---
title: "Training Cycling in Valdres — climbs, intervals and peak fitness"
metaTitle: "Training Cycling Valdres — climbs"
description: "Valdres as a training destination: the best climbs, tempo sessions and interval stretches for cyclists who want to get stronger."
type: guide
category: ruter
tags: [trening, stigninger, intervaller, landevei, krevende, valdres, strava]
date: "2026-03-12"
relatedRoutes: [valdresflya, the-challenge, jotunheimen-dagstur, olsjobakkadn, beitostolen-slettefjell-vaset]
relatedPlaces: [beitostolen, fagernes, vaset, jotunheimen-kanten]
---

# Training Cycling in Valdres — climbs, intervals and peak fitness

Valdres is not just for gravel tourists and family holidays. The region has some of Norway's most demanding climbs, long tempo efforts without traffic lights, and altitude training up to 1389 m above sea level. If you train with a purpose — whether that's Birken, a race, or your own personal development — Valdres is a hidden training laboratory.

<AnswerBox question="Is Valdres good for training cycling?" answer="Valdres has several of Norway's toughest climbs (Valdresflya 1389 m, Bitihorn 1607 m), long tempo stretches with minimal traffic, and the opportunity for altitude training. 23 demanding routes from 15 to 120 km. Basing yourself at Beitostølen (936 m) or Fagernes (365 m) gives very different training profiles." />

---

## Why Valdres for training

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  { label: "Demanding routes", value: "23 routes", sub: "From 15 to 120 km" },
  { label: "Highest point", value: "1389 m", sub: "Valdresflya — accessible by bike" },
  { label: "Traffic", value: "Minimal", sub: "Quiet mountain roads throughout the season" },
  { label: "Season", value: "June–Sept", sub: "Mountain roads snow-free from mid-June" },
  { label: "Base altitude", value: "365–936 m", sub: "Fagernes (valley) or Beitostølen (mountain)" },
  { label: "Climb length", value: "2–22 km", sub: "Short intervals to long sustained efforts" }
]} columns={3} />

Most people think Mallorca or the Alps for a training camp. But Valdres has something they don't: empty roads. In June and July you can head out on a 4-hour ride over Valdresflya without seeing more than a handful of cars. Combined with altitude training from 900 m upward and climbs that test everything you have, this is real training value.

---

## Top 5 climbs in Valdres

### 1. Valdresflya — Norway's most accessible 1000-metre climb

[Valdresflya](/ruter/valdresflya) is the big one. From Beitostølen (936 m) to the top (1389 m) you climb 450 metres of elevation on a steady gradient. From the Fagernes side it is even more brutal: 1020 metres of elevation over 22 km. The road is Rv51, a national scenic route, with good tarmac and spectacular views over Jotunheimen.

**Training value:** Long, steady climb perfect for threshold tempo. Average gradient 4.5% from the east — never steep enough to stop you, but never gentle enough to rest.

### 2. Olsjøbakken — Fagernes' famous wall

[Olsjøbakkadn](/ruter/olsjobakkadn) is short and savage. 520 metres of elevation over 15 km with sections up to 10–12%. Starts right from Fagernes town centre and climbs up to Olsjøen. Perfect for repeated intervals — you are back in the centre within 45 minutes.

**Training value:** VO2max intervals. Steep sections push you above threshold. Descent back down as recovery (5–7 min). Repeat 3–4 times.

### 3. Bitihorn — MTB climb to 1607 m

[Bitihorn MTB](/ruter/bitihorn-mtb) is 28 km with 890 metres of elevation on gravel and trail. Norway's highest mountain bike summit you can reach without carrying your bike. Technically demanding final kilometre.

**Training value:** Strength and technique combined. Low cadence, high force on the gravel. Crushing for the legs — one ascent is enough for a training day.

### 4. The Challenge — 90 km, 2000 m elevation

[The Challenge](/ruter/the-challenge) is Beitostølen's hardest loop. 90 km on tarmac with 2000 metres of elevation over Valdresflya and back via Panoramavegen. This is a full-day effort that tests everything: endurance, climbing ability and mental strength.

