Created by Reykjavík Cycling Club to showcase Iceland's volcanic terrain. The course crosses the Mid-Atlantic Ridge—geological boundary between continents. Founded in 2016. By Reykjavík Cycling Club.
Reputation: The bucket-list adventure race. Not just gravel—geological pilgrimage.
Ran as part of the Gravel Earth Series (a non-UCI global series) for the two seasons prior to 2026
2026: departed the Gravel Earth Series to run as a standalone event; series slot taken by Cuckoo Iceland
Otherworldly. Black volcanic sand, lava fields, glacier views. It looks like Mars with better air.
Signature challenge: The weather. Iceland doesn't care about your race plans. You can experience four seasons in four hours.
25
MILE
Lava Field Entry
Sharp volcanic rock demands focus. This is where flats happen.
62
MILE
Highland Exposure
Wind and weather hit hardest. No shelter. Nowhere to hide.
100
MILE
River Crossings
Glacier-fed rivers. Cold water, uncertain depth. Dismount or regret.
[04]
From the Field
Some days aren't about performance. They're about letting go and about finding joy in the unexpected. Finding joy not in something that we have built up ourselves, but finding joy in the simple beauty of God's creation.
Job Rides Bikes · 9.4K views
So far, we have tried to fly into Iceland. We've gotten turned around on a flight to Iceland. We got a few nights of bad sleep in between all that. Then we finally got to Iceland. And now we've been here for a total of about 4 hours. We've done one pre-ride, not even on the course, so we have no idea what that looks like.
Job Rides Bikes · 9.4K views
We were staying right there right near the start, which was super awesome. So, big thanks to them.
Job Rides Bikes · 9.4K views
Job Rides Bikes · 9.4K views · 21:09
Job Rides Bikes · 4K views · 2:47:27
The Rift Gravel Race Iceland · 2.1K views · 46
RACER
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[07]
Training
July 17, 2026 THE RIFT
RIDERS REPORT
For race day clothing in rainy conditions, one rider chose shorts and a winter jacket combo, planning to unzip the jacket to cool off when needed, knowing it would be colder in the highlands.
[08]
Train for The Rift
RACE DEMAND PROFILE
Durability
6
Climbing
6
VO2 Power
7
Threshold
8
Technical
8
Heat
10
Altitude
2
Race Specificity
10
3 WORKOUTS BUILT FOR THIS RACE
Each workout below is selected from our archetype library based on The Rift’s specific demands. Click any workout to see the full execution protocol.
DurabilityProgressive Fatigue
2hr+
Power targets INCREASE as duration goes on — reverse-pacing that builds race-finishing strength.
At mile 60 of 124, glycogen is gone. This workout teaches your body to produce watts on fumes.
EXECUTIONEach block is harder than the last. By the time you hit threshold, you’ve been riding for 80+ minutes. The final VO2 effort is the test — can you go HARD when everything says stop? This is how you win the last 20 miles of a gravel race.
HEAT PREP July in Hvolsvöllur, Southern Iceland — 10-15°C (50-59°F) with extreme variability. Cold + wet + wind. Hypothermia risk is real. Begin heat acclimatization 10–14 days before The Rift — 20–30min sauna sessions or midday rides in full kit. Pre-load sodium 48 hours out. Target 500–750ml/hr with electrolytes on race day.
NUTRITION Target 60–80g carbs/hour for The Rift’s 124 miles. Start fueling within the first 30 minutes — early fueling prevents late-race collapse. Bonking at mile 60 is a nutrition failure, not a fitness failure.
TERRAIN Highly technical terrain at The Rift demands practice on similar surfaces. Ride black volcanic sand and sharp lava rock at race-day cadence weekly. Expect: black volcanic sand, sharp lava rock, loose highland roads. Practice cornering, descending, and power delivery on unstable surfaces. Dial in tire pressure before race week — 5 PSI wrong costs you 15+ minutes over 124 miles.
Gravel SpecificTerrain Microbursts
50min+
15-second microbursts every 45 seconds — the relentless terrain-driven surges of gravel.
The Rift's Black volcanic sand, sharp lava rock forces constant power changes. Surge over the rough stuff, settle on the smooth, repeat for 124 miles.
EXECUTIONEvery 60 seconds, EXPLODE. 15 seconds of maximum power — like hitting a rock garden, a short kicker, or responding to an attack. Then recover just enough to do it again. And again. This is what technical gravel terrain actually feels like: relentless microbursts with incomplete recovery.
HEAT PREP July in Hvolsvöllur, Southern Iceland — 10-15°C (50-59°F) with extreme variability. Cold + wet + wind. Hypothermia risk is real. Begin heat acclimatization 10–14 days before The Rift — 20–30min sauna sessions or midday rides in full kit. Pre-load sodium 48 hours out. Target 500–750ml/hr with electrolytes on race day.
