The Rift: Volcanoes and Gravel

The Rift is truly unlike anything else, set in one of the most beautiful and brutal landscapes I’ve ever ridden. Just a few hundred kilometres from the start line, lava is bubbling from the earth and here we are lining up to race 200 kilometres around and this year over Hekla which is one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. It's totally bonkers, and I absolutely love it.

This was my third year racing The Rift and for anyone who is into gravel it’s a must do bucket list event. If you make the trip don’t just fly in and out, stay a few extra days to explore. Iceland is a wonderland of geysers, waterfalls, and thermal rivers. Some of the country’s best sights like the Secret Lagoon, Strokkur Geysers, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Reykjadalur are all within a short drive of the race.

We arrived Thursday after a 4 a.m. start, giving us time to relax the rest of the day, then spin the legs and soak in the landscape on a short ride Friday. After filling our Precision Fuel & Hydration bottles and topping up the glycogen stores it was time for bed.

The 4.30 am alarm clock left enough time for breakfast to be digested, then it was all systems go. The weather added to the drama of the day. Torrential rain pounded the car roof during our drive to the venue and warm up routines quickly got forgotten, the cosy warm dry car was much more appealing. If the storm stuck around, it was going to be epic in every sense.

Luckily the rain eased just before the start. With nerves buzzing, the gun fired and the madness began. We were led out of town at a steady pace behind the lead car before hitting the gravel where the intensity ramped up. By the time we were out of the neutral zone we were already soaked, not that it mattered as we’d soon be riding through icy rivers anyway!

We hit the first climb and I felt great, strong, relaxed, and moving up the group. The descent that followed was like a rollercoaster and the Ribble Ultra Grit was absolutely flying. As we approached the first set of river crossings the chaos truly began, bikes and bodies everywhere, some submerged entirely. Some how I nailed the crossings with just wet feet, no dips. Teammate Sophie wasn’t quite so lucky, taking a full plunge!

We completed the first 50 km at a blistering pace, and I was still feeling in control. Then, just as we hit a technical section and caught the women’s race, everything got messy. The trail narrowed, riders stacked up, and the group split. I got caught out just as five or six riders rode off ahead. Frustrating, but the legs felt so good so I was confident I could chase.

This year’s new course didn’t mess around. Instead of skirting Hekla, we climbed it. From the base, the Wahoo elevation profile looked nasty and it delivered. Long, steep, loose, and relentless. The 46-tooth chainring I had fitted turned out to be my undoing. With the gradient and loose terrain climbing out of the saddle as I prefer wasn’t possible with limited grip available form the loose ground. It was brutal.

As we ground our way toward the snow line, the race shattered. I could see riders dotted up the volcano ahead. Eventually we were off the bikes hiking through snow with numb legs and burning lungs. Epic views, yes but our legs didn’t care! I teamed up with another suffering soul, and together we willed each other on.

Reaching the summit meant just 50 km of descending but this was no easy coast home. The descent was pure carnage, huge ruts, baby-head rocks, and deep sand that sapped energy and demanded focus. Thank everything for the RockShox Rudy fork, it was an absolute game changer. We rode hard, pushing each other, trading turns as we zig-zagged off the volcano and back toward civilisation.

One more climb, a splash through the same river crossings from earlier, then onto the tarmac for the final push. A final fourteen minutes of full gas effort into the town of Hvolsvöllur, population under 1,000, but for one weekend each year, it becomes the heart of global gravel. After 6 hours and 30 minutes, 200 km and 6500 kilojoules burned, it came down to a sprint for the top 10. I launched hit 938 watts and just edged it. 10th place at The Rift!

I would’ve loved to finish even higher, particularly after my 4^th place here two years ago, with different gearing that might have been possible. But against a stacked international field at one of the most iconic Gravel Earth Series races, top 10 is something I’m really proud of. I loved every mad, muddy, miserable, magical minute out there, even the parts I hated! That’s the Rift in a nutshell, wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable.