Gravel riding the Secto Rally Finland routes in Jyväskylä
The gravel roads around Jyväskylä are world‑famous motorsport venues; every July–August they host a round of the World Rally Championship. Thanks to the rally, these roads are well maintained and rideable all year round (though in winter they’re snow‑ and ice‑covered).
If the rally drivers enjoy this gravel heaven, why shouldn’t we cyclists?
As a rider with a background in road cycling and cross‑country skiing, I used to stick to tarmac. When I moved back to Jyväskylä in 2024, however, most of my rides gravitated to gravel, and my route planning was heavily inspired by the rally stages winding through Central Finland’s forests. Rally‑Maps.com has been invaluable—almost every ride now includes at least one special stage, and the closest is only 2 km from my house in Laajavuori.
The idea behind this post is simply to share my excitement about riding these legendary stages week after week. This week, before the rally began, I rode three of them—finishing the last one just a day before the race. You could feel the buzz: fields and road‑sides decorated with signs, barrier tape and Finnish flags everywhere. It’s thrilling to pedal through a corner knowing that world‑class drivers will be tearing through it up to six times your speed in a matter of days.
Starting from Jyväskylä city centre and the Service Park in Lutakko, the closest special stage is the urban Harju Super Special in the heart of town. For 2025, the nearest forest stages (Laukaa and Ruuhimäki) are roughly 25 km from Service Park, while the furthest one, Västilä, is about 100 km away. That means you can roll out from your doorstep or hotel and be on a rally stage in no time.
If you want to ride all the stages, it’s sensible to split them into two loops:
Friday loop – 258 km
Ride Laukaa, Saarikas, Myhinpää and Ruuhimäki, then finish with Harju in the city.
In this natural chicane, Ott Tänak crashed into those trees just 24 hours later after this picture was taken.
One kilometer later, very narrow roads with massive erratic blocks from the Ice Age just beside.
Saturday & Sunday loop – 306 km
This longer loop covers Parkkola, Västilä, Päijälä, Ouninpohja (Sunday’s power stage) and Leustu.
Between the special stages there are liaison sections, which run mostly on paved roads or wider gravel roads. When plotting the rides above, I tried to stick to gravel wherever practical and minimise time on major roads—though avoiding them entirely is impossible. Fortunately, the rally infrastructure means the gravel surfaces are generally in excellent condition; 40 mm tyres are plenty. Do make sure your gearing can handle steep climbs, because this landscape undulates a lot more than you might expect.
Since these rides would be monster rides, here is two that I rode just this week, just before the rally:
Recently maintained hard-packed gravel near Parkkola Super Stage.
These loops aren’t just about motorsport nostalgia. They link quiet villages, forests and lakes, so one minute you’re hurtling down a rally landmark, the next you’re cruising past a lake or stopping at a small summer café and yard sale in a sleepy hamlet. It’s this contrast—adrenaline and tranquillity—that makes gravel riding here so addictive.
Hopefully this plan inspires you to grab your handlebars and experience the magic of Jyväskylä’s rally roads at your own pace. Whether you’re a rally fan, a gravel addict or just looking for a new adventure, these stages deliver a ride you won’t forget.