GUIDE: The SVT expert before the Gotland Grand National

2021-10-29T09:37:40.738Z

More than 3,000 enduro riders from 15 nations take over Gotland on Friday and Saturday. The classic Gotland Grand National is decided for the 38th year in a row - and SVT broadcasts live. Here is the guide with SVT expert Lars-Göran Ståhl's thoughts on this year's competition.

This is how the competition is run:

Friday:

Youth classes, Lilla GGN, exercise, military and veteran classes.

Saturday:

Exercise classes and the elite class.

Favorites:

- Albin Elowson and Micke Persson are the main favorites.

Elowson has historically always driven well on Gotland and dominated in the long distance cup this year.

Micke Persson is the reigning GGN champion, and came third individually in Six Days.

He's really in shock.

The main challenge is Filip Bengtsson, who won in 2019, but has had injury problems since then.

On the women's side, I think it will be a fight between Sandra Karlsson and Hanna Berzelius (champion 2019), but even here it will be rock hard, says Lars-Göran Ståhl to SVT Sport.

There it can be decided:

- A big decision is still the start.

If you get off well, you have clean glasses, avoid stone chips and hectic overtaking.

It is important to be good on the first lap if you want to win.

It is difficult to catch up if you fall behind in the beginning.

Biggest challenge:

- The bracket.

It is varied around the entire course.

The white limestone mountain is very slippery.

You have to be soft in your movements on the bike and choose good tires.

It is important to look up to keep track of all tracks and riding lines.

But also be vigilant on rocks that may roll out into the path.

Some are as big as handballs, and if you dot them, it can be run.

Weather:

According to SMHI's forecast, there will be a break on Gotland throughout the weekend.

- Has a great impact on the entire competition.

It will be a more fun race to comment and to watch from the side with drier drivers instead of a clay man or clay girl.

Audience return:

- The audience is back after last year's corona-secured competition without an audience, and is a big boost for the competition's framing.

Just such a thing as SVT's reporter Maria Wallberg standing in the horseshoe again and interviewing riders and the audience means a lot.

GGN's most classic test:

Horseshoe:

Considered the most spectacular part of the competition.

By tradition enormously wet and muddy.

The section is shaped like a horseshoe, hence the name.

For many drivers, GGN ends up in the horseshoe, when they get stuck in the water and mud.

In dry editions of the competition, tankers have been driven to the site to refill with water.

Allhage bog:

A tricky passage shortly before the finish line.

The bog can become very muddy and offer its surprises.

In 1987, the 80's Swedish enduro star Sven-Erik "Jösse" Jönsson lost the victory just 200 meters before the finish line, on Allhage bog.

The mountain:

The steep hill ascends the so-called mountain, with its tight left turn.

Here it can be really slippery on the limestone.

Applies not to take the wrong track.

CLIP: The reigning champion uploads on Gotland (October 27)

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