Strade Statskog Classico

Strade Statskog Classico is a point-to-point gravel-and-road cycling race in Trøndelag, running between Steinkjer and Namsos. The original edition of the Strade Statskog Gran Fondo is built around a 100 km main event, with the route split roughly half gravel and half asphalt. Riders start in a professional mass start in the center of Steinkjer and finish on the quay in central Namsos. Shorter options are also offered, including 16 km and 34 km rides, with Namsos used as the start for the 16 km event. The main course leaves Steinkjer through Sør-Beitstad, Bartnes, and Røsegg, then uses old paths on Statskog land and climbs toward Bangdalen before the run into Namsos. The final stretch adds a disused railway line, tunnels, cobblestones, and riverfront riding before the finish. The race started in 2017 and has run every year since, with Statskog owning the concept and Namdal cycling club organizing it with volunteers. A Forma class gives slower recreational riders the same marked course, marshaling, lead car, and traffic control as the main field, but without official timing; it starts one hour earlier and is aimed at riders expecting to use around five hours or more. One small tradition says plenty about the mood: Forma riders are promised slightly warmer pizza after the finish.