The Rift takes place in one of the youngest landscapes on earth. A land of fire and ice, gravel and rocks. Raw and primeval beauty. It’s a place we are drawn back to, time and time again.

This year, Café du Cycliste was a title sponsor. Because the harshest environments produce the biggest adventures. And being out there, somewhere, on the edge of the world is where we’re happiest.

At the start village, we kept spirits high with coffee and a pre-race social ride for almost a hundred people. On the big day itself, the heavens opened and an epic adventure was had by all.

From Hvolsvöllur on the south coast, over two distances, we rode dusty tracks through lava fields and across rivers into the Highlands, circling an active volcano. One of the most challenging environments possible for riders, bicycles and kit.

The elite raced 200 kilometres, but the gods were not kind to our Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste gravel team. Neither Axelle (recently crowned French national cross-country marathon mountain bike champion) or Hugo managed to go the distance, with Hugo experiencing stomach problems.

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