NORDAHL AND DECKER WIN THE RIFT IN THE LAST METER OF THE VOLCANIC PARADISE
The Norwegian Simen Nordahl revalidated his victory to present his candidacy for the Gravel Earth Series
The American Cecily Decker vindicated in the fourth Global event of the season
Iceland is an ideal location for gravel cycling, offering a privileged natural environment with its amazing volcanic lands to enjoy this sport to its fullest. The gravel paradise of The Rift provide an unparalleled experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all participants fortunate enough to get an entry. It’s not every day you get the chance to be part of one of the most prestigious events of the Gravel Earth Series season. Simen Nordahl and Ceciky Decker were not intimidated by the high level of professional athletes and wrote one of their greatest sporting achievements last Saturday 20th July.
The challenge proposed a 200-kilometer track with the beautiful town of Hvolsvöllur as the starting and finishing point. A fascinating journey in the south of the island where a great battle was forged between waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers and the majestic Hekla volcano. The most impressive and rugged landscapes of Iceland awaited all participants in the fourth Gravel Earth Global event of the caledar. Only five races receive this distinction and award extra points. The Norwegian Simen Nordahl left Iceland with the spoils of 1000 points to climb to the top of a overall ranking that consider the two best scores of the year plus the result of the Gravel Earth Final. Nordahl, along with the French Hugo Drechou, has 1808 points out of the maximum 2000 that can be reached before the grand finale. On the other side, the American Cecily Decker reinvindicated herself in one of the most important days of the year, while Karolina Migon’s second place finish makes her the undisputed leader of the Gravel Earth Series with1920 points.
However, victory in The Rift was a hard sell and was not decided until literally the last meter. Much of the fight, both male and female, was disputed in a group with many athletes aspiring to everything. It should be remembered that the women’s race had a separate start, so we had two beautiful independent battles. The Dutch Geerike Schreurs, third, the American Morgan Aguirre, fourth, or the Danish Klara Sofie Skovgard, fifth, had options for victory with other contenders. A large group led the race, but the passing of the hours left the American Cecily Decker and the Polish Karolina Migon alone at the front. They were the strongest athletes and the title was not decided until the sprint. Decker beat Migon at the last meter.
This history repeated itself in the men’s battle. The Icelandic Ingvar Ómarsson, third, the French Hugo Drechou, fourth, the Italian Mattia de Marchi, fifth, the Danish Thomas Bundgaaard, sixth, or the Norwegian Ole Bjorn, seventh, were more than protagonists. They reached the finish line together and the final sprint decided the dance of positions. However, for much of the race they shared the limelight with the Norwegian Simen Nordahl and the Portuguese Tiago Ferreira, who managed to escape in the decisive stretch to dispute a head-to-head that was decided in favor of the Norwegian in the last meter. Tachycardic finish.
These elite athletes, as well as numerous amateurs with diverse personal goals, experienced and shared an unforgettable day in the volcanic lands of Iceland. The race traversed the continental rift between North America and Eurasia, a geological marvel that grows an inch every year, creating a surreal backdrop of vast lava fields. An endurance and mental challenge against the raw beauty of nature. This natural paradise will be followed by others. There are still six events left, including the Global race of the Falling Leaves Lahti in Finland, to close the calendar before the Gravel Earth Final. Six opportunities to continue adding points, climb positions in the overall ranking and reach the grand finale on 12th and 13th October with a chance of glory. It will be held in the heart of Catalunya. Ranxo Gravel will mark the destiny of all the heroes.
