RACE: Drammen Enduro 2025

We're back in Drammen for the 2025 edition of the race that always turns into a thriller, a mystery, and a wild drama! Four of us are starting. That's not bad, but it's not great either. We're being eco-friendly and driving out of Oslo with only two cars, as Henning has agreed to pick up a Portuguese Venezuelan who needed a ride to Drammen. In return, he received Karma, which he used up on the first three stages. More on that later.

The tension is boiling. In the forest, on the mountain, and in my head. Jon looks at the sun and squints. He looks fast today and isn't saying much. Deep concentration. Fredrik complains about only getting two safety pins for his race number. Damn them, I bet he's thinking, you don't get anything at races these days.

This time, the team decided on an early start, but the fumbling with safety pins means no one realizes the queue is getting longer and longer. We end up about 3/4 of the way back in the pack. Not ideal, but not entirely bad either.

Stage 1
Talk about a flying start. I look forward to the day we get a short and sweet starting stage in Drammen. Just to get going and kickstart the machinery. But the people of Drammen are known for being brutal sadists, so we skip the appetizer and are served bloody steak right away. Don't get me wrong, Stage 1 in this year's edition is delicious, perfectly cooked, and a signature dish. It's playful in the terrain, varied, and challenging, but I would have preferred it a bit later in the day, not for breakfast.

Stage 2
Acid Party. Yes, that's its actual name. You know what's coming, but it's impossible to plan for. Just like Burning Man. Pain is inevitable, but short-lived. At the finish line, you're shot out like a new person. Your ego is either crushed, or it gets a boost:

I pass Fredrik. He's gone over the handlebars, but fortunately, he's fine physically. Mentally? I doubt it. Of course, it's tough for Fredrik, but good for me, as one of my goals today was to absolutely crush him. And now, yes, now I have him in the palm of my hand. Only a catastrophe can change that.

Stage 3
Catastrophe! Right from the start, I feel that something isn't quite right. There's something off with my body's balance. As if I've been possessed by a demon. Those thoughts, about having Fredrik in the palm of my hand, I should have saved them! I miss obvious smart line choices and can't find my rhythm. I just need to get down. But the demon won't let go: Crash! I almost go over the handlebars and pedal to get back up to speed, but no response. I look down. Damn. The chain has broken. I peel it off, stuff it in my pocket, and continue with gravity. Both Jon and Henning whizz past me. The race is over!

Stage 4
The e-bike route. A rather boring, short, and flat stage that would prove fateful for Henning. Just a few hundred meters into the trail, things go wrong, and he becomes the second person to go over the handlebars today. Unfortunately, his hip takes such a hard hit that he chooses the shortest and most comfortable way back to the start. The rest of the stage was an uneventful affair, which everyone except Henning's hip will forget.

Stage 5
Today's flow trail! We're down to three men, and ahead of us lies some of Drammenmarka's best. All three of us get through with big smiles. In a way, we're revisiting Stage 1, but warm and ready for what's to come.

I suddenly realize that the entire course in this year's edition of Drammen Enduro is a very carefully composed set of tracks, and there are no coincidences here. Everything fits together, and everything aligns with what was and what is to come.

Stage 6
This is the small segment in the facility that ends at the start. A kind of finale intended to collect the timing chips. I don't really see Stage 6 as part of the race and miss a bit of hustle and bustle when I cross the finish line. Remember when there was music and an announcer to greet you? Those were the days!

As per tradition, there's a burger and soda on the veranda, while we talk about how good we've been. But then the results trickle in, and we're reminded that the only one of us who can really ride is Jon, who lands a historical best 6th place! Congratulations!

I have to admit defeat to Fredrik, and I don't really think it's fair. But in this type of cycling, there's only one person responsible for the result, and that's yourself. Do you go over the handlebars? Your fault. Mechanical problems? Your fault. You should have chosen a different line, and you should have prepared better. You control your own destiny.

Cover photo: Anna Brandsdal, annabrandsdal.no