**Training value:** Long ride with big elevation. Perfect for Birken preparation or race build-up. Pack food — it is 4–6 hours depending on fitness.

### 5. Beitostølen–Slettefjellet–Vaset — 70 km gravel test

[This route](/ruter/beitostolen-slettefjell-vaset) combines 1200 metres of elevation with changing surfaces. Gravel, mountain farm tracks and some tarmac sections across Stølsvidda. Demanding navigation and technical passages.

**Training value:** Well-rounded training ride. Strength, endurance and bike handling in a single session.

---

## Training sessions — concrete plans

### Threshold day (3–4 hours)

Fagernes → Valdresflya (east side). Ride at steady pace 20–30 beats below max heart rate throughout the climb. Turn at the top and ride back. Total: approx. 44 km, 1020 m elevation. Holding consistent watts on the way up is gold for FTP development.

### Interval day (2 hours)

Olsjøbakken from Fagernes. Warm up 15 min on the flat. Climb at 85–90% of max for 8–12 minutes. Descent back down as recovery (5–7 min). Repeat 3–4 times. Cool down with 15 min easy riding back.

### Long ride (5–6 hours)

The Challenge route from Beitostølen. Steady aerobic pace all day. Eat and drink to plan — there is a long way between food options. Bring 3 water bottles and energy bars.

### Tempo session (1.5 hours)

Flat stretch along Slidrefjorden or [Begna river road](/ruter/begna-elveveien). 2×20 min at threshold pace with 5 min recovery. Little traffic, smooth road — perfect for tempo work.

---

## Two bases — two training profiles

### Beitostølen (936 m) — Altitude base

You start already at 936 m. Everything you do is altitude training. The body adapts: more red blood cells, better oxygen uptake over time. Minimum 5–7 nights for a measurable effect.

From Beitostølen you have direct access to Valdresflya, Stølsvidda, Bitihorn and Trail Arena. You ride out the door and you are in the mountains.

**Accommodation:** [Radisson Blu Resort Beitostølen](/guider/beitostolen-sykkelguide) or cabin/camping. Tourists arrive in July — book early.

### Fagernes (365 m) — Valley base with climb access

From Fagernes you have longer and steeper climbs up to altitude. Olsjøbakken starts from the town centre. Valdresflya east side is 22 km of continuous climbing. Slidrefjorden offers flat tempo training.

**Accommodation:** Scandic Valdres or [camping along Strandefjorden](/guider/fagernes-sykkelguide).

---

## Season and weather

The training season in Valdres runs **June to September**. Valdresflya (Rv51) normally opens in late May or early June — check Statens vegvesen for the date. In June the days are longest (up to 20 hours of light) and temperatures are comfortable: 12–18°C in the valley, 5–10°C on the mountain.

**Tip:** Morning sessions are best in July and August — quiet traffic and cool temperatures for hard efforts. Bring a windproof jacket for descents from the mountain — the temperature drop is noticeable.

---

## Equipment and preparation

- **Bike:** Road bike for tarmac climbs, gravel bike for Stølsvidda and mountain farm tracks. Two bikes gives the most variety.
- **Tyres:** 28–32 mm for road riding in Valdres — the roads are good but not pristine. 40–45 mm for gravel.
- **Clothing:** Layer up. A June morning can start at 8°C and end at 22°C.
- **Nutrition:** Limited cafes and shops along the training routes. Pack enough food and drink for the entire session. Fagernes and Beitostølen have grocery stores.
- **Heart rate monitor/power meter:** The climbs in Valdres are long enough to produce meaningful training data. Log your sessions — you will see progression over a week.

---

## Recovery — what do you do between sessions?

Training without recovery is just wear and tear. Valdres has surprisingly good options for active rest between hard sessions:

**Active recovery by bike:**
Roll an easy [family route along Begna](/guider/sykkel-langs-begna-elvedalsruter-valdres) or the [Valdresbanen cycle path](/guider/valdresbaen-sykkelvei-guide) for 45–60 minutes. Flat, car-free, low heart rate. Blood flow without load.

