New stretch for Cykelvasan
Vasaloppet, with Arena Manager Anders "Hobbe" Holmberg at the forefront, is working hard to improve the Cykelvasan track. This summer there will be a big change in the area around Oxberg.
Now the participants, just like in Vasaloppet during the winter, will use the tunnel in Vasslan and follow the winter track via Björnarvet and Lundbäcksbackarna to the checkpoint in Oxberg. ”This means we move the track from asphalt to Vasaloppsspåret between Bolsågen and Vasslan, where we have made it possible to bike a stretch of about two kilometres,” says Holmberg.
”From Vasslan to Oxberg we move from the north side of the Oxberg lake to the south side, thereby running along Vasaloppsspåret all the way to Oxberg where the infamous gravel slope leads up to the checkpoint. This means there will be a little less technical biking but tougher topography and harder work for the heart,” the Arena Manager continues.
Totally traffic free roads 2018
A result of this work is that Cykelvasan 45 on the Friday becomes completely car-free. For Cykelvasan 90 the asphalt section is reduced by about two kilometres. There will therefore be no need for one-way traffic up towards Evertsberg during the Saturday. Of course, the bridge in Oxberg will also no longer be used. ”This is in line with our plan to be completely away from roads with traffic by 2018,” Anders says.
This track work is part of making biking between Sälen and Mora safer and more secure. However, it will be necessary to decrease the speed of cyclists heading into the new underground passage. ”One challenge will be to get the speed down by Vasslan. But I think that if we work actively with flag guards, and maybe add another chicane, it will work out. Using flag guards in strategic locations worked very well last year,” Holmberg points out.
The new track preparation will also be noticeable for runners in Ultravasan and Vasastafetten. ”The difference from last year is that the section Bolsågen–Vasslan now runs on a hard surface. Last year it was so soft that some runners even lost their shoes in the marshy passages. After Vasslan it will, for the runners, be same stretch as last year.”
This text was also published in Vasalöparen’s July issue.
Text and photo: Johan Trygg
