Gotland Grand National 2025 goes down in history

Gotland Grand National 2025 will be remembered as the year when the mud won. Hundreds of riders got stuck, the race time was shortened, and the requirements for completing the classic were lowered. But out of the chaos came something else – camaraderie, determination, and a rare sense of force majeure in the heart of Gotland’s mud.

Gotland Grand National (GGN) is the world’s largest enduro race. What makes GGN truly unique is its enormous field and the mix of riders – of all ages and experience levels. This year’s edition saw 3,400 riders from 18 nations take to the start line, supported by 700 officials keeping everything running smoothly.

New track – new challenges

After 40 years at Tofta, GGN was held for the second time on its new course in Hejdeby. As with all new venues, it takes time to understand its quirks – and no one could have predicted the scale of the mud chaos that weeks of rain would create.

Last year’s debut brought glorious weather with sunshine, blue skies, and dry conditions. This year, riders, spectators, and organisers alike got quite the opposite – a full-on “Kåsa”-like experience.

We spoke with Angelika Thomsson from Nordic Sport Event on Thursday, ahead of the main races, to hear a bit about the preparations for the competitions.

GGN 300 girls

The GGN 300 Women initiative continues to grow. The aim is to gather 300 female riders on the start line – and more join every year. For many, it’s not just about competing, but about being part of a growing community where experience, encouragement, and courage go hand in hand..

“We didn’t quite reach 300 this year, but every single one of you who took part are true fighters,” says Camilla Blomberg, one of eight ambassadors for the initiative.

“We all travelled over with different expectations and goals,” she continues, “but no one could have foreseen the conditions awaiting us on this new track. Between the mud holes, I personally thought the course was really fun and I’m already looking forward to the future.

*Camilla Blomberg, GGN 300 girls – ambassador*

Despite everything, we fought side by side, cheered each other on, and showed exactly what GGN 300 Women stands for – solidarity and determination.”

Nerves and anticipation on the start line

Standing on the start line at Gotland Grand National is something truly special. It’s a mix of nerves, excitement, and adrenaline. You chat with familiar faces, share a few laughs, and try to steady your nerves. The mood is fairly relaxed – until warm-up begins.

Then everything changes. The noise rises, the air fills with two-stroke smoke and tension. Goggles are adjusted, gloves pulled tight. When the engines fall silent again, the concentration is almost tangible. The only sound is the commentator counting down the minutes to the start.

When the red light turns green, the silence explodes into the roar of hundreds of engines – full throttle, mud flying everywhere, and a spectacular sight for both riders and spectators.

The start is underway for the Motion 40–49 class!

Quick decisions under pressure

Already on Friday it became clear that this year’s race would be unlike any before. The organiser, Nordic Sport & Event, led by CEO Conny Bohlin, had to adapt quickly to the extreme circumstances.

Bohlin explained that safety remained the top priority and that several decisions had to be made on the fly as the track deteriorated. During the race, the organisers decided to shorten the race time and reduce the number of laps required to qualify for the Swedish Enduro Classic – from three laps to one – to give more riders a chance to finish and to ease the strain on the track, riders, and officials.

“We made exactly the right call,” Bohlin told Hela Gotland. “I’ll take the criticism that comes, but we’ll review everything carefully once we’ve had time to catch our breath.”

After Friday’s race, around 200 bikes were still stuck in the mud, and organisers worked through the night to recover them. Three excavators were brought in to improve the track before Saturday’s races.

The worst mud was along the power line section, and organisers are already planning how to prevent similar chaos next year. Discussions are ongoing with landowners, the County Administrative Board, and Region Gotland to improve drainage in the area. The combination of low-lying ground and nearby clear-cut forest has led to water pooling on the track. The goal now is to dig new ditches and clear existing ones to create a more sustainable solution.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done – completely exhausted physically and mentally,” says Teija Einarsson, who made her GGN debut this year. “I’m a bit eager for revenge, but next time I want a drier year. Still, it probably can’t get much tougher than 2025!”

The Red Cross on site

Despite the conditions, there were surprisingly few serious injuries this year. The heavy, muddy surface slowed the pace considerably, which meant far fewer crashes than usual.

Only around ten riders required hospital care, while about 20 Red Cross volunteers from across Sweden handled minor injuries – everything from scrapes to sprains – ensuring help was always close at hand.

The Red Cross fielded around 20 volunteers from across the country over the weekend.

“There’s an incredible amount of water and ruts out there, so this is definitely going to be an exciting race,” says Hanna when we meet her on Thursday before the competition.

The elites fought the mud too

Even the elite classes faced an enormous challenge this year. The mud caused problems for even the most seasoned riders, yet they still displayed remarkable skill.

Max Ahlin and Albin Elowson battled fiercely for victory, with Ahlin ultimately securing his second consecutive win.

In the women’s elite class, Hedvig Malm rode a strong, steady race to claim her first GGN victory, ahead of Mathilda Huss in second and Hanna Berzelius in third.

True enduro spirit

The marshals performed absolute heroics – standing for hours in the mud helping riders free their bikes and keep going. I personally received invaluable help from both marshals and fellow riders after falling and running out of strength to lift my bike.

And I have to admire the brutal honesty of those who responded when I asked how far it was to go, hoping the end was near. The spectators also played their part – cheering, shouting encouragement, and lending a hand wherever they could.

That sense of mutual support along the course may have been the most memorable thing of all. It was a day when everyone looked out for each other.

Gotland Grand National 2025 will undoubtedly go down in history – not for record times or spectacular laps, but for that rare combination of struggle, chaos, and camaraderie when the sport shows its true face.