Growing up in Örby, they took their first race starts with the local cycling club, laying the foundation for what would soon become a life shaped around the bike.
Ahead of the 2025 season, they joined Lindgren Racing Club’s development team and stepped into a more structured environment - a year that brought new perspective, higher intensity and valuable international experience.
Now, they enter their second year as juniors with Serneke Allebike.
When we meet them in the days leading up to the Junior World Series opener in Chelva, there’s a quiet sense of anticipation in the air. A few days later, the answer comes quickly - second and fourth place finishes against some of the best junior riders in the world. A start that says plenty about the direction they’re heading.
You’re stepping into Serneke Allebike this season - what does that mean to you?
E: We’ve talked about this for years. We got our first Allebikes when we were nine, and ever since then it’s been the team we looked up to and supported. To now be part of it ourselves honestly feels pretty special - like something we’ve been working toward for a long time.
L: It’s always been a goal for us. Seeing it become reality means a lot. And beyond the team itself, it’s the people around it - it feels supportive, motivating and inspiring at the same time.
How did the year together with Lindgren Racing Club shape you?
E: We had to adjust to a clearer structure and a bigger commitment. That made the move to Serneke Allebike feel natural. We learned what it really means to be part of a team - working with partners, taking responsibility and representing something larger than ourselves.
L: It gave us a completely different understanding of what being part of a team actually involves. Not just how you perform, but how you carry yourself and represent the team off the bike as well. It was an environment where we truly had the chance to grow.
You’ve just wrapped up your final winter training block before the season opener - how are you heading into the season?
E: I broke both of my wrists last autumn, which affected my entire winter training. Being able to train properly again meant a lot. A few weeks of consistency and long days in the saddle were important going into the season. My wrists feel good now. There’s still a bit left, especially on longer descents, but I can race as normal. After a tough winter, it feels really good to be back.
L: For me, it was mainly about getting plenty of hours on the bike. There were several long days in the saddle, some threshold sessions and plenty of VO2 max work. It turned into a solid training block ahead of the season start.
Making this journey together - what does that mean to you?
E: It’s no coincidence that we’ve made it this far side by side. We’ve always trained together and pushed each other. When Linnea is the strongest in Sweden, it benefits my training - and the other way around. On the bike, we never give each other an inch. Off it, we’re each other’s biggest support.
L: When one of us takes a step forward, the other wants to do the same. It shifts back and forth who’s strongest at any given time, but we always know roughly where we stand by measuring ourselves against each other. At the same time, our riding styles are becoming more and more different, which means we can learn from one another in new ways.
You mentioned that your riding styles are becoming more and more different - how does that show in a race?
E: Linnea is incredibly strong on the climbs, determined and mentally tough. If there’s a climb ahead, she wants to hit it hard. I like to talk through the tactics before the start and have a clear plan for how the race should unfold.
L: And I do try to listen… but sometimes I’m so focused on my own preparation that I just want to stay in my own bubble. I tend to race more on instinct and push where I know I’m strongest.
E: Hahaha, you have to listen! Sometimes I’ll shout “remember what I said” in the middle of the race.
L: By then I’ve already gone all in on the climb…
What’s the atmosphere like in the finish area when one of you has a great day and the other doesn’t?
E: Right after the finish, we always say “good job,” no matter how it went. But after that, you sometimes need a bit of space. You usually know yourself when it just wasn’t your day.
L: I think we handle setbacks pretty well in our own ways. You let it settle a bit, and then things go back to normal.
E: Although it can be a little tense in the car on the way home sometimes.
L: Yeah… that’s probably hardest on our parents.
What’s your biggest goal for 2026?
E: To race more internationally and keep taking steps forward in terms of results. A top-five finish in the Junior Series would be nice. I’d also love to perform well at Cykelvasan again, and of course, we’re aiming to bring home the Swedish Championship title.
(Spoiler alert: the top-five finish was secured just days after our conversation.)
L: Yes, the Swedish Championship title is coming home to the Nilssons, no matter which one of us takes it. I also want to gain more experience racing internationally and, above all, improve my result at the World Championships. We weren’t satisfied with our performance there last year, but we’ve taken a lot of lessons with us into this season.
One last question - which one of you gets the most nervous on the start line?
(they both point at each other)
E: It’s definitely you!
L: I actually think it’s you.
With a strong season opener behind them and a clear sense of direction ahead, Linnea and Elinore now move forward into the 2026 season.
We’re proud to have them as part of Serneke Allebike and look forward to following their continued journey - both as individuals and as the unique duo they are.
Already next weekend, the next round of the Junior World Series awaits in Banyoles, Spain.
