Hello, you beautiful people!

Who to watch?

HAB is old-skool - try chain-and-bike

Filip Eidsheim

Victor Bouscavet

Ole Bjørn Smisethjell

Tomas Fabian

Max Friedel

Georg Walther

Lukasz Klimaszewski

Niklas Tzschöckel

Erno Kainulainen

Kenneth Lømo

Wojciech Nogalski

Samuli Nieminen

Martynas  Šimkus

Niek Schumacher

Stefan Weginger

Justyna Jarczok

Eigil Lyng

Terje Johansen

Sherry Cardona

Rob MacLennan

Anna Carlqvist

Tero Niemelä

Kevin Shaffer

Adrien Thomas

Mathias Väärsi

Ingmar Sluiter

Ernest Pilecki

David May

Pedro Toro

Dieter Champagne

Darío Ayllón

Flynn Lewer

Peter Härlen

Katrien De smet

Peter Ulbricht

Mats Espeland

Simon Matthys

Tommy Catteeuw

Aurimas Mickevicius

Mihkel Noor

Hannah Simon

Stefaan De Croock

Damian Huba

Sami Sauri

Benjamin Kavanagh

Dennis Ulm

Ruben Noorman

Clinton Halsey

Tobias Obermann

Henrik Grytbakk

Tom Moschitz

Andrei Tereskin

Vivian Lindholm

Justus Wiegand

Michael Sherman

Quentin Collin

Miklos Doma

Arnas Bušmanas

Lars Olausson

Jacob Dugdale

Peter Schlick

Jimmy Grade

Tomasz Kościelniak

Hans Ola Jordet

Jordi Merceron

Aurélien Hautbois

Isabelle Scheyltjens

Phillip Kaspersen

Petitjean Xavier

Wytse Hylkema

Eric House

Tino Haller

Alexander Becker

Julien Benoit

Timo McGregor

Laurits Marschall

Aleksander Stavnes

Sara Wulff Mauritzen

Maciej Telszewski

Alari Orav

Jörg Hasenclever

Jeremy Joncheray

Anders Dy Urset

Lukas Pantelejevas

Leonardas Marozas

Colin Timm

Hugo Beckers

Paul Freihoff

Thomas Russer

Sebastian Hiller

Johannes Breitenhuber

Paulius Petrauskas

David Montero

Oliver Richter

Keith Patterson

Justin Kipper

Stephan Klupsch

Andrius Zukas

Joey Belshof

Federico Bellomo

Jens Jacobsen

Jouko Isosomppi

Lars Tefre Baade

Jan Erik Svendsen

Harry Lidgley

Ella Witts

David Kealhofer

Benedikt Kratochwil

Adrian Nieznalski

Hans Rambech

Anja Biemann

Ariane Richter

Kevin Zeuke

Jenny Zeuke

Tobias Hogaard

Pascal Vanhove

Rebecca Groot

Elodie Deprez

Kristin Lome

Borghild Storaas

Tom Bremer

Eva van Klaveren

Jan-Hendrik van Klaveren

Izak Visagie

Viljoen Visagie

Akke van der Meer

Pelle Laken

Henning Hirschfeld

Marcus Franzen

Philipp Wagner

Guido Pompanin

Paolo Pompanin

Saulius Speičys

Loana Speičienė

Jørgen Trollebø

Julian Haupenthal

Manuela Lekowska

Arvid Moen

Nicolaus Lainck

Lars Rambech

Frank Lehouck

Fritjof Aufschläger

Antonio Moen

Cordula Haupenthal

Cidney Clever

Heino Christiansen

Sebastian Sucker

Viktor Johansson

Karl Leikanger

Øyvind Festø

Media 2

Media 1

Media 3

Bright and midnight, two words the participants of the 2025 edition of __Justinas Leveika’s__ home event may not string together until Tuesday. Witnessing the glorious non-setting sun will be on hold until then at least, as the weather gods throw clouds and cool weather into the skies around Tolga for the first two days of the challenge. The sun threatens to peak through on Tuesday, warming up to a ‘balmy’ 20° by Friday. Until then riders face around 15° max and 5°C low. The wind will take the heat out of things stripping around 4°C from advertised temperatures. On the plus side, the UV index is low, around 2 (out of a possible 11) rising to 4 (moderate) by Wednesday. Those with photochromatic sunglasses may be thankful for the small changes the lenses make as the clouds drift past darkening the Bright Midnight. 

