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Styrkeprøven, also called Den Store Styrkeprøven (The Great Trial of Strength), is a 540 km (340 mi) long bicycle cyclosportive which starts in Trondheim and finishes in Oslo, Norway. It was first held in 1967, initiaded by Erik Gjems-Onstad and has taken place since then in late June every year.
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In 2012 the record time was 12.51,02.
Another race on part of the route of Styrkeprøven
Den Lille Styrkeprøven (The Little Trial of Strength, word-play on Lillehammer), which is 180 km (110 mi), from Lillehammer to Oslo, is also held at same time.
1997 recumbent ban controversy
In 1997, Bram Moens from Netherlands rode his faired recumbent in the race, finishing at 13:46:08 - almost 2 hours ahead of the second rider, and setting a new course record. Bram Moens and his bike was cleared by the organizers to start, and recumbents had taken part many times before. Despite this, the record was not accepted by the organizers, and recumbent bicycles banned; both actions without claiming any rider misbehaviour.