Tour of Scandinavia starting in Askim and finishing at Mysen
From Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen via the beautiful west coast of Sweden to Norwegian mountains and flatlands to the destination in Halden.
Almost 1,000 kilometers, 6 stages in 6 days, the entire world elite in place, TV coverage for the whole world and Norwegian professional flags. Tour of Scandinavia (Battle of the North) is this year’s cycling novelty in Scandinavia. The new World Tour race August 9 – 14 replaces the Ladies Tour of Norway.
Finally, it is ready for by far the biggest bike race for women in Scandinavia. The entire world elite has announced its arrival when the riders roll out from the center of Copenhagen on 9 August.
Historic ride with fantastic nature
It is the first ever World Tour race for ladies in Denmark, and there is great interest in the country which has some of the world’s best female cyclists. In addition, the race ties the three countries closer together.
– With this we can show a fantastic nature and many interesting places in all three countries, says race director Roy Moberg, who is one of the brains behind the innovation.
This is a continuation of the Ladies Tour of Norway which has been Norway’s only World Tour race on bicycles in recent years. Now the race is named Tour of Scandinavia.
– I know that we offer a very varied and interesting ride that the riders are very interested in. We have many requests from several countries, and the ride can also be watched on TV all over the world, says Moberg.
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Name change
The intention was to launch the new race under the name Battle of The North, but the name has been temporarily changed to Tour of Scandinavia with the subtitle The battle for the Nordic countries.
The reason for this is the war in Ukraine which has changed the world situation since the planning of this race started.
– We have spent several years building the brand «Battle of The North», and significant resources have been invested in advance of the launch, but we do not want to use a name that can be linked to the war as the world now appears. I respect with everyone who suffers as a result of the terrible war in Ukraine, so far we brand the ride concept as «Tour of Scandinavia» and tone down the use of the name Battle of The North, says Ride Director Roy Moberg.
From Copenhagen to Halden
The race is based on experience and the crews from the Ladies Tour of Norway, but it all starts at Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen where the first stage in its entirety goes to Zealand with goals in Elsinore. The trail crosses back and forth from the capital north to the finish.
Then it will be a longer transport to beautiful Orust north of Gothenburg. The Swedish stage goes north to the border town of Strömstad and partly follows some of Sweden’s inner fillet in the summer: the Bohusläns coast, which is a favorite holiday destination for many, and riders pass several well-known holiday gems.
Gamle Østfold is where the Ladies Tour of Norway in turn started, and where you have your headquarters. That is why most of the Norwegian stages go here.
First from Moss to Sarpsborg via Son, Våler, the coast at Saltnes and Onsøy to the outskirts of Fredrikstad and in to three final rounds and a well-known destination in Sarpsborg.
Friday’s stage is the so-called “Indre Østfold stage”. Just like in last year’s LToN with start in Askim and finish at Mysen. But with another trail you cross back and forth between Askim, Trøgstad, Mysen, Skiptvet and Spydeberg. Here is a final round which is identical to last year.
The “Queen’s Stage” takes place on Saturday 13 August. Start in Vikersund with the ski flying hill in the background. And after a round around Åmot and a new passage in Vikersund, the women cycle via Simostranda and Krøderen to Noresund where the 10 km long climb up to the finish at Norefjell Ski & Spa starts. This year’s race may be decided here.
The end goes from Lillestrøm to Halden. First south from Fetsund along Øyeren on national road 22, then southeast past Hemnes and Ørje before following the beautiful Halden watercourse to the destination town where, as usual, three final rounds are run which often offer great drama and large crowds.
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On TV all over the world
– We are very pleased with the TV coverage we get for the first edition of the Tour of Scandinavia, says press manager Kjell-Erik Kristiansen, who is also the race’s speaker.
– Eurosport and Discovery broadcast on several platforms to almost the whole world. You can watch the race on both linear TV channels and digital platforms. In Norway, TV2 also broadcasts live on its main channel, and we are happy about that. These two channels – Eurosport and TV2 – have just become the cycling channels in Norway, the profiled Olympic and World Cup speaker continues.
In Denmark and Sweden, there are similar programs with 6 Eren Danmark and Kanal 9 in Sweden that broadcast live. It produces hours directly from each stage, and the quality and production is pretty much the same as in previous editions of the Ladies Tour of Norway.
– But we also hope that as many as possible come out along the trails and make a big party of it all now that the countries have reopened, says Roy Moberg.
The world elite is coming
Last year, it was the Olympic pace champion Annemiek van Vleuten from Movistar who won LToN after deciding on Norefjell. Previously, the superstar Marianne Vos, Jumbo-Visma has been the big star on the Norwegian roads.
Well, of course that both Danish, Swedish and Norwegian ladies must also be involved in putting their color on the Tour of Scandinavia.
Denmark has several top riders who are looking forward to the first edition. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, FDJ, Emma Norsgaard, Movistar and the former world champion Amalie Dideriksen are just some of the top names that Denmark can show.
Sweden thanks to an Emilia Fahlin, FDJ back in top form. The former World Cup four-year-old loves cycling at home. Moreover, Sweden has no young, beloved ladies.
Very exciting is also the new Norwegian WorldTour team Uno-X which has riders from all three countries. Together with Team Coop-Hitec Products, they create greater national interest. In addition, there are several Norwegian offers that cycle on foreign top teams.
In addition, work is being done to get the national teams from Denmark and Norway to start.
In total, there will be 21 teams with 6 riders on each team.