Until recently, the Nordic Gravel Series (NGS) was—to us—just another gravel series with races across Northern Europe. However, a few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to take part in Gravel Grit’n Grind Halmstad, one of the standout events on their calendar.

Thanks to BMC, one of the main sponsors of the series, and the NGS organizers, we enjoyed an unforgettable weekend packed with gravel riding, new friendships, and—above all—plenty of time in the saddle. Aboard the BMC Kaius 01, we gave it our all over two intense days of racing, and the event undoubtedly exceeded our expectations.

Day 1: UCI Panaracer Gravelking Gravel World Series Halmstad

We have to admit we were wrong; we let the course stats sway us and failed to read the race we were facing. A 154 km route with 1,600 m of elevation gain—featuring climbs no longer than 2 or 3 km—didn’t look particularly intimidating on paper. But it was our first time pinning on a race number in Sweden, and unfortunately, we underestimated a few things.

The start line was in Heagård, just 7 km from Halmstad’s center—a vast area dominated by green meadows. The race kicked off at 10:00 AM, and the first section of the course took us along tracks, country lanes, and road segments that were largely exposed to the wind. This is where we encountered the first factors we hadn’t accounted for in our pre-race analysis: the fast, rolling terrain and the wind. The Scandinavian physique, tall and long-legged, seemed to give them an advantage in these conditions, which they seemed more than accustomed to. While some riders looked comfortable at high speeds amid the nervous energy of the opening kilometers and the wind gusts, the rest of us tried to hold a good position in the pack and make the most of the draft. That said, for the first 20 km, we were completely out of rhythm and burning more energy than we’d like.

Gradually, the race pace naturally sorted the field, and smaller groups began to form. Don’t think things ever eased up, though. “Race mode” stayed fully engaged for the rest of the event; whether you were sitting on a wheel, working with your current group, or pulling the pack yourself. We went full gas from start to finish.

We ventured into more wooded areas, alternating between wide, technically undemanding tracks and lightly traveled roads. It was a constant up-and-down affair, with cumulative elevation gain slowly mounting with every kilometer, leaving little time for our legs to recover. The scenery was truly beautiful; the route wound past farms and along country lanes cutting through small meadows and lush forests. The race’s most technical section came at the 100-kilometer mark, where we traversed rocky paths with steep gradients—terrain where we felt less confident given the tires we had chosen for the event. By the time we cleared this section, fatigue and leg pain had set in, yet we did everything we could to stay focused and cross the finish line as quickly as possible. We finished with a total distance of just over 150 km, 2,060 meters of elevation gain, and an average speed of 28 km/h. While these numbers might not be earth-shattering, given our current fitness levels, it was undoubtedly one of those grueling days in the saddle.

The BMC Kaius, however, performed flawlessly. With the handlebars slammed against the head tube, 45mm Continental Terra Competition tires, and a freshly waxed chain, we had the ideal race setup. We experienced zero mechanical issues and no discomfort—despite it being a test bike—and enjoyed great performance throughout the course. Once again, racing the Kaius left us more than satisfied.

A total of 550 riders gathered that day, spread across various age groups. As a UCI Gravel Series event, participation was particularly impressive, especially given that cycling culture and turnout for such events in Northern Europe differ from those in Spain.

Day 2: Nordic Gravel Series Halmstad

Sunday marked the true celebration of gravel riding in Halmstad. While competition remained central, the Gravel Grit’n Grind event took place near the village of Simlangsdålen, about 15 km from Halmstad. The second day of racing featured far more scenic and rugged terrain than the UCI event.

The main race covered 125 km with 1,200 m of elevation gain—though riders could choose from several distances—winding through dense beech forests, expansive valleys, and past various lakes. The pre-race atmosphere was much calmer than the day before. Even though NGS points were on the line, the riders were there to enjoy a great day of gravel riding, and the mood was far more relaxed.

Unfortunately, we woke up that day with right-knee discomfort—from the previous day’s strenuous effort—forcing us to rethink our participation in Sunday’s race. Nevertheless, we headed to the start line to soak up the atmosphere and follow the opening kilometers of both the men’s and women’s races. It was a shame to miss out on starting alongside the other participants, but we see it as the perfect excuse to return to Halmstad soon and complete a fantastic gravel weekend.