![weather BM2025](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2DDy1WDT54sEXatxfDPLTX/579e1776826587d9f14e375266162fd9/IMG_7283.jpg)

Post write-up update:someone brought in the sunny weather, so things are looking better than when I wrote this up - below is the updated forecast. These 2 screen grabs were taken 24 hours appart, showing just how much a forecast can change, we'll keep an eye on this.

![corrected weather](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7iSNagjyrCZwxjH4RRQaoz/36ec28c49b7ff37fb336f9e17eff6b10/IMG_7302.jpg)

Riders often ask me, “should I take my puffa jacket or my rain paints to my challenge” but for Bright Midnight, there will be no doubt about these two items. In case you’re wondering, my answer is always yes to this question. It’s bikepacking and you never know what the weather is going to do, especially in the mountains, even in mid summer.

But fear not, this challenge is guaranteed a sunny welcome and infectious warmth from host Justinas and his passion for the surrounding areas, which get a good going over in the Strava heatmaps. It’s a route where you're guaranteed a thorough recce and check for ‘suitability’ in a challenge. No good challenge excludes a hike-a-bike and Bright Midnight delivers.

![Sunny Justinas](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2lQwjr7qsyvOtgD6eBn26o/3ae8036a5673b9027ac96545b8d5e7c0/IMG_7303.jpg)

If a quick glance down the start list confirms anything, the trail runners are here to give this challenge a go. Did word get out in the ultra-running world about the famous hike-a-bikes or is bikepacking just trending everywhere? A few UTMB runners are lining up and will the on the foot sections give them a jump on the old-skool bikepackers?

# The route
The route starts in Tolga, a mountain village nestled on the river Glåma and the doorway to the Forollhogna National Park, iconic in its vast tundra. Gravel paths and fast flowing roads follow the sun west towards the glistening tarmac switchbacks of Trollstigen, where the high mountains and the raw nature of Norway loom ever closer with each pedal stroke.
Time will carry you into the fjordlands, descending steep cliff faces shaped by millenia old glacier journeys. Riding some old roads leading you to majestic places, remember to look around.

The next part of the challenge awaits. It’s time to visit the home of the giants - Jotunheim national park. The highest peaks of the Norway are resting there, you will be riding among them. Dipping down to the fjord to fill your lungs with fresh air and head back up again. You will get to ride a part of the famous Mjølkevegen and to see what’s so special about it!
The journey must now return east towards the morning sun through Grimsdalen, where you will be overlooking Rondane National Park. The legs might feel tired, but the views will keep you going. You are almost there!
(Stolen from the BM2025 website).

# Interesting fact
One could almost think the challenge organisers limited entries to unique surnames, only allowing 1 person per surname into the challenge. Looking down the solo starts, every rider holds a different surname bar one - __Skjørli__ - Jørgen and Vidar are the only solo riders to share a surname. 

Moving onto the pairs we can expect more ‘coupling’ as such, and even there only 7 pairs share the same surname. You’d be right in thinking each shared surname is racing in the same pair. 

# The riders
There are some pretty cool riders lining up. Stay tuned as I bring these Dots to life over the course of the challenge.

# King of Chaos
You’ve seen the [trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWLAWzWzmYE), now watch the full reel which is available today (6 July), head over to [Tailfin's Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@TailfinCycling) to see Justina’s 2024 race season. 

# BM2025 Instagram
Find all the [stories](https://www.instagram.com/brightmidnight.cc/) and reels as the challenge unfolds.

