Get ready for MTBO SM 2026

🇸🇪 This article is also available in Swedish 🇸🇪

The Swedish MTBO Championships 2026 in Uppsala will feature a unique weekend concept. On Saturday, competitors will tackle two MTBO races on the same day, followed by a demanding long distance race on Sunday.

A dual-race Saturday concept like this is quite uncommon in Sweden for MTBO events. Having seen this format work successfully in countries such as Portugal and Spain, the concept is now being introduced in Uppsala, with the hope that all participants will enjoy the experience.

The organisers are currently fine-tuning the time schedule for Saturday so that everyone will enjoy a great experience in the forest, with ample time to rest between races, celebrate at the prize giving, and enjoy dinner in the evening. Balancing every detail is challenging, but the organisers have established an excellent setup for the weekend.

Saturday Schedule & Venues

Morning: Middle Distance

Saturday begins with the Middle Distance from the OK Linné clubhouse. It will be a fast-paced race with an extremely dense track and path network, offering great riding and intensive navigation.

Afternoon: Sprint Distance (approx. 15:30)

After lunch, at approximately 15:30, the Sprint race gets underway. The organisers are very grateful to Akademiska Hus and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) for providing access to their grounds for the event.

It will be an exciting sprint race winding through the university campus, an environment that is almost like a botanical garden, parkland, and a hint of forest. An area of this character is unprecedented for MTBO in Sweden, making it fascinating to see how riders tackle the navigational challenges.

Important Rules for Championship Classes at the Sprint (H21, D21, H17-20, D17-20)

To ensure an exciting and fair competition, a specific voluntary quarantine / arrival rule applies exclusively to the Sprint race: participants in the SM classes (H21, D21, H17-20, D17-20) are not permitted to visit the arena at Syltahallen or its parking area prior to their start.

Instead, riders must travel directly to the start from outside without passing through the competition area. Please refer to the Model Event map for directions, permitted routes, and the designated warm-up area. Riders should arrive at the start in good time for their assigned start time. After finishing, participants are free to stay at the arena.

Tip: Leave your car at the OK Linné clubhouse and cycle to the sprint start, or send your luggage to the arena with a companion.

Model Event & Training Map

A dedicated Model Event and training map with controls placed in the terrain will be available for all participants. Controls will be set out on Thursday and will remain in the forest throughout the weekend (being collected the following week). This enables training on Friday (or even Thursday).

In addition to the training area itself, the map includes an overview showing recommended cycling routes between the OK Linné clubhouse and Arena Syltahallen. The overview clearly highlights competition boundaries as well as permitted and prohibited areas.

Printed maps will be available for participants to collect at the OK Linné clubhouse. Please send an email to the organisers to arrange collection otherwise.

Sunday: Long Distance

The Long Distance on Sunday will be a demanding race. Winning times in many classes may be slightly longer than usual, but the courses offer true long distance character — an endurance race with challenging navigational sections.

International Elite Field & Early Start Times

In addition, several strong elite riders from abroad are joining the event to fine-tune their form ahead of the World Championships in Mora ( WMTBOC 2026 ), which take place just over a week later. Entrants include riders from the Czech Republic, Portugal, and France.

To ensure a smooth race for all competitors, the organisers have scheduled the elite riders to start first:

• Swedish Championship classes (H21, D21, H17-20, D17-20) will start during the first hour of each race.

This allows the elite field to complete their courses without encountering dense traffic from other categories, enhancing safety and fairness for everyone.

Youth Swedish Championships (USM)

The weekend also features the Youth Swedish Championships (USM), showcasing the future stars of Swedish MTBO. The organisers are keen to provide the youth competitors with all the attention and recognition they deserve throughout the event.

USM should be just as prestigious and popular for young riders as the athletics or foot orienteering USM is for runners, with the ambition that in a few years it will be the highlight event every young rider aims for.

Prize Giving, Dinner & Meals

Saturday: Prize Giving & Dinner

Prize giving for both Saturday races (Middle Distance and Sprint) will take place at the sprint arena. There are two competitions in one: participants representing a Swedish club and residing in Sweden compete for Swedish Championship titles and medals. All other competitors are warmly welcome to participate and compete for points in the Swedish Cup as well as race prizes.

• Saturday Dinner: On Saturday evening following the races, the restaurant at the arena will be open for dinner. This is not a formal banquet, but a relaxed meal for everyone. Please make sure to pre-book your dinner via Eventor (or send an email if you encounter any issues).

Sunday: Overall Swedish Cup Winners

On Sunday, the overall winners of the Swedish Cup 2026 will be crowned (based on the top 4 results out of 5 races in the series).

Meals During the Weekend

• Soup Lunch (Saturday & Sunday): Soup lunch will be available at the arena on both Saturday and Sunday. Soup lunches must be pre-ordered via Eventor so that the catering team can prepare the correct quantities.

More about SM 2026