Frank Løke tackles 700‑km extreme mountain bike race in Finnmark

Former Norwegian handball international Frank Løke, 46, has embarked on what he calls the toughest competition of his life – a 700‑kilometre off‑road mountain‑bike race across Finnmark. The race starts in Alta on Monday and runs through wetlands, rivers and high‑elevation terrain under the Arctic summer light. Løke will ride with teammate Markus Lillemoen for Team NC Bygg AS.

Løke, who has previously climbed K2 and Mount Everest, completed a 150‑kilometre practice ride on Saturday and says the event is "brutal". Organisers have expressed uncertainty about whether he will finish, but Løke hopes to cross the finish line by Thursday morning.