# Dotreporter
Your Dotreporter is me, Peta McSharry - coach to Justinas Leveika, and now reporter for the Bright Midnight - fresh off an exciting Tour Divide reporting stint. I just hope I have as much energy as Justinas to keep going until the end. You can find updates from me on [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/petamcsharry/) as I post new reports or see a bit more on my coaching [here](https://www.instagram.com/bikepackingcoach/).


Come for the challenge, leave with a community

Tolga, a community with only 627 residents (according to the 2024 stats) will absorb an additional ⅓ of its population over a weekend as 224 riders descend on the small village. Bikebags crammed into every available space on the regional train delivering riders into the area before a shuttle bus dropped them in Tolga. A mini van emblazoned with BM2025 ambling along the motorway, partially hidden by a bike mounted on the back.

![trains bm2025](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2W9pJzaAqjd7TPWoqruMtJ/af4eb53043fd8b948f31d09aaa2520ac/3997c5b4-0258-40e4-a73b-f9ae05ac442f.JPG)

The rider briefing was rammed, the room abuzz with excited chatter, interrupted by an official Bright Midnight song. The heavy metal grinding a path through the chatter of excited riders. Or maybe it’s Goth metal - music genres are not my thing.

![bm2025 band](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3efoIKk9UE1rL2mRk7guB6/09ddeb79eec59c2888541786fd039c8a/IMG_7304.jpg)

Last minute items sought on the WhatsApp community chat, a broken bike unpacked after a flight replaced by a rental and updated with a shorter stem provided by a local rider just leaving home. Bags with kit not arriving and generous donations of kit and a pair of shoes, helping a rider from Rwanda take to the start-line of a challenge. The best of human kindness before riders are thrown to the Ulver (wolves) where they need to fend for themselves, ride solo and finish under their own steam. The community unleashed into a challenge scattered with incredible views, steep climbs and plenty of water. 

# So… who to watch?
I tapped into __Justinas__ for those on the watch list, here are his thoughts:
### Female field
__Bianca Datola 
Hannah Simons 
Sherry Cardona
Sami Sauri__

### Male field 
__Charlie Stewart 
Ole Bjørn Smisethjell
Victor Busqavet__

### If AI wrote a podcast for the female category

🎙️ __Podcast Segment: Bright Midnight 2025 – The Contenders__
Welcome back, listeners! The anticipation is building for Bright Midnight 2025, and today we’re spotlighting four standout riders: Bianca Datola, Hannah Simons, Sherry Cardona, and Sami Sauri. Let’s break down their stories, strengths, and who might be crossing that finish line first.

__Bianca Datola__
Fresh off a legendary duel at Seven Serpents, Bianca has proven she can go head-to-head with the best, pushing for podiums and never backing down when the challenge gets tough. Her consistency in ultra-distance events makes her a real threat—if the terrain suits her, expect to see her in the lead group as the kilometers tick down.
Hannah Simons
Based in Austin and riding for Teravail, Hannah is an ultra-endurance specialist who thrives in remote, challenging environments. She’s got Silk Road Mountain Race experience under her belt, which means she’s no stranger to adversity or big mountains. Her mechanical know-how and calm under pressure could be decisive if things get rough out there.

__Sherry Cardona__
Sherry’s journey is one of transformation—from struggling through off-road sections in her first Transcontinental Race to now being a force in off-road ultras like the Atlas Mountain Race and Badlands. She’s known for her resilience, tactical smarts, and ability to adapt when the going gets tough. Sherry’s also a two-time pairs winner at TCR, so she knows how to dig deep and manage the long haul.

__Sami Sauri__
Sami is an adventure powerhouse, with podiums at Across Andes and a reputation for thriving in wild, unpredictable conditions. She’s got a creative approach to racing—balancing media projects and big miles—and she’s proven she can push through sleep deprivation and extreme weather. Sami’s mental toughness and love for the community vibe could give her an edge when the challenge gets gritty.

