Words: Burgh Cycling
Photos: Connor Sens & The Rift
What happens when human grit meets Earth’s raw power?
Ask Connor Sens—one of our sponsored riders-who recently battled the elements and exhaustion to finish the grueling Rift Gravel Race in Iceland.
This was no ordinary gravel event. It was 200km across lava, rivers, snowfields, and seismic scars, set in one of the most remote landscapes on the planet. Held in the tectonic heart of Iceland, The Rift has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most epic stops on the Gravel Earth Series.
The Rift: Where Continents Collide
The Rift begins in Hvolsvöllur, a small town in southern Iceland where the North American and Eurasian plates meet. The course is as surreal as it is savage: volcanic gravel plains, glacial rivers, snow-capped ridges, and wind-blasted highlands. Riders cover 200km and over 2,600m of climbing, with weather that can shift from freezing fog to blazing sunshine in the span of an hour – see the course here.
For Connor, it was a test like no other.
Connor’s Iceland Adventure: From Arrival to Finish Line
Arrival & Recon
Connor and Ella (Connor’s partner) landed in Reykjavik a few days before the race, collected their campervan-home, and settled into life just kilometres from the start line. The backdrop? Snowy mountains, active volcanoes, and strangely, a golf course.
He previewed sections of the course and was left in awe:
“One moment I was climbing through misty green mountains, the next riding across black volcanic gravel and icy rivers, and then suddenly crossing bright white snowfields under the sun. Mind-blowing.”
Race Morning & Early Breakaway
With his classic breakfast of 6–7 Weet-Bix (Brett Lee like) and a strong coffee down, Connor rolled to the start line for the 8am flag drop. He attacked immediately out of the neutral zone, joined by an Icelandic rider on a dual-suspension mountain bike. Together they rode clear, handling sketchy crossings and jagged rock with confidence. For 50km, it looked like a dream start.
The Hike-a-Bike Gauntlet
But at 60km, reality bit. A 25-strong chase group reeled them in on a steady climb. Soon after came the brutal hike-a-bike section: steep pitches, sharp descents, and terrain that scattered the peloton. Riders were left strung out across the landscape. Connor dug deep, clawing back positions through open black roads, glacial streams, and endless gravel.
Mechanical Mayhem & Recovery
At 178km in, disaster struck. A sharp volcanic rock sliced Connor’s front tyre open. Luckily, Ella and their campervan were waiting just ahead at the feed zone. In less than three minutes, Connor swapped out his tyre and tube, rejoined the course, and turned the final 22km into a solo time trial.
Crossing the Line
Six hours and fifty minutes after rolling out, Connor crossed the finish line in 19th place. A top-20 result in one of the world’s toughest gravel races – and an achievement forged in both resilience and quick thinking.
Summary
The Rift wasn’t just a race. It was an adventure through fire and ice, across a land where continents split and riders are pushed to their limits. For Connor, it’s a beginning rather than an ending. With experience in the legs and fire in the belly, you can bet he’ll be back.
And so will we, proudly supporting him every pedal stroke along the way.
See the full 2025 The Rift race results here.
Connor’s Race Rig & Supporters
VIA Atelier | @via_atelier.cc
Ekoi Cycling | @ekoicycling
Cervelo Australia | @cervelo_ausnz
Creative Carbon Wheels | @creative.carbon
Schwalbe tyres | @schwalbeaustralia
Burgh Handlebar Tape | @burghcycling
SRAM Australia | @sram_australia
Sul Nutrition | @sul_nutrition
Coefficient Cycling | @coefficientcycling
