Facinated by Iceland and is now cycling 956 km around the West Fjords
Peter Holm started working for Icelandair in 2016. Photo/Sent to mblis
Peter Holm, a pilot at Icelandair, plans to ride 956 kilometres this week,but he is one of the participants of the Westfjords Way Challenge cycling race, which takes place from June 27 to July 2. This is the longest distance Holm has ever cycled, his goals being to finish the race and enjoy it.
Iceland blew him away
Holm, who is Swedish, divides his time between Malmö in Sweden and Keflavík. He says Iceland blew him away after he started flying with Icelandair. He then says he is particularly impressed by the small size of society in Iceland and the nature the country has to offer.
“In Iceland, people are united in a certain way, which is not analogous in most other countries,” he say.
Turnied to cycling following a knee injury
Cycling has not always been Holm's main interest, but before putting on his helmet he was a great runner.
Peter is participating in the cycling competition Westfjords Way Challenge that starts tomorrow. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
“Until 2015 I ran an ultramarathon and a mountaineering marathon. I actually refused to admit to myself that I was having a knee injury.
I had surgery on my knee and was later unable to run – but I can ride,” says Holm, who has been training hard in preparation for the bicycle race, which will take place for the second time next week.
“Four seasons in one hour”
Holm says he is well equipped to handle the nearly thousand miles of travel that await him in the Westfjords next week. He is not worried about the weather the country may have to offer, because he is used to flying around Iceland over the past few years.
“As a pilot with Icelandair, you’ll encounter all sorts of weather that’s constantly changing. You can experience four seasons in one hour,” He says and laughs.
He looks forward to the competition and says his main goal is to reach the finish line and enjoy the ride. “It’s going “reddast” (work out),” Peter says happily.
There is a total of 80 competitors from 20 countries signed up for the competition this year. The first day, tomorrow, starts in Ísafjörður and the route called “Djúpið” around the fjords and over Steingrímsfjarðarheiði is on the agenda. The last daytime route, which begins in Patreksfjörður on July 2, will be opened for an extra 100 cyclists. That last leg starts in Patreksfjörður at midnight and ends in Ísafjörður, by going around Svalvogar and Breiðdalsheiði heath.
Here you can see more about cycling in the Westfjords and the competition .
