Ride Gravel, Road, or Both During the “White Nights” of Summer in Finland at the Saimaa Cycle Tour

For the past eight years, Finland has been rated as the happiest place on earth. Have you ever wondered why, or have you ever wanted to visit to see for yourself? Well, if you’re a cyclist who enjoys traveling to participate in unique events, you’re in luck. You can travel to Imatra, Finland and ride in the Saimaa Cycle Tour during the “white nights” in July.

About The Saimaa Cycle Tour and Imatra, Finland

The Saimaa Cycle Tour takes place in Imatra, Finland. It’s three hours north east of Helsinki and occurs in July over three days. The ride is both a road ride and a gravel ride. You can ride the road route or the gravel route or both if you have the legs to do it.

This year, 2025, will be the fifth edition of the event that began in 2021 and is organized by Juho Suikkari, Finland’s three time road cycling champion. The most unique aspect of the event: opposed to the usual morning start for most sportives, this event starts at 7:00 pm in the evening.

The Ride Around Lake Saimaa and Imatra Details

North eastern Finland experiences “white nights” during the summer months when the sun never sets. So, this event, according to Suikkari, is a celebration of this region of Finland where cyclists will see the watery landscape of Lake Saimaa and ride the rolling hills of Imatra.

Think that Finland is flat? Think again. This ride will challenge your legs with 2800 metres of climbing (9,186 feet). That’s in addition to the overall length of the ride, which is 300 kilometers (186 miles). Feel like that’s too much of a challenge? Cyclists can choose to ride the Lappeenranta Tour, which is 100 kilometers or the Willimies Tour, which is 65 kilometers.

The Saimaa Gravel Tour

If you consider yourself more of a gravel rider than a roadie or want to do both events, the Saima Gravel Tour occurs on the third day of this cycle tour. You can register for this ride, which has options of 150 kilometers, 105 kilometers, or 60 kilometers. 2025 marks the first year for the gravel portion of the Saimaa Cycle Tour.

Suikkari states that whatever part of the cycle tour you choose to do, “each route takes you through a landscape of thousands of lakes and islands that are all connected to one another.”

Road and Gravel Registration Cost and Inclusions for the Saimaa Cycle Tour

Although the road and gravel portions of the tour are part of the overall cycle tour, it doesn’t appear that if cyclists want to ride in both events that they can register for them at the same time. There is a separate registration cost for each event.

Costs for the road portion of the cycle tour, which takes place over the first two days of the three day event are as follows.

• 300 kilometers ride (186 miles) is 160 euros ($173.00).
• 100 kilometers ride (62 miles and known as the Lappeenranta Tour) is 105 euros ($113.00).
• 65 kilometers ride (40 miles and known as the Willimies Tour) is 55 euros ($60.00).

For the Gravel ride part of the tour, which occurs on the third and last day of the Saimaa Cycle Tour, the costs are as follows.

• 150 kilometer ride (93 miles) is 130 euros ($140.00).
• 105 kilometer ride (65 miles) is 100 euros ($108.00).
• 60 kilometer ride (37 miles) is 65 euros ($70.00).

All rides include the following as part of a cyclist’s registration for the Saimaa Cycle Tour.

• Beverages and snacks at service points
• Food at the finish
• Participation bib
• Timing chip and timing service
• Medal for those who finish the route
• Printable diploma delivered to your email
• First-aid services
• Bike service (spare parts to be paid separately)
• Transportation to the finish line for those who DNF (did not finish)
• Shower and changing rooms
• Guarded bike park and storage service for your personal items

Last Thoughts

Finland is one place most cyclists probably aren’t aware of as having a cycling culture, so this event looks to be truly unique amongst all the events one can participate in. Plus, who wouldn’t want to ride during the “white nights” when the rest of the world is snug in its beds?

If Finland is a country you’ve always wanted to visit, then the Saimaa Cycle Tour seems like as good an excuse as any to do it. Plus, you can check out Helsinki before or after the event if you have the time and resources to do so. The organizers of the tour will arrange transport if you want to check it out. Maybe along the way you’ll find out what makes Finland the happiest place on earth.