Vätternrundan is one of the biggest cycling events in the world, in terms of both distance and popularity. Every year in June, more than 20,000 people come together in the south of Sweden to ride the challenging 300-kilometre circuit around the beautiful Lake Vättern. Vätternrundan starts and finishes in Motala, whose population swells to three times its size during the event. The cyclists, their friends and relatives and the thousands of bicycles create a festival atmosphere for the ride.

Organisers take advantage of the long summer days, sending off the first riders at 7.30pm on the Friday evening with the last and fasted wave departing at 9am on the Saturday morning. The cut-off time for all competitors is midnight on Saturday. Although the ride is a non-competitive event, many riders still take it seriously with individual times available at the end of the race. Vätternrundan has a reputation for being extremely well organized, with 9 refreshment and first aid stops along the course. Finishers of the epic event are presented with a medal, certificate of achievement and a meal at the finish line.