Birkebeinerrittet, live.

Over the mountain from Rena to Lillehammer

Birkebeinerrittet is the mountain bike race that crosses the mountain from Rena to Håkons Hall in Lillehammer, with shorter, longer and gravel versions on the same Saturday.

The 2027 edition is the 33rd, and it runs on Saturday 28 August. The main race starts in the centre of Rena and finishes at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer. Birken, the organiser in Rena, also runs the Birkebeiner ski race and run, and the cycling race is part of the Birkebeiner Triple.

The classic distance is 84 km with roughly 1,200 to 1,300 m of climbing. The route goes via Vivelstadsvea to Åstadalen and climbs to a hike-a-bike section at Djuposet, while a former technical section has been replaced with smooth gravel road. Food stations stand at about 16.8, 26, 44, 54 and 59 km. Every rider carries a backpack of at least 2 kg with a jacket, gloves, a hat, food and basic repair tools.

HalvBirken covers 41 km from Pellestova, 970 m above sea level, down to Håkons Hall at 290 m, on a mix of gravel roads, trails and some asphalt. UltraBirken, held for the 15th time, starts at Pellestova and runs about 101 km with plenty of singletrack over Hitfjell, Reinsfjell and Kriksfjell. GravelBirken, in its 3rd year, starts at the Birkebeineren ski stadium with 110.4 km and 1,729 m of climbing, or 203.6 km with more than 3,000 m, stream crossings and short sections on foot.

The 84 km race is open to riders who turn 17 during 2027, and the cut-offs are Kvarstad by 16:00, Storåsen by 18:00 and the finish by 20:00. Every route ends at Håkons Hall, and on the climb toward Storåsen a 100 m uphill sprint carries its own prize.

On Livebib you can follow a participant who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry. This is not the organiser's timing, and the official results come from Birken.