- FNLD GRVL returns for its second year to bring the international community of gravel cycling to Finland for a festival of cycling with a multitude of group rides and a full slate of events taking place
- The event comprises 3 distances: the 42km Forest Route, 113km Lake Route or the gruelling 177km Midnight Sun route
- Top International professional road and gravel cyclists taking part including 2016 Olympic Champion Greg van Avermaet (BEL), famed WorldTour sprinter Andre Greipel (GER) Tobias Kongstad (DEN) and Matt Holmes (UK)
- Tiffany Cromwell is set to defend her title against a strong turnout dominated by Scandinavian riders such as Hanna Johanssen (SWE) reigning Swedish national gravel champion, Mie Nordlund Pedersen (DEN) and Klara Sofie Skovgård Hansen (DEN)
Embargo in effect: Tuesday 0900 CEST
Lahti 11th June 2024 - GRVL Events, the organizers of SBT GRVL, RADL GRVL and FNLD GRVL are ready to welcome international gravel cyclists and the Finnish cycling community to Lahti this week for the second edition of FNLD GRVL. The event is the brainchild of F1 driver and Lahti local Valtteri Bottas, his Australian pro rider partner Tiffany Cromwell, and SBT GRVL co-founder and owner Amy Charity. All eyes are on FNLD GRVL after an eventful Unbound race at Emporia USA where riders were challenged with highly technical off-road conditions. In contrast, Lahti's pristine gravel roads encourage thrilling, fast-paced racing, which will suit the line-up of ex-professional road cyclists such as Greg Van Avermaet and Andre Greipel while offering redemption to riders who underperformed at Unbound.
Lahti Welcomes Olympic Champion Greg Van Avermaet and WorldTour sprint specialist Andre Greipel
This year Lahti and the FNLD GRVL course will have cycling royalty rolling upon it as it welcomes the 2016 Olympic Champion Greg van Avermaet and 12-time Tour de France stage winner and sprint specialist Andre Greipel. Both riders having now left the UCI WorldTour, are enjoying the gravel scene. They will be looking to be at the pointy end of the race with Andre Griepel surely looking for his first big win at an international gravel event, and Greg van Avermaet looking to better his disappointing 7th-place finish at Unbound. Hot contenders for the overall win are a star-studded list of international gravel specialists: TRAKA 2024 winner Petr Vakoč (CZ), Gralloch UK winner Matt Homes (GBR), Tobias Kongstad (DEN) 2nd place at Unbound.
In the women’s PRO category FNLD GRVL 2023 champion, Tiffany Cromwell will be defending her title against a talented field including Hanna Johanssen (SWE) reigning Swedish national gravel champion, Mie Nordlund Pedersen (DEN), Klara Sofie Skovgård Hansen (DEN), and a pro field filled with strong Scandinavian riders hungry for a slice of the generous prize purse of 10,000 Euros.
WorldTour Legends and top Gravel Talent contend for Generous Prize Purse
- Ex-WorldTour professional and Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet is looking to better his 7th place at Unbound
- 12-time Tour De France stage winner and cycling superstar Andre Greipel hopes to make his mark on the gravel scene in Finland. Will it come down to a sprint?
- 2024 Traka 200 Men’s Pro Champion Petr Vakoč looking to climb back onto the top step after coming 1st at The Trakka and 3rd at The Gralloch
- F1 driver Valtteri Bottas is proud to be bringing FNLD GRVL to his hometown for the second year in a row
- Olympian Tiffany Cromwell returning to defend her Women’s Pro title
- Matt Holmes looking to continue his winning streak after winning every race he’s entered this year
A cycling festival created for lovers of gravel cycling
FNLD GRVL combines fun with fiercely competitive racing on pristine Finnish gravel. There is something for everyone at this celebration of gravel cycling. Participants can choose from the 42km Forest Route, the 113km Lake Route or the challenging 177km Midnight Sun route.
The event comprises 4 days packed with fun group rides and entertainment that kicks off with the Pas Normal Studios Midnight Ride on Wednesday 12.06 from Lahti Harbour at 21:00. Thursday and Friday are jam-packed with free rides hosted by international cycling brands such as Zipp, SRAM and Canyon and the spectator friendly Fjällräven HLL CLMB on Thursday evening where riders turn up in fancy dress costumes.
All of the race action takes place on Saturday with the Midnight Sun race starting at 9:30 am from the Lahti Harbour area.
View the full schedule here: https://www.fnldgrvl.com/schedule
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MEDIA INFORMATION
Press
International:
Fiola Foley
fiola@4seasoncollective.com
+353 87 411 6099
National:
Kalle Kotiranta
kkotiranta@gmail.com
International:
Fiola Foley
fiola@4seasoncollective.com
+353 87 411 6099
National:
Kalle Kotiranta
kkotiranta@gmail.com
Media Assets
About FNLD GRVL
Founded in 2019 in Steamboat, Colorado SBT GRVL is the premiere gravel event in the USA, attracting 3,000 riders over 4-course distances and 4 days of family-friendly shake-out rides, expos, athlete panel, and festivities in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In 2022 SBT GRVL Owner Amy Charity partnered with F1 driver and gravel cyclist Valtteri Bottas, and Professional Cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, with the mission of bringing a GRVL event to Valtteri’s hometown of Lahti, Finland. In its inaugural year FNLD GRVL drew in over 800 riders from 27 countries with World Tour professionals competing for a 20,000 Euro prize purse, as well as nearly 150 first time gravel racers lining up in downtown Lahti.
GRVL Events have expanded their race repertoire to 3 global events in 2024: RADL GRVL at Santos Tour Down Under (new), FNLD GRVL (2nd year running) and SBT GRVL (4 years running). Each year, GRVL Events events continue to grow globally as cyclists have come to associate GRVL with a premium cycling experience in unique locations with a diverse and communal atmosphere that’s as competitive and challenging as it is enjoyable.
GRVL Events have expanded their race repertoire to 3 global events in 2024: RADL GRVL at Santos Tour Down Under (new), FNLD GRVL (2nd year running) and SBT GRVL (4 years running). Each year, GRVL Events events continue to grow globally as cyclists have come to associate GRVL with a premium cycling experience in unique locations with a diverse and communal atmosphere that’s as competitive and challenging as it is enjoyable.
FNLD GRVL Partners
Canyon, Schwalbe, Zipp, Visit Lahti, Wahoo, Pas Normal Studios, Strava, invisiFRAME, Maurten, Fjallraven, Sram, Giro, Velo & Oath Gin