__Who’s the favorite?__
This is a stacked field. If the route is technical and the weather turns, Sherry Cardona’s adaptability and recent off-road form could shine. For pure consistency and late-challenge grit, Bianca Datola is hard to bet against. But don’t sleep on Sami Sauri—her recent results and relentless positivity make her a wildcard with real podium potential. And if it comes down to mechanicals or problem-solving, Hannah Simons’ experience could be the difference.

__Our pick?__
It’s almost too close to call, but with her upward trajectory and off-road chops, Sherry Cardona might just have the edge for Bright Midnight 2025. But in a challenge this unpredictable, any of these four could take the win if they play their cards right.
Stay tuned—this is going to be one for the ages!
*__(end of AI podcast)__*

That shows the limitations of AI, because in the grand scheme of things you’d be foolish to bet against __Hannah Simon__. Atlas, Hellenica and Silk Road Mountain Races, plus completing the US Triple Crown challenge puts her front and centre of this challenge and she is the one to chase for sure. She’s shown she can go out hard, ride steady and still put in a hard effort at the  backend of a challenge to nab a spot or two. If she comes into the finish with another rider, it will be an exciting battle for the win. 

### If AI wrote a podcast for the male category

🎙️ __Podcast Segment: Bright Midnight 2025 – Men’s Contenders Preview__
Welcome back to the show, folks! With Bright Midnight 2025 just around the corner, let’s take a closer look at three of the top men’s contenders: Charlie Stewart, Ole Bjørn Smisethjell, and Victor Bouscavet. These riders have been lighting up the ultra scene, and each brings a unique set of strengths to the start line.

__Charlie Stewart__
Charlie is best known as the co-founder of __Albion__, the UK-based cycling apparel brand, but he’s also become a serious force in ultra-racing. He took a commanding win at Further East 2024, riding 33 hours straight and showing off both his mental resilience and his ability to manage tough, mixed terrain. Charlie’s approach is disciplined—balancing family life, work, and training with impressive structure. He’s proven he can handle sleep deprivation, keep a cool head, and push hard when it counts. If Bright Midnight serves up long, relentless stretches, Charlie’s experience and gear know-how could give him a real edge.

__Ole Bjørn Smisethjell__
Norwegian bikepacking fans will know Ole Bjørn as the 2024 winner of Mother North, a grueling 950km gravel race through some of Norway’s wildest landscapes. He’s also just come off a top-10 finish at Badlands 2024, where he conquered brutal heat and technical terrain. Ole’s reputation is built on his ability to endure extreme conditions, from fjordland storms to desert sun, and his tactical sense in unsupported racing. He’s a rider who thrives when things get unpredictable and tough—a real contender if the weather or route throws up surprises.

__Victor Bouscavet__
Victor is a meticulous French ultra rider, the 2023 Race Across France champion, and a regular podium threat in events like Desertus Bikus and Transpyrenee. He’s known for his detailed preparation, route recon, and equipment optimization. Victor leaves nothing to chance, and his consistency across a variety of terrains is legendary. If Bright Midnight comes down to strategy and steady pacing, Victor’s methodical approach could see him outlasting the field.

__Who’s the favorite?__
It’s a tight call. Charlie Stewart has the momentum and a proven ability to go deep, but Ole Bjørn’s adaptability and recent form in big ultras make him a wildcard—especially if the weather turns or the course gets gnarly. Victor Bouscavet is the master of consistency and planning, which always pays off in ultra-distance events.

__Our pick?__
If we’re betting on drama, Ole Bjørn Smisethjell’s toughness in the face of adversity might just give him the edge. But don’t discount Charlie’s strategic smarts or Victor’s relentless pacing. This is shaping up to be a classic showdown—so keep your eyes on the dots and your ears tuned in. We’ll be following every twist and turn at Bright Midnight 2025!
*__(end of AI podcast)__*

I’d say this is spot on for analysis and between these three could be anyone’s game. But what about the dark horses? 

