The competitors come with family and friends
1,200 competitors are competing in The Rift gravel bicycling competition this weekend at Hvolsvöllur. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
“Gravel cycling is a growing sport. I don’t think people realize that the Rift Gravel Race at Hvolsvöllur is included in the biggest three European competitions in the industry,” Ólafur Thorarensen, the competition’s marketing director, tells mbl.is.
The annual bicycle race The Rift takes place this weekend at Hvolsvöllur. This year, 1,200 bicycle racers will participate, with a large proportion of the competitors being foreign cyclists.
The route the competitors take is 200 km, with the route both starting and ending at Hvolsvöllur. The route circles around Hekla and becomes a place for competitors to quench their thirst and feed on the way.
This is the route for the race. The competitors race 200 km around the mountain Hekla. The route starts and ends in the town of Hvolsvöllur. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
“This is a dirt bike race that has been held at Hvolsvöllur since 2019. Our first competition involved over 200 people, but this year there are around 1,200 competitors. Most of the competitors are foreigners and this year around a thousand people are coming from abroad to compete,” Thorarensen says.
The weekend is sold-out at Hvolsvöllur
It is not only competitors who make their way to Hvolsvöllur this weekend, and all accommodation at Hvolsvöllur and surrounding areas is sold out this weekend.
“We expect 2,500 to 3,000 people will come to Hvolsvöllur over the weekend. The foreign competitors rarely come to Iceland alone, often accompanied by family and friends. When people make the trip to Iceland, they may want to fulfill a certain dream, but it is vital to experience it with their people. It’s very common for contestants to view this competition as a particular highlight of their Icelandic tour.”
Ólafur Thorarensen, is the marketing director of The Rift 2023. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
“Mpeople are staying in and around Hvolsvöllur, but there is little accomost modation in Hvolsvöllur, so there is a lot of competition to stay in Reykjavík or Selfoss and then drive early in the morning to be at the starting line in time,” Thorarensen added.
Could hold a bigger contest
Thorarensen believes the competition can expand further.
“Our competition sold out in October. We could have even held a 2,000-person competition in fact if there were more accommodations in the area in and around Hvolsvöllur,” he concludes.
