Stage 7 : Aurland - Beitostølen

24. July 2009
Distance: 154 (14-148)
Total ascent:

The final stage again sets off with some 27 kilometres of non-timed riding. The surroundings are a bit out of the ordinary though. Air quality and some of the lighting reminds of midnight sun and northern lights way up to the north, but is actually a state of the art tunnel project: Lærdalstunnelen. Leaving early and in a big group from Aurland, extra music, ligthing and plenty of following crew cars should make this a very special experience !

The tunnel is the worlds longest with 24 kilometres and is normally not allowed for cycling. But the sporty attitude of authorities settled it: with such air quality and proper safety measures in place, an early morning exception is in place.

We are working with the authorities to make sure riding is as easy, safe and thrilling as possible to all participants. Every six kms in the well-lit tunnel, there are huge mountain halls with couloured lighting and big side-lanes where cars can park. Here tourists take pictures and stretch their legs in an earth-heated constant 18 Celsius. If needed, we use these halls to let the odd night-travelling tourist pass us safely. Police and possibly road authorities will provide extra safety an add greatly to the Viking Tours informal version of stage racing.

Try picturing it: A lone, lightly nervous tourists fiat just having passed the first lit mountain hall and now dreading the earths inner core. Just as he tries to convince himself he saw corrctly and is still sane, his eyes suddenly tell him there are several hundred road-racing cyclists passing in the opposite lane. And possibly a fiddler, playing Dovregubben at the back of a pick-up..? The Aurland psychiatric ward in might have a busy july.

Feeding station and restart is placed a few kilometres after the tunnel exit. Depending on the speed there are some 30-60 minutes from the tunnel exit to the first small hills. On the way up towards Fillefjell we use the old road instead of wednesdays slightly shorter route.

The old asphalt road squeezes its way between narrowing cliffs and the Lærdal river. It also passes just by the medieval stave church in Borgund. Erected app. 1080 it is considered Norways best kept. Nearby you find a new visitors`centre, displaying the history of Norways stave churches and their importance..

Between Borgund and Fillefjell you find the last few climbs, inviting break aways. Once up on the plain, one should count on working even harder to get away. The downhill is followed by a long flat along lake Vangsmjøsa, so the way up Fillefjell is likely to see some action. If ou are not too high placed in the overall ranking, this might be the place to senak away for a stage victory? Or have you finnaly taken to your senses and prefer good comapany and the sights?

Ascending from Fillefjell is fast but safe. A moderate gradient and open turns gives you the needed overview. Be aware though of a few partially blind andsharper curves in the lower half of the descent. Do not go so fast that you risk crossing the roads center line!
Down by Vangsmjøsa you are back on the eastern side of Narways watershedding mountain ridges, with vegetation to suit. If not for the steep mountains on both sides of the lake, you might think Hamar was just around the corner.

Lakeside, there are no gradients worth mentioning; just easy rolling and the thrill of knowing you are going to make it all the way. At the eastern lakes end a sharp left turn leads onto the bridge, crossing the narrow river relieving Vangsmjøsa of its surplus. For nervous racing classers, it is much too late for any king of relief with the bridge heading right into todays serious climb. With a week of great cycling thrill in your legs and other unmentionable places, the last kilometres up Slettefjell may will be painful for the busy riders.

Slettefjell mean something like "plain"- or "flat mountain," but that would be compared to Trollveggen. The profile does not show that small details, but at app. 800asl a flat of a few hundred meters privodes the final chance to cathc som breath. Aftter this you pass a toll-road sign and start up the final climb. (We take care of the toll-road fees and opening of the boom for you. If of interest, many Norwegian mountain roads have self-service toll systems. This one will actally be the third one you ride during the VT. The fees are used to maintain the road and repair damages from still-tough Norwegian winters. All fees, practicalities and permitions are handled by the VT-staff, so if you prefer to - just race right through.)

From the toll-point and up the surface is gravel - but smooth as our average Norwegian asphalt and no extra challange to a decent tyre. The challenge of concern will probably be the cruel view, overlooking all the last kilometers of straight line uphill. If you are more than 180cms tall and have the body weight to match, you may even see the timing line gate for the next hours. Chances are you also suffer while watching a fierce competitor or hearing a friends laughter way up the hillside. Looking back can help. Actually the later you find yourself in this neverendig hillside straight, the more time you may spend staring other places than blindly ahead: Layers of overlapping valleys, hillsides and mountain lakes seem endless towards the open south side. Sure yu have the time to stop for a quick breather; delaying the summit a little and enjoying that you`re really going to complete the Tour...

The timing line is placed right at the summit with only 200 meters way back to the south side view, but then these may well be just that little extra distance you`re NOT keen on. You`ll know best. Experience has tought us fres VT finishers react in all different king of ways. The summit view towards north is not much worse; the monumental pride of Mt. Bitihorn might be just suited to your own feelings.

Beitostølen obviously is not far away and with mosty downhill ahead, the riding itself might be over before you realize it. Do allow yourself a stop or two on the way down...you`ll do yourself good.

After a shower and a possible quick nap, the prize party will be on for as long as you like. Nordic summer nights do not sleep.