Well folks you’ll just have to wait for that episode, for now it’s over and out as the riders make their hungry raids on the village shops dotted along the route. 

# King of Chaos
You’ve seen the [trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWLAWzWzmYE), now watch the full reel which is available today (6 July), head over to [Tailfin's Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@TailfinCycling) to see Justina’s 2024 season. 

# BM2025 Instagram
Find all the [stories](https://www.instagram.com/brightmidnight.cc/) and reels as the challenge unfolds.

# Dotreporter
Your Dotreporter is me, Peta McSharry - coach to Justinas Leveika, and now reporter for the Bright Midnight, fresh off an exciting Tour Divide reporting stint. I just hope I have as much energy as Justinas to keep going until the end. You can find updates from me on [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/petamcsharry/) as I post new reports or see a bit more on my coaching [here](https://www.instagram.com/bikepackingcoach/).

In 2024 the first finisher, __Alex McCormack__, completed the Bright Midnight challenge in __2 days, 11 hours and 35 minutes__. An altered course for 2025 makes a direct comparison tough, but the pace out the gates seems to be just as fast. 

A group of four riders took an early lead. __Arnas Busmanas__, __Martynas Simkus__,__ Pedro Toro__ held off __Michele Papeschi__. Missing from the action with tracker issues was __Victor Bouscavet__, who’s struggling with a few punctures but is holding out in second place. 

![leaders day 1 bm25](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5iFM2VQRggGFOVqL3mAxTD/707b9605497362386a11e15fa5232eb9/Screenshot_2025-07-06_at_12.07.12.png)

## Out front
The early leaders fell off the pace, with the current leader board, seeing a new group of riders in at the front. 

Current order out front:
__Victor Bouscavet__
__Filip Eidsheim__
__Georg Walther__
__Wojciech Nogalski__

Three riders cleared CP1 in under 10 hours (more or less).

![CP1 sub 10](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7uy4BaOZ51wRhukFbY6box/7c3935ce8d9ebda5eb727a08d7e32eae/Screenshot_2025-07-06_at_19.47.43.png)

## Womnen's field
In the women’s field __Neza Violette__ took an early lead holding onto 5th place before conceding some places. She‘s flown in from Rwanda, where her kit bag did not arrive. The community came together and she’s riding in borrowed shoes and some other kit. 

Currently __Neza Violette__ and __Bianca Datola__ are  out front. It’s Neza’s first outing on the Bright Midnight, while Bianca is back after taking a 15th place last year and second woman behind __Marei Moldenhauer__ who took an incredible 4th behind __Alex McCormack__ and __Angus Young__ in 2024.

Current order for the women:
__Bianca Datola
Neza Violette
Justyna Jarczok
Sami Sauri__

## Sun is out
Despite the forecast, it looks like the sun is out and the views from the route look spectacular. It could be a Bright Midnight afterall. 

# Race Instagram
Find all the [stories](https://www.instagram.com/brightmidnight.cc/) and reels as the race unfolds.

# Dotreporter
Your Dotreporter is me, Peta McSharry - coach to Justinas Leveika, and now reporter for the Bright Midnight, fresh off an exciting Tour Divide reporting stint. I just hope I have as much energy as Justinas to keep going until the end. You can find updates from me on [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/petamcsharry/) as I post new reports or see a bit more on my coaching [here](https://www.instagram.com/bikepackingcoach/).


Day 1

A few corrections before kicking off with the updates. __Violette Neza__ is a returning rider to the Bright Midnight. I misreported this yesterday, she also rode the challenge last year. She’s out front in the women’s field, so a little prior experience may help know what’s coming, even if some of the route changed this year.