NUTRITION Target 60–80g carbs/hour for The Rift’s 124 miles. Start fueling within the first 30 minutes — early fueling prevents late-race collapse. Bonking at mile 60 is a nutrition failure, not a fitness failure.
TERRAIN Highly technical terrain at The Rift demands practice on similar surfaces. Ride black volcanic sand and sharp lava rock at race-day cadence weekly. Expect: black volcanic sand, sharp lava rock, loose highland roads. Practice cornering, descending, and power delivery on unstable surfaces. Dial in tire pressure before race week — 5 PSI wrong costs you 15+ minutes over 124 miles.
Race SimulationBreakaway Simulation
1.5hr+
Attack, then hold — the tactical pattern that wins gravel races.
Race-pace efforts that mimic The Rift's demands. Pacing, fueling, and tactical decisions under fatigue. Practice the race before July.
EXECUTIONThis is race tactics on the trainer. Attack hard for 5 minutes — simulate bridging a gap or cresting a climb. Then immediately settle to tempo and HOLD. The transition from attack to hold is where races are lost. Practice it.
POSITIONOut of saddle for first 60s of attacks. Seated in drops for holds.
RPEAttacks: 8–9 | Holds: 6–7 | Recovery: 2–3
RACE-SPECIFIC: THE RIFT
HEAT PREP July in Hvolsvöllur, Southern Iceland — 10-15°C (50-59°F) with extreme variability. Cold + wet + wind. Hypothermia risk is real. Begin heat acclimatization 10–14 days before The Rift — 20–30min sauna sessions or midday rides in full kit. Pre-load sodium 48 hours out. Target 500–750ml/hr with electrolytes on race day.
NUTRITION Target 60–80g carbs/hour for The Rift’s 124 miles. Start fueling within the first 30 minutes — early fueling prevents late-race collapse. Bonking at mile 60 is a nutrition failure, not a fitness failure.
TERRAIN Highly technical terrain at The Rift demands practice on similar surfaces. Ride black volcanic sand and sharp lava rock at race-day cadence weekly. Expect: black volcanic sand, sharp lava rock, loose highland roads. Practice cornering, descending, and power delivery on unstable surfaces. Dial in tire pressure before race week — 5 PSI wrong costs you 15+ minutes over 124 miles.
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Book 6+ months early. Hvolsvöllur is tiny. Consider Reykjavík + driving.
Food
Icelandic food is expensive. Plan accordingly. Hvolsvöllur has limited options.
Packet Pickup
Friday in Hvolsvöllur. Long drive from airport—plan accordingly.
Parking
Limited village parking. Carpool or hotel shuttles.
RIDERS REPORT
Buy the cheaper avocados at local stores - the $200 avocados stay green until the next morning and aren't even that brown after the race, unlike the $800 ones.
Expect it to be colder once you get up into the highlands during the race.
Iceland's interior weather 'can turn south in minutes' with July highs averaging only 14°C, making this a masterclass in unpredictable suffering. Starting in light jerseys then getting hammered by rain and sleet, with temperatures dropping 5-10°C from coastal forecasts as you climb toward the mountains. The constant wind drives what locals call 'light rain' but feels like getting sandblasted, and weather forecasts are essentially useless for planning. Among the most weather-friendly events, easier than Badlands. "The climbs got longer and steeper and the weather turned FAST. As we reached the higher elevations the wind picked up to at least 25 – 30 mph."[16]
How are the logistics for The Rift?
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Getting to Hvolsvöllur means flying into Keflavik then driving 90 minutes south to a town of 600 people. Anne Moore stayed at Midgard, calling it "AMAZING and the owners/staff are the some of the nicest, most accommodating people you could ever meet." Five mandatory river crossings through glacial water demand hypothermia planning, though Jim Cuene notes "they made a big deal of the river crossings, but there weren't, really, an issue."[12]
How adventurous is The Rift?
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You're literally riding the tectonic rift between continental plates across volcanic lava fields. "200km of lava fields, fog, and roads carved from volcanic rock" with "endless hike-a-bike sections." Sarah Swallow shifted focus to "just riding the ride as if it was just another day on the Tour Divide" through terrain that looks like another planet.[19]
How prestigious is The Rift?
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Bucket-list destination race drawing 420 riders to volcanic highlands. Founded by Lauf, the race has grown from limited early editions to over 600 starters by 2024. Christoph Döttelmayer finished "27th spot from 420 riders" and called it a "personal goal achieved." Growing international recognition among gravel explorers seeking expedition-level challenges.[12]
Should I race The Rift?
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Yes, if bucket-list adventure matters more than racing. The Rift delivers geological pilgrimage, otherworldly terrain, and a story you'll tell forever. Just be ready for Iceland's weather and the expense of getting there.
[11]
Sources & Citations
Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.