**Mountain hiking:**
Use a rest day on your feet without cycling load. [Bitihorn on foot](/guider/sykkel-og-fjelltur-valdres) from Beitostølen (3–4 hours return) gives active recovery for the cycling legs while training walking muscles. [Knutshøe from Gjendesheim](/guider/gjendesheim-besseggen-sykkel-valdres) is an easier alternative with fantastic views.

**Mountain farm visits and food:**
Ride easy to an [active støl on Stølsvidda](/guider/seterveier-stolsopplevelser-sykkel-valdres). Sour cream, flatbread and brown cheese — real recovery food with short transport distances. Slow riding, good food, back to base without having stressed the body.

<StatGrid stats={[
  { label: "Day 1", value: "Hard climbing day", sub: "Valdresflya threshold or intervals" },
  { label: "Day 2", value: "Easy recovery", sub: "Valdresbanen 45 min flat + stretching" },
  { label: "Day 3", value: "Moderate long ride", sub: "The Challenge or Panoramavegen" },
  { label: "Day 4", value: "Rest day", sub: "Mountain hike or støl visit" },
  { label: "Day 5", value: "Intervals", sub: "Olsjøbakken 3–4 repeats" },
  { label: "Day 6", value: "Medium gravel", sub: "Stølsvidda or Golsfjellet" },
  { label: "Day 7", value: "Departure / easy", sub: "Short ride, pack up, head home" }
]} columns={4} />

---

## Strava and local segments

Valdres has a growing collection of Strava segments that let you measure progress and compare with others. The most important:

**Climbing segments:**
- **Valdresflya east side** — from Beitostølen to the top. KOM is around 45 minutes for the fastest riders. Perfect for testing FTP in the field.
- **Olsjøbakken** — short and brutal. Under 30 minutes is strong. The best squeeze down towards 20.
- **Beitostølen–Slettefjellet** — mixed surface, 520 m elevation. Gravel KOM.

**Tempo segments:**
- **Slidrefjorden along Rv51** — flat stretch between Fagernes and Lomen. 15–20 km of smooth road. Perfect for an outdoor FTP test.
- **Begna river road** — 48 km tarmac with minimal elevation. Long-distance tempo.

**Tip:** Download the Strava routes to your GPS in advance. Mobile coverage is variable in the mountains — offline maps are essential. Use [Norgeskart from Kartverket](https://norgeskart.no) as a backup for navigation.

Search the segments on Strava and filter by «Valdres» or «Beitostølen» to find local challenges. Many segments have surprisingly few attempts — KOM hunting in Valdres is more realistic than in the Ringerike region or Sørlandet's popular climbs.

---

## Watts and heart rate at altitude — understanding training data above 900 m

If you train with a power meter or heart rate monitor in Valdres, you will find that the numbers look different from home. That is not because you are in worse shape — it is physics.

**Watts at altitude:**
Beitostølen sits at 936 m. Air pressure is approximately 5–6% lower than at sea level. This directly affects your FTP — expect to produce 3–5% lower watts at threshold intensity during the first 3–4 days. After a week of acclimatisation you recover most of it. Adjust your training zones accordingly.

**Heart rate at altitude:**
Resting heart rate typically rises 5–10 beats during the first days above 900 m. Max heart rate may drop 2–5 beats. The result: your heart rate zones from home no longer quite apply. Solution — ride by perceived exertion or watts for the first few days, not heart rate.