# Out front
Thirteen riders pushed through CP2 as at reporting on day 2. __Filip Eidsheim__ made it through CP2 first at 12:18 07-07-2025, with __Victor Bouscavet__ hot on his heels 21 minutes later and __Ole Bjørn Smisethjell__ just 7 minutes behind Victor. Ole made up 15 minutes on Victor between CP1 and CP2, overtaking 4 other riders in the process. There is a 50km gap back to __Georg Walther__, sitting 4th, this may be hard to close with only 473km left until the finish.

# In the women’s field
__Violette Neza__ is out front for the women, she’s kept a steady gap holding off __Justyna Jarczok__ and __Sherry Cardona__ by around an hour. __Anna Carlqvist__ and __Katrien De smet__ snuck into the space between __Sherry__ and __Sami Sauri__ who is  around 50km behind Sherry with __Hannah Simon__ sitting just behind Sami. There is around 80km between Violette and Hannah. 

# Lost and Found
One of the  rules for Bright Midnight is to  ‘leave no trace’. It seems to be taken quite seriously in these parts of the world. This allows for a __Lost and Found department__ via the community chat. So far a bag of waterproofs, an iPhone, a Garmin Radar light and some gloves and leg warmers have been found along the way and are reunited with their rightful owners.   But one small bag may be lost forever as a dry bag with a sleeping bag and clothes fell down the waterfall at Trollstigen. There’s hope someone downstream will find it and have space on their bike to return it to the poor person who is now without a sleep system or their dry sleep clothes. 

![lost and found](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7JPCSlorlijmjEijI3T3C7/2cfc2044db8d5b9e92b8c445e031f51f/IMG_7331.jpg)

# Did you bring your climbing ropes?
If you suffer from vertigo, then look away now. Forget old-skool hike-a-bike, the new thing is chain-climbing with your bike hanging precariously on a rock. This photo gives a great gut churning perspective of this chain-and-bike section - the famed Trollstigen. Apparently everyone is smiling. Though it's hard to tell from the photos.

![chain-climbing](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1oe1m6CIYtgVAAycdGDtHx/70c217a36cdf8d3e49e8a9e51d718580/IMG_7330_2.jpg)

# A shortcut is not always the fastest
A section of the route seems to be causing some navigation issues, with a few riders bush wacking off the official trail. It’s easy to do when you’re not moving very fast and the breadcrumb trail on your bike computer starts hallucinating. Hopefully those following will see where the correct trail goes. 

![short cut](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6Ws1YHknZAKNCpivQxIinI/153e303ea1fc64596613e594a2ad4d51/IMG_7324.jpg)
# Some riders bios
After scouting the start list, I found some interesting stories of some of the riders.

## Clinton Halsey
Clinton is the only person to have completed all seven editions of The Munga, a 1,000km bike race in South Africa. He rode nearly 100 km with a broken wrist before withdrawing from one event, then returning just eight weeks later to start again. Halsey’s endurance story includes a 1,000 km ride across Nepal.

## Gabriel Sayer
Consultant vascular surgeon and Associate Medical Director in the UK. In 2025, he completed a 600 km charity ride around Regent’s Park in memory of his daughter, raising funds for Whizz-Kidz, a charity for young wheelchair users. The Out Circle of Regents Park is 4.4km, that’s 136.36 laps of the park to complete the ride. He is also a BikingMan finisher.

## Simon Michalowicz
Simon is a German adventurer and author, Michalowicz is known for his book chronicling his ride along the North Cape to Cape Town route. 

## Victor Bouscavet
Victor is known for designing and completing the "Alpine Tour," an 800 km, 18,000 m elevation challenge that links all the Alpine passes of the Tour de France in a single ride, mirroring the order of the pro peloton. He completed this in just over 43 hours, with less than 5 hours of total rest, including a crucial 15-minute nap after 36.5 hours of riding. Victor is a winner of major events like Race Across France, Poco Loco, Desertus Bikus, and the Transpyrenees.

