2018 WOW Glacier 360 stage two

Another perfect day has gone by for riders of WOW Glacier 360.

Stage two is dubbed the waterworld climbs. The name stems from the river crossings riders have to tackle under the supervision of trained guides. Furthermore the stage is the most gruelling one of the entire race. Riders expose themselves to the highlands riding on the North side of the glacier. Terrain resembling a desert, where you can ride kilometer after kilometer without eyeing anything except for the vast highlands.

Photo: Juliette Rowland

The day ends at the highest point of the race, in the dead centre of the Icelandic highlands at Hveravellir "oasis". Oasis being a rather loose term for a highland refuge formed around a hot spring on the oldest coast-to-coast road in Iceland, the Kjölur road.

The weather was at its best, fairly warm temperatures, little wind and clear skies. We had tired but happy riders rolling into camp. A few bikes took a beating, slowing their owners down a bit without grinding them to a halt though.

General classification did not change, first teams of each category looking solid and strong. Here's the leaderboard with total accumulated time:

Photo: Juliette Rowland

Men category: Airport Direct, Eyjólfur Guðgeirsson and Birkir Snær Ingvason (8:28:50)
Women category: Team Kvika, Anna Kristín Sigurpálsdóttir and Steinunn Erla Thorlacius (12:35:15)
Mixed category: Ossowscy, Maria Ossowska and Adam Ossowski (10:05:46)
Masters category: Dos Cortados, James Smith and Craig Tindall (10:20:53)
Gran masters category: Grandmaster Flash, Alden Philbrick and Stuart Walsworth (11:16:58)

Tomorrow the final stage, 85 km from Hveravellir to Gullfoss through the amazing 29 km long single track of Þjófadalur valley following the ancient Kjalvegur. Start is at 09:00 and we estimate that first teams will come in between 12:00 and 13:00.