Ribble Collective descended upon the Rift Gravel Race with full force, ready to conquer the challenging 200km course of volcanic gravel. Mikey, Metheven, and Tom tackled the grueling terrain, showcasing their strength and determination. Although sidelined by a health condition, Maddy was there to capture every moment, offering support and cheering the team on.
We spoke to the team as they reflected on this epic race.
How did your preparation for The Rift gravel race in Iceland go this year? Were there any aspects of your training or planning that stood out?
Mikey: The 1st third of the Rift it predominately climbing. This kind of steady tempo climbing is right up my street so I made sure I could utilizes that with some long sweet spot efforts as well as shorted 'under/over' efforts in the weeks leading up to the race. I also had a good look at the equipment I was running, last year I punctured and broke a wheel early on so I ran wider 45mm tyres as well as a wider and bigger tyre liner to mitigate the effects of any impacts or rocks and holes.
Tom: Personally this season has involved racing a huge variety of different disciplines and types of events which has made specific training for each race pretty tricky. The Rift fell within a big block of crit racing which I would have said I was focusing more on as I find those shorter, more intense sorts of events suit me better.
I did of course include a handful of sessions in the weeks leading up to the Rift to better prepare me which included generally riding my gravel bike a lot more to get used to the set up and also some key sessions. From sweet spots to VO2 max efforts being two of the main types.
Metheven: A couple of the major gravel races I have this year have all been a similar distance or elevation gain, so my training didn't really change specifically for The Rift. However what did change was my equipment choice; which was something I carefully chose and tested leading up to the race. Given the rough terrain and the risk of arduous washboard, I decided to see what the maximum tyre choice was I could squeeze into the Gravel SL fork. In the end a settled on a 2” (50mm) Continental Race King. They have an incredibly low rolling resistance, and the extra volume smooths out rough terrain making you go faster with less risk of puncturing.
What was your experience during The Rift gravel race this year? Did anything unexpected come up, and how did you handle it?
Mikey: I was happy with my start this year and in a fairly good position going onto the first climb, despite narrowly missing a crash far up the bunch. Over the next hour or so I managed to stay with the front of the race as it whittled down to about 15 rider towards the races highest points. Towards the top I lost contact as the race went over a series of short steep climbs. I then of the descents and flat rode a good tempo on my own making sure I had the chance to pick people off and not get caught from behind. In the end I caught one from Infront and got caught by one behind and managed to finish 13th with a hard bit of riding on the run in. The only unexpected this (which was slightly expected) was that I lost both my bottles on the 'Wash board' gravel roads however the feed stations were well stocked and I managed to pick up some more quickly at the next feed.
Tom: Unfortunately my legs didn’t feel the best on race day, although I made the front split over the first few climbs I was weary I still had 160km of tough racing to go and really did not want to explode! With that in mind I backed off a little which did give me time to take in the sights as we raced around Hekla, one of the most active volcanos in Iceland! I then picked up the pace in the second half of the race, picking off the riders who had gone too deep too early to ultimately finish 25th.
Metheven: It was an absolutely incredible experience racing through volcanic landscapes and across freezing river crossings. It is definitely a race which has to be experienced I order to believe.
Early on in the race I was just behind Mikey when a crash occurred, and even after replaying the GoPro footage I have no idea how Mikey thread the needle straight through the crash unscathed.
Looking back at this year's race, is there anything you would change in your preparation or race strategy for next year?
Mikey: I would probably look to work a bit more on my topend 1-3min efforts so I can get myself over the steeper climbs a bit better. I would also probably fit some different bottle cages to hold the bottles on the rough a bit better.
Tom: I would say in terms of my equipment I was perfectly equipped. The Ribble Grabel SL coped with the rugged terrain with ease and I experienced no mechanicals! The only thing I would look at doing is trying to add in some even longer training rides, but sometimes this can be a struggle when working full time!
Metheven: I was happy with my race set-up this year, and apart from trying to save a few grams here and there isn't much I would change. The only real mistake I made was missing a couple gels during a rough section of the course which I paid the price for later when I ran out of energy.
How much of an advantage do you think experience provides in gravel racing events like The Rift?
Mikey: Most gravel racing is trial and error and there is always stuff you will change for the next race. Therefore a bit event like The Rift provides a lot of learning to take forwards.
Tom: I don’t think it matters at all! I would say gaming experience of riding on gravel is essential but it’s not essential to have previous experience of the course. Gravel can be so unpredictable, so even the same course can be completely different the next year.
Metheven: It definitely helps in terms of equipment choice. But ultimately there are so many curve balls which come up from this race it is almost impossible to plan for all of them.
What advice would you give to someone participating in The Rift for the first time?
Mikey: Wide tyres and liners. Also take a jacket with you just incase, you don't want to be stuck up a volcano fixing something or waiting for help in summer kit.
Tom: It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, especially with all the travelling involved and I would say just try to take a step back and enjoy it. That’s my biggest advice, just enjoy it and have fun.
Metheven: Make sure you have secure bottle cages as so many people lose bottles over the rough terrain. Also fit the widest tyres you can safely squeeze into your frame.
How do you celebrate or unwind after completing a demanding race like The Rift?
Mikey: It's always good just to hang out with other racers I get on well with for some food, talk about everyone ride as well as life off the bike.
Tom: For me I spent a few days sightseeing, taking in the sites we raced around to really appreciate the beauty of such a country. I always like to try catch up with friends also racing, sharing our experience of the race and just generally hear what they’ve been up to since the last race.
Metheven: By becoming a proper tourist for a couple days and making the most of what Iceland has to offer.
If you were to sum up The Rift in three words, what would you say?
Mikey: Challenging, scenic, volcanos
Tom: Breathtakingly crazy & epic.
Metheven: Epic. Beautiful. Brutal.
