With last year’s Vätternrunda under my belt, this year’s approach is all about refining the setup and executing a steadier ride. The goal is simple: finish the 315 kilometers within 13 hours, keep moving, and stay fueled.

The setup hasn’t changed much from 2024—same bike, same kit foundation—but a few key adjustments should make a big difference in comfort and consistency.

The Bike and Tech Setup

• Bike: Trek Émonda ALR5 2028 — Same frame as last year. Light, responsive, and more than capable of getting me through the full loop around Lake Vättern.
• Power Meter: 4iiii Precision — Still just the left-side, but it’s reliable and enough to guide pacing over such a long day.
• Saddle: Selle Italia SLR Boost — One of the better contact points for long rides, though nothing eliminates the discomfort completely.
• Handlebars: 38cm Deda Zero1 — Narrow and predictable. No reason to change what already works.

Shoes and Navigation

• Shoes: Shimano RC702 — No complaints from last year’s ride, so they’re back on duty.
• Glasses: Oakley Sutro Lite — Excellent visibility and eye protection, especially in pacelines.
• Computer: Wahoo Roam — Solid battery life and route tracking. I’ll be relying on it to stick to my pacing plan.

Clothing: Small but Smart Changes

The base kit is largely the same as last year, all from Isadore, but I’ve made two changes based on what I learned:

• New Addition: Signature Rain Gilet — This replaces last year’s lighter wind vest. It’s a bit bulkier but offers better coverage if the weather turns.
• Warmers Plan: Merino Arm Warmers — These will be a game-time decision. If the temperature is above 8°C at the start, I’ll probably leave them behind and count on warming up through steady effort.

Other items staying the same:

• Alternative Bibs
• Sleeveless Merino Baselayer
• Climber’s Jersey Angliru 1.0
• Signature Light Gloves

Nutrition: The Biggest Upgrade

Here’s where I’ve really made changes. Last year, I under-fueled and paid for it in the final stretch. This year I’ve ramped things up significantly with a focus on carbs-per-hour:

Fuel Plan:

• Drink Mix: 10 x 50g PurePower Carbo Race Elektrolyt (~47g carbs)
• Gels: 10 regular + 2 caffeine — rotated regularly throughout the ride
• Energy Snacks: 2 x 33g bars — to give the stomach a break from liquid sugar

The target is about 60–70 grams of carbohydrates per hour, something I’ve practiced more diligently this spring. The hope is to avoid the energy troughs that made last year’s final hours feel much longer than they needed to be.

While I know 13 hours is going to be a grind, I feel more prepared this time—mentally and logistically. I’ll post a follow-up after the ride with some lessons, reflections, and thoughts on how this fits into the bigger picture as I train for 2026’s sub-9 hour goal.