This Saturday marks this year’s edition of the Vätternrundan, one of the four races in the legendary Swedish endurance challenge known as En Svensk Klassiker – A Swedish Classic. Former cross-country skier Oscar Claesson is aiming to challenge Ski Classics Director Oskar Svärd’s record time in this demanding series.

En Svensk Klassiker (A Swedish Classic) is a prestigious Swedish endurance award earned by completing four of the country’s toughest endurance events within a 12-month period:

• Vasaloppet – a 90km cross-country ski race
• Vätternrundan – a 315km road cycling race around Lake Vättern
• Vansbrosimningen – a 3km open water swim
• Lidingöloppet – a 30km running race

Oscar Claesson attended ski high school in Gnosjö and has recently been successful in competitive running, with strong performances in several international events. Now, however, he’s setting his sights on breaking the record time in En Svensk Klassiker, set in 2014 by Ski Classics’ new director, Oskar Svärd.

Claesson placed 6th in Lidingöloppet and followed that with a 106th place finish at Vasaloppet. After those results, the idea of going for the overall record time in the classic series began to take shape.

“It was after the Vasaloppet that I started calculating and thought there might be a chance. The conditions at Vasaloppet were good,” he told Langd.se.

Also see: Oskar Svärd is the new director of Ski Classics

Cycling is the deciding factor

Now only Vätternrundan and Vansbrosimningen remain. Vätternrundan—the cycling leg—is scheduled for this Saturday. Claesson will ride with Team Mustasch, a charity team supporting prostate cancer research, and is aiming for a finish time of around 7 hours and 30 minutes.

“Cycling will be crucial. It’s very fast, demanding, and you’re out there for a long time. So, you don’t really know how the body will react. I rode the Halvvättern last weekend, and 150km felt good,” he said.

Vätternrundan is the world’s largest recreational bike race, covering 315 kilometers around Sweden’s second-largest lake, Lake Vättern. It’s known for both its scenic route and physical demands, testing even seasoned athletes.

Team Mustasch is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and using the event to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research.

“That makes it feel even more meaningful, because then it’s for another cause. Even if I don’t manage it, it can still contribute a bit to the research.”

It’s worth noting that the cycling course has changed since Oskar Svärd set his record.

“One should consider that the time Oskar Svärd set was on the old cycling course. The new course is a bit longer, but I’m not sure by how much—there are different opinions on that.”

Knows the time needed if everything goes to plan

Oskar Svärd’s record for completing all four events in En Svensk Klassiker stands at 13 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds. So far, Oscar Claesson has completed 5 hours, 34 minutes, and 5 seconds.

If everything goes according to plan in Vätternrundan, only Vansbrosimningen will remain.

Vansbrosimningen is a 3-kilometer open water swim held in the rivers Vanån and Västerdalälven, with typically chilly water temperatures adding to the challenge.

And Claesson knows exactly what time he needs in that final event to beat the record.

“About 50 minutes,” he says in conclusion.

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