I’ve been super excited to share my recap from The Rift yesterday! The Rift is part of the Gravel Earth Series, 200 kilometers in Iceland’s dark lava fields and highlands.
Race Report by Nina “Machina”
“We had a separate start, 30 minutes ahead of the men, and it was empowering to ride out with around 120 women across all fields. After the neutral roll-out, it was full gas to the top of mountain Sléttafell, with its black sand dunes and volcanic rock. Around there were some of the steepest pitches of the course, some with over 23% grades and we grunted as we pushed our bikes over top of them. I set my max power record for an hour and a half, a testament to my effort.
I was looking forward to the ‘descent’, since the elevation profile of the course showed a gradual loss in elevation from mile 44 to about 94… But that sector, aptly named “Oli’s Loop” was no reward. Dark lava fields turned to sand and washboard gravel, and while the Grit fork on my Lauf Seigla combined with 2.1 inch MTB tires and GGA 38 GULO gravel wheels helped with some of the shock absorption, my arms, neck, and back also got destroyed. I was also quite alone at that point, with no women to ride with around and I was working by myself in the headwind all the way to Aid 4. I almost considered defeat, but I quickly pushed that thought out of my mind and fought harder.
I caught a second wind on the road after chugging some energy drink at the feed zone and felt more hopeful once the chunky, slow-moving gravel turned to paved road. However, the roads in Iceland are long, and when you can see miles ahead of you time seems to crawl by slower. However, it was consolidating that my average speed was rising, and the miles were ever ticking down.
When I arrived at the out and back section of the course, which I had pre-ridden on Wednesday and was familiar with it, I could visualize myself crossing the finish line. Counting down the pedal strokes, one more steep climb, one more river crossing. At that point, the cool glacial water felt refreshing and I was motivated to crest the last hill. I didn’t know where I stood among the Elite Women, but the biggest accomplishment that I was looking forward to was completing my first overseas race with a smile.
And I did it. 127 miles in 9 hours, and I found myself in 12th place for the Elite Women’s field. I’m still processing everything but my heart is full, petting cats around the city of Reykjavík, and I’m already itching for my next adventure: the SPAR Swiss Epic in Switzerland in just a few weeks!”
