A rally champion’s challenge: 300 km by bike through the white night

A 300-kilometre race is nothing unusual for rally driver Emil Lindholm. After all, that’s the distance of his home event, Rally Finland. This time, however, he had to leave his Fabia RS Rally2 in the garage and take on the challenge by bike. Discover how he handled this demanding test in the unique atmosphere of the Nordic “white night.”

23. 9. 2025 Lifestyle Motorsport

From its very beginnings, Škoda has been closely connected with both cars and bicycles, supporting various cycling challenges along the way. Back in 1895, under the founders’ brand Laurin & Klement, the company started out as a bicycle manufacturer. In modern times, Škoda has become inseparably linked with the world’s most famous cycling event, the Tour de France, and continues to support cyclists through its Škoda We Love Cycling platform.

One of the most unusual challenges was taken on by Emil Lindholm, who won the WRC2 championship title in 2022 with his Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo. He participated in the extraordinary Saimaa Cycle Tour, a 300-kilometre race in Finland, during which the sunhine never fully disappears, even at night. Watch the video to see how he fared.

The partnership between Škoda Auto and the Saimaa Cycle Tour, along with Emil Lindholm’s participation, highlights the close ties between cycling and motorsport, despite being very different disciplines. In the video, the rally driver emphasizes how cycling is essential not only for his physical training but also for his mental well-being, serving as a way to clear his mind.

“At the finish line, I knew one thing for sure – I won’t be getting back on the bike for the next few days,” Emil said with a smile, visibly exhausted yet happy. His words perfectly capture the spirit of such challenges: the fatigue transforms into a rewarding experience that strengthens both resilience and peace of mind.

Saimaa Cycle Tour

This traditional cycling challenge takes place every July around Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland. The event offers routes of various lengths, making it accessible even to less experienced cyclists. The longest route, at 300 kilometres, is held overnight so participants can experience the unique “white night” phenomenon, when the sun dips below the horizon (it set at 23:00 and rose again at 3:30 during this year's race), but it's rays never disappears completely. Riders reach the finish line at dawn. The surroundings of Lake Saimaa provide a truly special atmosphere with breathtaking views found nowhere else. This romantic backdrop is one of the tour’s biggest charms and attractions.

“What I love about rallying is that it takes us to remote, beautiful places. But during the race you hardly get to enjoy them – during a special stage there’s no time to look around. Cycling, on the other hand, allows you to fully take in the nature and scenery around you. That’s what I really love about it,” Emil explains, adding: “Rally is pure adrenaline, intense focus over a short period of time. Cycling, however, is just me, my bike, and the road ahead.”

“I think challenges like this teach me a lot about resilience and determination. In Finnish we have a beautiful word for that – sisu,” he reflects, also honouring his family tradition: “My grandfather was a passionate cyclist and took part in some of the world’s longest races,” Emil recalls.

Škoda as a Championship Partner

In addition to its long-standing support of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femme avec Zwift, Škoda Auto became a partner this year of both the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the UCI Gravel World Championships. These highly attractive events feature a variety of disciplines for both men and women. The mountain bike world championships were held in late August and early September in Valais, Switzerland, while the gravel world championships will take place in the Dutch region of South Limburg. At these UCI events, Škoda will host dedicated fan zones showcasing a selection of its electrified models, including fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.