TCS Lidingöloppet.
The TCS Lidingöloppet 30 km is the race its organiser calls the largest cross-country run in the world, and it has belonged to a Swedish classic series since 1971. It is not decided at the start but over the final ten kilometres, where the short, steep climbs bunch together after your legs have already spent two hours on forest trail and meadow.
TCS Lidingöloppet 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course keeps changing character: flat meadows and gravel roads, then sloping trails and short, steep climbs again. There is little road rhythm to settle into, the ground gives underfoot, and each section asks for a slightly different stride. Aid stations sit at Ekholmsnäs, Hustegaholm, Fågelöudde, Grönsta, Uddvägen and Tyktorp, with service at the start and finish as well.
The first half is the kinder one. A first short pitch arrives around 6 km, and after it the course runs for a long stretch over low, undulating ground where you can make time without gaining much height. From 20 km that changes: two climbs in quick succession open a closing section that holds five of the race's eight ascents.
The hardest of them starts at 25 km, just over half a kilometre long and above twelve percent at its steepest, and it comes straight out of a deep dip, so you climb it from the very bottom. A last ramp with double-digit pitches follows at 28 km before the run-in drops towards the finish. Start and finish sit at almost the same height, so everything you climb you also give back.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 4.1 | 0.4 km | 3.3 % | 4.6 % | +12 m | — |
| km 6.1 | 0.4 km | 5.2 % | 7.6 % | +21 m | — |
| km 11.7 | 0.3 km | 3.9 % | 5.4 % | +12 m | — |
| km 20.6 | 0.5 km | 4.8 % | 7.8 % | +24 m | — |
| km 22 | 0.6 km | 3.1 % | 7.4 % | +17 m | — |
| km 25.1 | 0.5 km | 6.8 % | 12.8 % | +35 m | — |
| km 26.5 | 0.4 km | 3.7 % | 4.3 % | +13 m | — |
| km 28.3 | 0.4 km | 5.8 % | 10.3 % | +22 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace TCS Lidingöloppet.
Start under control
Plan this race backwards. The first 20 km are undulating running on soft ground, and that is exactly where it is easy to sit ten seconds per kilometre too fast, because nothing feels truly hard. Run this part at a pace you could still talk at, and take the short pitches around 6 and 12 km with shorter steps rather than more force.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between 20 and 29 km. Ramp follows dip there, and the climb at 25 km is the only one that genuinely feels like a hill. In its steepest metres a brisk hike beats a choppy run that empties you, and the descent after it is for recovering, not attacking.
Spend what is left
The classic trap is the switch between firm gravel road and yielding trail: on the gravel a quick pace feels cheap, on the soft ground the same pace costs far more. Run by effort, not by the watch.
Training plan for TCS Lidingöloppet: 12-week build
Build the base
For most age-group runners the 30 km Lidingöloppet takes between two and a half and almost four hours. That is a long aerobic effort but not an even one: the constant up and down and the changing ground keep adding short spikes that add up over the distance.
Train race pace
The phase to train for specifically is the finish. Five climbs in the last ten kilometres demand legs that still have power for steep metres when your glycogen is already running low. Build long runs so the hilly sections come at the end, and spend the last half hour deliberately on short, steep ramps.
Rehearse the course
Because the course runs mostly over meadow, gravel and forest trail, a large share of your training belongs off road. Soft, uneven ground loads calves, ankles and hip stabilisers differently from tarmac; one or two trail sessions a week plus targeted strength and stability work prepare you for it. Practise running downhill on trails too, since every climb here has its descent.
Arrive fresh
The race is held in late September, at the end of the season. If you have built through the summer, the final weeks are about holding off-road volume and having tested your fuelling for two and a half hours or more on long training runs.
Courses
Download the TCS Lidingöloppet course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for TCS Lidingöloppet dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about TCS Lidingöloppet.
How long is TCS Lidingöloppet?
TCS Lidingöloppet is 30 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does TCS Lidingöloppet have?
TCS Lidingöloppet has around 369 m of elevation gain over 30 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of TCS Lidingöloppet?
TCS Lidingöloppet is classified as Rolling, averaging 12.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 29% of the route is flat, 36% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 1% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does TCS Lidingöloppet have?
The hardest climb of TCS Lidingöloppet starts at kilometre 25.1, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 6.8% and gains 35 metres. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is TCS Lidingöloppet a loop course?
No, TCS Lidingöloppet is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the TCS Lidingöloppet course?
Yes. The TCS Lidingöloppet course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for TCS Lidingöloppet?
Preparation for TCS Lidingöloppet should account for 30 km, 369 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for TCS Lidingöloppet?
The pacing strategy for TCS Lidingöloppet should reflect 30 km, 369 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does TCS Lidingöloppet take place?
TCS Lidingöloppet takes place on September 25, 2027.
Where does TCS Lidingöloppet take place?
TCS Lidingöloppet takes place in Lidingö, Sweden.
Which distances does TCS Lidingöloppet offer?
TCS Lidingöloppet offers 2 distances — TCS Lidingöloppet 30 km: 30 km; TCS Lidingöloppet 15 km: 15 km.
How do I register for TCS Lidingöloppet?
Registration runs through the organiser: lidingoloppet.se. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
