this year’s double national champion in XCO and XCC, Elin Ålsjö, along with sisters Elinore and Linnea Nilsson, who finished third and sixth respectively in Cykelvasan last year and have ridden well again this year. If I had to pick an outsider, I’d say former orienteer Tilda Östberg, who’s focused on cycling from this year onward and has done really well,” says Roberto Vacchi.

Cykelvasan 90 opens with the course’s toughest climb, and at the highest point, three kilometres after the start, a sprint prize of SEK 5,000 awaits the fastest woman and man respectively:

“It always goes fast from the start. That’ll be the case again this time. Last year the field split apart already on the first climb. The course is relatively easy for the elite riders, so it’s a good place to stretch out the field and make positioning easier further into the race,” says Roberto Vacchi.

One new feature in this year’s race is that, instead of a single sprint prize winner at each checkpoint, participants will collect points across seven checkpoints. Sprint prize checkpoints in Cykelvasan 90, 2026: Smågan 11 km, Mångsbodarna 26 km, Risberg 36 km, Evertsberg 49 km, Oxberg 64 km, Hökberg 74 km, Eldris 83 km. Total distance: 92 km.

The top five at each checkpoint receive 10, 7, 5, 3, and 2 points respectively. At Evertsberg, however, double points are awarded: 20, 14, 10, 6, and 4 points. At the prize ceremony, the top three women and top three men will be awarded SEK 10,000, SEK 7,000, and SEK 4,000.

“It’s great to have a new format for the sprint prizes. It will create a real tactical game heading into several of the checkpoints,” says Roberto Vacchi.

See start lists for Cykelvasan 90, 2026 >

Swedish Television (SVT) broadcasts Cykelvasan 90 live
Saturday 8 August, 07.50–12.00, on SVT1 and SVT Play. The broadcast is in HD. Only available in Sweden. Cykelvasan | SVT Play

Live broadcast in Denmark, Finland, and Norway
Sport Live: www.sport-live.dk/programoversigt
Ilta-Sanomat TV: https://www.is.fi/aihe/live
Warner Bros. Discovery, broadcasting on HBO Max and Rex: https://warnerbrosdiscovery.no

Vasaloppet.TV broadcasts every race live
Vasaloppet’s own streaming service also broadcasts Cykelvasan 2026: Vasaloppet.tv
See the full schedule >

Upcoming events in the Vasaloppet Arena:

Vasaloppet's Summer Week 2026 – biking and running
Friday, August 7, Cykelvasan 30, start Oxberg, 32 km
Friday, August 7, Cykelvasan Öppet Spår, start Sälen, 92 km
Friday, August 7, Cykelvasan 45, start Oxberg, 45 km
Saturday, August 8, Cykelvasan 90, start Sälen, 92 km
Friday, August 14, Funkisvasan, start Mora, 2 or 4 km
Friday, August 14, Trailvasan 10, start Mora, 10 km
Saturday, August 15, Ultravasan 90, start Sälen, 92 km
Saturday, August 15, Vasastafetten, running relay, ten legs, start Sälen, 92 km
Saturday, August 15, Ultravasan 45, start Oxberg, 45 km
Saturday, August 15, Trailvasan 30, start Oxberg, 30 km

Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2027 and the 103rd Vasaloppet – cross country skiing
Friday, February 26, Vasaloppet 30, start Oxberg, 30 km
Saturday, February 27, Tjejvasan, start Oxberg, 30 km
Sunday, February 28, Öppet Spår Sunday, start Sälen, 90 km
Sunday, February 28, Vasaloppet Pro Race 30, start Oxberg, 30 km
Sunday, February 28, Ungdomsvasan, start Eldris, 9 km, start Hökberg, 19 km
Monday, March 1, Öppet Spår Monday 90, freestyle, start Sälen, 90 km
Monday, March 1, Öppet Spår Monday 45, freestyle, start Oxberg, 45 km
Monday, March 1, Öppet Spår Monday 30, freestyle, start Oxberg, 30 km
Tuesday, March 2, Vasaloppet 45, start Oxberg, 45 km
Friday, March 5, Stafettvasan, ski relay, five sections, start Sälen, 90 km
Friday, March 5, Nattvasan 30, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Oxberg, 30 km
Friday, March 5, Nattvasan 45, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Oxberg, 45 km
Friday, March 5, Nattvasan 90, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Sälen, 90 km
Saturday, March 6, Vasaloppet 10, freestyle, start Eldris, 9 km
Sunday, March 7, The 103rd Vasaloppet, start Sälen, 90 km

Vasaloppstrippeln – ski, bike and run, all in one year
Vasaloppstrippeln is a challenge where you complete three races – skiing, cycling and running – during one and the same calendar year. Choose between 30, 45 or 90 kilometres.

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For more information
Camilla Sandy Swarén. Press Manager Vasaloppet
+46 (0)70-384 95 00
camilla.sandy@vasaloppet.se

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