{"id":3420,"date":"2026-06-11T11:32:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T09:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vasaloppet.se\/en\/?post_type=news&p=3420"},"modified":"2026-06-11T11:32:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T09:32:46","slug":"new-sprint-competition-introduced-for-cykelvasan-90-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/vasaloppet.se\/en\/news\/new-sprint-competition-introduced-for-cykelvasan-90-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"New sprint competition introduced for Cykelvasan 90 in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The prize for the first cyclist to reach the highest point of the course will remain but the Hill Prize in Evertsberg and the six individual sprint prizes at the Vasaloppet checkpoints in Cykelvasan 90 will be removed. A new points-based sprint competition will instead be introduced, with points awarded at all seven Vasaloppet checkpoints. The cyclist with the highest total score will win a cash prize and the 2026 Cykelvasan sprint vest.
\u201cTraditionally, cycling stage races often have a points-based sprint competition. It creates a race within the race and incentivizes cyclists to think tactically. It always adds an extra dimension for both the competitors and the TV audience,\u201d says Daniel M\u00e4kinen, Events Director at Vasaloppet. <\/p>\n\n

Since the inaugural Cykelvasan in 2009, the race has featured a Hill Prize for both women and men in Evertsberg, halfway through the course \u2013 just like in the winter Vasaloppet. In the men’s race, the Hill Prize winner has gone on to win Cykelvasan 90 twice out of 16 races; in the women’s race it has happened eight times out of 16. In addition to the Hill Prize, there have been sprint prizes at the six regular Vasaloppet checkpoints and, in recent years, at the top of the first climb.
\u201cWe are keeping the prize at the highest point and transforming the remaining sprint prizes from individual checkpoint winners into an overall podium based on cumulative results from all checkpoints. With this change, we hope to achieve the same effect seen in other cycling races, with more tactical racing and additional excitement,\u201d says Daniel M\u00e4kinen.<\/p>\n\n

Facts\/ Cykelvasan 90 Sprint Competition, 2026: <\/strong>
Instead of crowning a sprint winner at each checkpoint, cyclists will now collect points and an overall sprint results lists will be based on all seven checkpoints. The top five cyclists at each checkpoint will receive 10, 7, 5, 3 and 2 points, respectively. At Evertsberg, double points will be awarded: 20, 14, 10, 6 and 4 points. At the prize ceremony, the top three women and top three men in the sprint competition will receive prize money of 10,000 SEK, 7,000 SEK and 4,000 SEK respectively.<\/p>\n\n

Sprint checkpoints in Cykelvasan 90: <\/strong>
Sm\u00e5gan 11 km
M\u00e5ngsbodarna 26 km
Risberg 36 km
Evertsberg 49 km
Oxberg 64 km
H\u00f6kberg 74 km
Eldris 83 km
Total distance in 2026: 92 km.<\/p>\n\n

Highest point sprint prize
<\/strong>From the start line in Berga by in S\u00e4len, cyclists climb 178 metres over 3 kilometres to reach the highest point of the Vasaloppet course at 528 metres above sea level. The first woman and first man to reach the summit each receive 5,000 SEK.<\/p>\n\n

Cykelvasan 90 winner’s prizes
<\/strong>The winner of Cykelvasan 90 receives a laurel wreath, Vasaloppet’s new victory trophy, a Dala horse, a gold medal and 40,000 SEK. Prize money is awarded to the top ten women and top ten men. The total combined prize sum for 2026, including the new sprint competition, amounts to 288,000 SEK.<\/p>\n\n

Broadcast times Cykelvasan 90
<\/strong>The women’s elite race starts at 08:00 and the men’s elite race at 09:00. Cykelvasan 90 will be broadcast live in Sweden by Sveriges Television (SVT), in Finland by Ilta-Sanomat TV, in Denmark by Sport Live, and in Norway by Warner Bros. Discovery via HBO Max and Rex.

FACTS\/ Evertsberg Hill Prizes
<\/strong>Below are all Hill Prize winners in Cykelvasan 90 history. (The figure in parentheses indicates the cyclist’s final placing at the finish.)

Men
2009 \u2013 Lars Bleckur (SWE) 1.18.27 (14)
2010 \u2013 Magnus Darvell (SWE) 1.17.18 (1)
2011 \u2013 Magnus Darvell (SWE) 1.30.32 (39)
2012 \u2013 Emil Lindgren (SWE) 1.31.24 (3)
2013 \u2013 Calle Friberg (SWE) 1.28.10 (8)
2014 \u2013 Emil Lindgren (SWE) 1.31.28 (4)
2015 \u2013 Ludvig Bengtsson (SWE) 1.31.32 (29)
2016 \u2013 Emil Lindgren (SWE) 1.29.13 (5)
2017 \u2013 Emil Lindgren (SWE) 1.29.12 (3)
2018 \u2013 Emil Lindgren (SWE) 1.30.13 (3)
2019 \u2013 Viktor Junell (SWE) 1.33.25 (21)
2020 \u2013 No elite competition
2021 \u2013 Emil Lindgren (SWE) 1.33.04 (3)
2022 \u2013 Emil Lindgren (SWE) 1.29.23 (1)
2023 \u2013 Richard Lars\u00e9n (SWE) 1.35.34 (67)
2024 \u2013 Emil Hasund Eid (NOR) 1.32.28 (2)
2025 \u2013 Eskil Evensen\u2011Lie (NOR) 1.28.48 (22)

Women
2009 \u2013 Hanna Bergman (SWE) 1.29.42 (1)
2010 \u2013 Alexandra Engen (SWE) 1.23.23 (2)
2011 \u2013 Pia Sundstedt (FIN) 1.33.52 (1)
2012 \u2013 Hanne Tr\u00f6nnes (NOR) 1.37.38 (3)
2013 \u2013 Alexandra Engen (SWE) 1.34.58 (1)
2014 \u2013 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) 1.35.40 (2)
2015 \u2013 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) 1.36.58 (1)
2016 \u2013 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) 1.43.08 (1)
2017 \u2013 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) 1.41.10 (1)
2018 \u2013 Linn Gustafzzon (SWE) 1.41.35 (15)
2019 \u2013 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) 1.44.25 (3)
2020 \u2013 No elite competition
2021 \u2013 Jennie Stenerhag (SWE) 1.45.40 (1)
2022 \u2013 Terese Andersson (SWE) 1.41.09 (4)
2023 \u2013 Amanda Bohlin (SWE) 1.51.56 (1)
2024 \u2013 Lejla Njemcevic (BIH) 1.49.18 (2)
2025 \u2013 Lejla Njemcevic (BIH) 1.45.08 (2)<\/p>\n\n

Upcoming events:<\/strong>
Vasaloppet\u2019s Summer Week 2026\u00a0\u2013 biking and running<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n