Stage 1 : 18. July : Beitostølen - Vågåmo

18. July 2009

Distance: 93 km (2-70 km)

Total ascent:

From Valhalla there are two short kilometres of gentle ascent to the centre of Beitostølen. Just enough to get your shoes clicked in place and realize you are actually nervous. For the competition classes, clocks will be started just after passing the town centre. Our hope is that the following light ascent will see heavier built riders fighting to gain a little lead on the feather-weights. Attacks will have to begin right from the start though - as the terrain after Valdresflyi is perfect for a chase-downs.
The plains are pure mental torture and something our maker must have created with a hangover. Imagine an endless stretch of gently wavy terrain....tilted so that the easiest meter is almost flat... You reach the top 25 times, and realize your doing 18 km/h on a very false flat. Sickening evil. And where a good psyche count more than fewer kilos. Of course, the K.O.M. sprint is placed exactly here.
After a high-speed but safe descent from Valdresflyi, you will be passing one of Norways most famous hikes - Besseggen on you left. Two lakes are situated far below on each side of a narrow mountain edge. Lovely and easily conquered landscape for all on two wheels. The views are post-card material all the way from Beito and well into the upper valley of river Sjoa where you find todays feeding station.
The roadside lake Sjoavatnet will have perfect Viking temperature this time of year. This gives us the chance to introduce a new "Wet Viking Award." The first participant to swim in certain waters every day will be thawed up and honoured at the daily prize ceremonies.
At Randsverk you can stop for ice cream sold by Norways nicest Dane, or race straight ahead for the timing line by lake Lemonsjoøen. The line is place just under a pedestrians bridge offering great overview of the finishing straight. Please remind your company that cars are not allowed to drive behind groups of riders for any length of time - tell them to wait at Valdresflya summit or at this bridge. There are also plenty of place to enjoy a lunch or short walk if they are not that desperate to watch you race past.
A second feeding station is in place just 200 meters around the bend from the timing line. Fill up again and enjoy the lakeside ride and the thrillig downhill towards Ottadalen valley, lake Vågå and todays stage finishing township. For those recovering in time, there are old log houses and the Tours first medieval woden stave church to inspect. We also hope to have sauna access in place. As for the following days, time and place for the easy-going prize and shirt ceremony will be decided later.

Welcome to Vågå!

Live feed from stage 1

19:12:00	Results are ready, and published on the website
16:02:00	Top ten men 1.54.31 Jonathan Pruiess 1.54.54 Joel Håland 1.54.48 Vic van Kerrebroek 1.54.50 Frank Zedler 1.54.51 Olav Tu Husveg 1.54.51 Simon Galle 1.54.51 Gaute Brådli 1.54.51 Jakko Sorvisto 1.54.52 Tommi Virtanen 1.54.53 Joos Francke The first female to finish was Annika Grüber, on the time 1.55.26.
15:29:00	Last years winner, Frank Slevikmoen got hit and busted his rear wheel. Luckily, the person who hit him, had an extra for him, so he was able to continue.
15:05:00	Gaute Bråli won the mountain sprint, followed by Jonathan Pruiess on second and Joel Håland on third.
15:03:00	The winner of the first stage is Jonathan Pruiess in the m 17 class. Second was Joel Håland in the same class, while Vic van Kerrebroek finished third.
14:51:00	A group of 25 riders are 2 km away from the finish line.
14:45:00	The contestants have reached 62km and are now 9 km from the finish line as the first day draws towards the end.
13:23:00	The start went 20 min ago. All is good, no grumpy faces were seen.
13:12:00	Both Frank Slevikmoen from Norefjell Cykleklubb and Annicka Grüber, representing Agapedia Münsterland, have returned to defend their titles as King and Queen of the mountains.
13:02:00	And they are off. The timing will start when the riders pass the centre of Beitostølen, 2 kilometres from where they start.
12:36:00	This year, like last year, is a bike race in contact with nature. The touring class is now slaloming through a herd of cattle next to lake Gjende, after 14 km.
12:25:00	Welcome to the Intersport Viking Tour 2009! The riders are scheduled to set of at 13:00. The sun is visible through a thin veil of clouds. The temperature is aproximately 20 degrees celsius and everything is beautiful.