The Rift

The Rift is the gravel race of Lauf Cycles, the Reykjavík bike maker, and it takes riders from the small south Iceland town of Hvolsvöllur up into the volcanic highlands. It has drawn a mixed field over the years, from first-time visitors to former WorldTour professionals and, in 2026, mountain bike great Nino Schurter, all on the same raw roads under a sun that barely dips below the horizon.

The landscape is both the draw and the opponent: black sand and lava fields, washboard tracks through Dómadalur, a long climb onto the roots of Hekla, one of the country's most active volcanoes, and river crossings of cold glacial water that often mean wet feet and a dismount. Highland weather can swing from sun to snow in minutes, so riders carry everything they plan to wear, and the organisers recommend tyres of 50 mm or more for the rocky roads.

Its longest route, The Abyss, first ran in 2026: an evening start, an unmarked line through the bright Icelandic night deep into the interior, and entry by application only. Care for a fragile landscape runs through the whole event, with an environmental waiver at pack pick-up, no riding off the route, and instant disqualification for dropping litter.