O-Ringen Magazine, nr 1 - 2022

A rich and
varied nature
reserve
STAGE 1 STAGE 3
STAGE 4
» Program O-RINGEN MTBO
MTBO STAGE 1 – Monday July 25 2022
NÅSTEN Arena PATTONS HAGE
Long distance with technical trails
and urban forest.
MTBO STAGE 2 – Tuesday July 26 2022
VÅRDSÄTRA Arena PATTONS HAGE
Middle distance with technical trails.
MTBO STAGE 3 – Thursday July 28 2022
STADSSKOGEN Arena KÅBOÄNGEN
Late afternoon with try MTBO.
Sprint with a lot of trails.
MTBO STAGE 4 – Friday July 29 2022
LUNSEN Arena FLOTTSUND
Long distance with technical trails
and urban forest.
FIVE STAGES
MTBO STAGE 5 – Saturday July 30 2022
UPPSALAÅSEN Arena FLOTTSUND
Fast middle distance in urban forest
and steep hills.
THREE ARENAS
MTBO
STAGE 2
Map examples for the different stages.
STAGE 5
» Contactless punching SIAC
All MTBO participants at O-Ringen Uppsala will
use the Sportident Air+ system for contactless
punching. Using SIAC brings a whole new
dimension to MTBO and enhances the feeling
of orienteering at full speed even more. Vital
seconds can be earned when controls can be
visited without stopping.
MTBO takes place within
cycling distance of O-Ringen City
The MTBO competitions at O-Ringen Uppsala 2022 will be held in close
proximity to Uppsala and O-Ringen City. All five stages are just a few
kilometers from O-Ringen camping. Also, at four of the five stages the
arena is shared with foot orienteering, which we hope will create a great
atmosphere for competitors in both disciplines. There is therefore an
opportunity to take part in both MTBO and foot O, as well as making it
easier for families who want to participate in both disciplines.
Stage 1
Along Uppsala’s western edge you will find
Hågadalen Nåsten, a rich and varied nature
reserve. Within the nature reserve you’ll find
agricultural landscapes, lush groves, dark forest
areas, bare rocky terrain and swarming bogs.
The reserve has been used by humans for millennia,
so today you can enjoy habitats teaming
with biodiversity, and also discover lots of exciting
ancient remains. O-Ringen MTBO starts
with a long distance race, with both route choice
legs and more intensive orienteering. Technicality
of the trails for riding varies substantially,
from narrow trails on rocky tops, bridges over
bogs, downhill sections, technical MTB trails,
fast paved trails, and forest trails. The finish line
is found at Arena Pattons Hage, the same venue
as for the foot orienteering stage.
PHOTO PETER HOLGERSSON
Stage 2
Vårdsätra forest is a small and beautiful forest
in southern Uppsala. The forest is close
to residential areas and is popular for outdoor
recreation. The nature is rich and varied
with coniferous forest, deciduous forest,
hazel groves and old pastures. Almost all of
our Swedish tree species and several foreign
species grow here. In terms of cycling, it is
mainly fast paved paths, but also forest paths
and MTB tracks as well as asphalt in built
up areas. Stage 2 is a middle distance race
with a lot of route choice within a small and
dense path network. As in stage 1, the finish
is located at Arena Pattons Hage together
with the foot orienteering.
Stage 3
Stadsskogen (”The city forest”) is situated in
central Uppsala, just a kilometer from the
castle. It is actually a park, but due to its size
and character, it bears great resemblance to
a typical Swedish mixed forest. Coniferous
forest dominates, and the area has been a
nature reserve since 2005. Stadsskogen is a
popular outdoor recreation area for Uppsala
residents. Stage 3 will be a sprint distance
event in Stadsskogen's labyrinth of fast hard
trails and narrow forest trails. Plentiful
micro-route choices will ensure that it’s easy
to get lost even though you are almost in the
middle of the city. The finish line is found at
arena Kåboängen, located in the northern
part of Stadsskogen.
Stage 4
Norra Lunsen is a large and high-lying forest
area. On barren rocky terrain, lean and
sinewy pines grow with plenty of wetlands
in between. Deciduous trees are in the clear
minority, with only a few aspen and birch
trees to be found within the mostly coniferous
forest. The fourth stage in Lunsen will
be a long distance race with route choice legs
crossing a variety of different terrain types,
including narrow trails inside Lunsen, dense
path networks close to suburban areas, and
pine forest trails towards Hågaån. The finish
line is located at Arena Flottsund with the
foot orienteering.
Stage 5
Årike Fyris is located along the Fyrisån river
just south of Uppsala city. Along the western
edge of the area are two of Uppsala ridge’s
heights, Ultuna- and Sunnersta ridges. Ancient
waterways run along the ridge and river. The
ancient castle on Sunnersta ridge marks the
important role of the Fyris river. The ridges
also consist of valuable natural environments,
rich in typical dry slope flora and sand-living
insects. During the final stage chasing start,
O-Ringen cyclists will encounter a completely
different type of terrain: ridge terrain with
short steep slopes up to 30-40 meters, as well
as more flat sections and built up areas. A
dense dirt, gravel and sand path network and
route choice legs characterise the final middle
distance race. The finish is the same as for stage
4, located at Arena Flottsund with the main
O-Ringen foot events.
26 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NR 1 • 2022 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NR 1 • 2022 27