![safety](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6rtGQOqF5xv9FBttsGwGre/bc5d806963a0498ae526b25ab0219d57/IMG_7323.jpg)

# Race Instagram
Find all the [stories](https://www.instagram.com/brightmidnight.cc/) and reels as the race unfolds.

# Dotreporter
Your Dotreporter is me, Peta McSharry - coach to Justinas Leveika, and now reporter for the Bright Midnight, fresh off an exciting Tour Divide reporting stint. I just hope I have as much energy as Justinas to keep going until the end. You can find updates from me on [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/petamcsharry/) as I post new reports or see a bit more on my coaching [here](https://www.instagram.com/bikepackingcoach/).


# Filip Eidsheim
Filip knocked out his first bikepacking race in fine form, devouring the 1,100km and 20,000m of climbing in __2d, 5h and 53m__. __Alex McCormack__ did the __2024 route in 2d 8h 21m__. The routes are not exactly the same, so comparisons are hard to make, but for sure that is a very impressive time and we may just have a new kid on the block.

Born in 1990 in Bergen, Norway, Filip spent nearly a decade racing as a professional road cyclist. His palmarès?
- Two stage wins at the Tour du Maroc in 2015.
- A silver medal at the Norwegian National Road Championships road race in 2014.
- Stage victory at the Tour des Pyrénées in 2010.
- Podium at the Dwars door de Antwerpse Kempen in Belgium.
He raced for teams like Team FixIT.no, making his mark on the Continental circuit before stepping away from pro racing in 2015.

For Bright Midnight 2025, Filip rode a Canyon Grizl with an 11-speed GRX drivetrain, 48/30 chainring, and an 11-36 cassette. He borrowed DT Swiss GRC1400 wheels from his wife, rolled on 40mm Hutchinson Caracal Race tires, and packed his essentials in Canyon x Apidura and Cyclite bags. Safety first: a Moonlight BAD 700 front light and a first aid kit were part of his setup.

# First 3 finishers
1. __Filip Eidsheim__ 2d, 5h, 53m
2. __Victor Bouscavet__ 2D, 10 h,  28m
3. __Ole Bjørn Smisethjell__ 2D, 12h, 27m

# Women’s field
Two women finished riding the route as at this report. It was an exciting battle between __Violette Neza__ and __Justyna Jarczok__, where they were swapping places in the ride towards the finish. Unfortunately Violette scratched—remember she is riding in borrowed shoes one size too big for her, so to make it so far along the route is very commendable.

1. __Justyna Jarczok__ 3D, 5h, 35m
2. __Sherry Cardona__ 3D, 8 h, 26m
![IMG 7367](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2vZHguTL0LDRZ1RmkJAKnm/d8bdfa51a4d096c3abda2e50563e1567/IMG_7367.jpg)

# Justyna Jarczok
(Nicked from Justyna’s youtube intro). I’m  a coffee lover, outdoor enthusiast, and ultra-distance fan. I ride pretty much anything that has two wheels, and in my free time, I’m not just training but also diving into cycling from both a technical and event-planning perspective. I sometimes find myself on the podium, but more often, I'm stuck at a closed railroad crossing. I love creating routes, camping, and spending time with my dog, Chilli. I’ve taken part in races like Race Through Poland and the Bohemian Border Bash.


2days, 5hrs and 53min

Peta McSharry

Marei Moldenhauer

Alex McCormack

The Bright Midnight 2025: The Bright Midnight gifts riders a route through the barren tundra of Forollhogna National Park, dramatic fjords and mystical forests, climbing over 16,000m under the bright watch of the midnight sun.

The Bright Midnight 2025 Tracking & Commentary

The Bright Midnight gifts riders a route through the barren tundra of Forollhogna National Park, dramatic fjords and mystical forests, climbing over 16,000m under the bright watch of the midnight sun.

The Bright Midnight 2025

DotWatcher.cc

The Bright Midnight 2025

Distance — Elevation

Terrain

Website

Last Year's Male Winner

Last Year's Female Winner

Covered By:

Leaderboard

SOLO

PAIR

Events Feed