Travelling on the North Sea Cycle Route – From Belgium to Norway

ZDF/ARTE, 2015, 5×43 min.

Part 1: Belgium and the Netherlands
Part 2: Germany
Part 3: Denmark
Part 4: Sweden
Part 5: Norway

In the 5-part arte series “Travelling on the North Sea Cycle Route 2”, the world champion Rudi Altig, the Olympic champion Jeannie Longo and the endurance athlete Joey Kelly once again climb onto their bikes to explore the second stretch of the North Sea Cycle Route. Two years ago, the three cyclists negotiated the first stage, through Scotland and England; now they are tackling the remaining 3,600 kilometres through Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. They travel through a wide variety of different regions: from the flat, sandy beaches of Flanders, past the innumerable rocky islands (skerries) off the Swedish coast, up to Bergen, the overcast “gateway to the fjords”. This arte journey of discovery presents the countryside and other sights along the North Sea coast from some new perspectives thanks to breathtaking Cineflex aerial footage.

Rudi Altig, Jeannie Longo and Joey Kelly visit Amsterdam, Hamburg, Gothenburg and Oslo, and bathe in sheep’s wool on Texel. They learn to fight like Vikings, and they befriend moose in Sweden’s forests. From Stavanger, they make a detour to the Lysefjord, with its monumental rock formations and crystal-clear waters.

The locals they meet are just as varied as the countryside. Jeannie Longo, Rudi Altig and Joey Kelly are constantly coming across distinctive characters with a typical regional background, offering some surprising insights into the Nordic spirit.