It is the world's largest mountain bike race in number of contestants.
[2] The race starts in Rena and ends at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer.
Birkebeinerrittet is 84km[3] long along fire roads, with some paved and some single/dual-track segments.
The race has been held since 1993 and commemorates a trip made by the Birkebeiner loyalists to save the heir to the Norwegian throne, Håkon Håkonsson, in 1206.
All participants carry a backpack weighing at least 3.5 kg, symbolizing the weight of the then one-year-old heir.