<StatGrid stats={[
  { label: "Air pressure 0 m", value: "1013 hPa", sub: "Reference value" },
  { label: "Air pressure 936 m", value: "~910 hPa", sub: "Approx. 10% lower air resistance" },
  { label: "FTP loss day 1–3", value: "3–5%", sub: "Normal, recovered after 5–7 days" },
  { label: "Resting HR increase", value: "+5–10 beats", sub: "Normalises within 4–5 days" },
  { label: "Acclimatisation time", value: "5–7 days", sub: "For full adaptation above 900 m" },
  { label: "Bonus at home", value: "2–4%", sub: "Improved oxygen uptake 1–3 weeks after" }
]} columns={3} />

**Practical tip:** The lower air resistance above 900 m actually gives slightly higher speed per watt on flat stretches. You roll easier. But on climbs — where gravity dominates — you notice nothing. Net effect: climbing feels harder, tempo feels easier.

**After returning home:** 1–3 weeks after a training camp above 900 m, the body still has increased haemoglobin and better oxygen uptake. Plan important races or tests within this window for the best results.

---

## Season planning — when does a Valdres camp give the most benefit

Not all months are equally good for a training camp in Valdres. Here is what each period offers:

<StatGrid stats={[
  { label: "June", value: "Base building", sub: "Long days, 18°C, empty roads. Some mountain roads open late." },
  { label: "July", value: "Peak fitness block", sub: "All roads open, warmest, longest days. More tourists after 10 July." },
  { label: "August", value: "Race prep", sub: "Stable conditions, perfect 4–6 weeks before autumn races. Shorter evenings." },
  { label: "September", value: "Season close", sub: "Cool, colourful, quiet. Mountain roads may close late in the month." }
]} columns={4} />

**Birken preparation (August):**
Birkebeinerrittet takes place in June. Plan a training camp in Valdres at the end of April or May? No — the mountain roads are closed. Solution: use Fagernes as a valley base in May with Olsjøbakken and Slidrefjorden tempo. Valdresflya and the high mountains open in time for a final camp at the start of June — a perfect last block 2–3 weeks before the race.

**General fitness building:**
July is the golden month. All roads are open, the days are longest, and you can put in 20+ hours a week without any time pressure. Book 7–10 nights and plan 2 rest days. The body handles more volume in Valdres conditions than at home — but remember that altitude makes recovery slightly slower.

**Autumn race preparation (September–October):**
A week in Valdres in mid-August gives perfect timing for races in September. A 4–6 week gap lets the body absorb the training load and supercompensate. Focus on specific climbing intervals that match the race profile.

---

## Who is this for?

This guide is for you if you take cycling seriously. You have a training plan, perhaps a coach, and you are looking for a place to hold a training camp or put in a week of quality sessions. Valdres gives you:

- Climbs you will not find south of Dovre without travelling to western Norway
- Roads without traffic — no braking, no stress
- Altitude training from day one
- Enough variety for a full week without riding the same route twice

23 demanding routes are waiting. [See all routes sorted by difficulty](/ruter).

<SeAlso items={[
  { href: "/guider/hardeste-sykkelutfordringer-valdres", label: "The hardest cycling challenges in Valdres" },
  { href: "/guider/trening-forberedelse-sykkeltur-valdres", label: "Training and preparation for a cycling trip in Valdres" },
  { href: "/guider/valdresflya-sykkelguide", label: "Valdresflya — Norway's highest tourist road (1389 m)" },
  { href: "/ruter/valdresflya", label: "Valdresflya cycling route — 72 km, 1250 m elevation" },
  { href: "/ruter/the-challenge", label: "The Challenge — Valdres' hardest route" },
  { href: "/ruter/bitihorn-mtb", label: "Bitihorn MTB — demanding mountain climb" },
  { href: "/guider/beitostolen-sykkelguide", label: "Beitostølen — starting point for the toughest climbs" },
  { href: "/guider/mjolkevegen-etappeplan", label: "Mjølkevegen stage plan — 250 km in stages" },
  { href: "/guider/sesong-valdres-sykkel", label: "Season in Valdres — the climbs open in June" },
  { href: "/guider/pakkeliste-dagstur-sykkel-valdres", label: "Packing list for a demanding day ride" },
  { href: "/ruter", label: "All cycling routes in Valdres — filter by demanding" }
]} />