Knowing he's always wanted to visit Sweden but unsure exactly why, Simon Richardson samples the country's gravel roads
I knew it was a place I'd always wanted to visit when do you ever hear anything bad about Sweden? - but it would turn out knowing the lyrics of half a dozen ABBA songs, occasionally shopping in Ikea, and being able to name a few of Sweden's major cities and sports-people meant I didn't know much at all. Why had I always wanted to visit? I didn't even know that.
Even if the country was as good as I'd imagined, I was about to explore it on two wheels, and let's be honest, when was the last time you met someone who'd gone to Sweden with their bike? Let alone their gravel bike. Despite the country's reputation, my expectations of its cycling were low, so low that when the invite from Visit Sweden arrived, I almost sent a polite "thanks but no thanks" reply. "Come and ride in Sweden's Dalsland region," it read. "Never heard of it!" I thought.
But my desire to visit Sweden meant the opportunity was too good to pass up, even if this was the umpteenth different region in Europe claiming to be the next gravel destination. So it was that in early June I found myself riding along endless, rolling gravel roads through luscious green forests, past crystal clear lakes, and eating a meal in a campsite that would put a double Michelin star chef to shame. The list of things I loved about Sweden was about to become more tangible and much longer.
Gloriously green
Esta historia es de la edición October 17, 2024 de Cycling Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición October 17, 2024 de Cycling Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain