Stig Johansson from Fagersanna outside Tibro is the only one who has cycled all Vätternrundor since the start in 1966. He also cycled the 30 miles around Vättern in 2020, when the race was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The soon-to-be 80-year-old record holder and jubilarian has, due to his style, become a legend - and has a given place in the film "Ute och cyklar". The original idea was that he would play himself in the film.
I talked them over and they thought that the old man can't be in any film, he doesn't do what we say, he says with a laugh.
Instead, Johansson is portrayed by actor Claes Månsson.
“Better if it takes 20-25 hours”
In reality, he will cycle his 60th Vätternrunda on Saturday. He does not doubt that he will be able to do the 30 miles. What he is worried about is all the other cyclists in the dark hours of the night.
It goes so bloody fast in the downhill sections at Gränna, so you have to be careful. It's almost like you get run over sometimes, he says.
The legend rides against the other participants on their racing bikes and lycra suits who want to finish as quickly as possible.
I'm thinking of a revue, if it ends after 10 minutes, it's not fun. It's the same as Vätternrundan if it ends too early. It's better if it takes 20-25 hours, then I have fun all day. I'm supposed to entertain many.
To cheer on 10,000, that's fun. I get to keep going longer than everyone else, because it can take an hour at a checkpoint when they want to take pictures, selfies. I agree to everything.
Roar with "Just take a sauna"
In the bike basket, he has a tape recorder that he started taking with him after he crashed several times - after falling asleep.
As company, since I'm cycling alone. At some places, there are pensioners, then I stop and play some funny songs.
It's still old cassette tapes that apply, but he also records new ones on them.
This year it will be a bit of a sauna, he says about the Swedish Mellovinnar song.
It lightens up for everyone. So it was last Saturday in Siljan.
Still has the energy
Not only does he have 30 miles of cycling ahead of him on Saturday. Last weekend, he cycled around Siljan.
That race I usually ride too, it's 58 times now, I think. It's just 16 miles. I don't feel the slightest bit of that race. It's probably a proof that you've cycled a lot and can sit on a saddle for many hours.
He no longer has anything to prove, no one else has cycled all Vätternrundan. And he still has the energy to cycle 30 miles.
I'll try to keep going as long as Oskar keeps going, then I don't care. When he stops, it's no longer fun, he says about the race's CEO Oskar Sundblad.
Ingela Ahlberg/TT
Facts: Stig Johansson's three memorable Vätternrundor
TT
+ Favorite year
When he became the only pioneer left, the only one who had cycled all Vätternrundor, in 2019.
– It was very fun that race. Then my temperament was raised and it became even more fun, he says.
+ The race he'd rather forget
The rainiest year 2012.
– It rained the whole time, bloody how wet it was. Then I had set up my caravan in Hjo because I knew it would rain. There I had a whole change of clothes, it was perfect and that's why I managed (to finish the race).
+ When it could have gone wrong
The chain came off in the race, unclear which year, and Stig Johansson stopped a following car that took the chain to Jönköping to have a chain lock installed.
– But it never came back. Then I thought I couldn't stand and wait, I roll on in the downhill sections. You know it goes 50 kilometers (per hour) in the downhill sections without a chain. It goes too fast, bloody hell. It could have gone to hell, but I just rolled on.
