Three weeks before The Rift MTB Iceland, Flow Formulas athlete Starla Teddergreen wasn’t on her bike, she was in the ER. A crash left her with misaligned vertebrae, broken ribs, and fluid around her heart. Breathing was painful, lying flat was impossible, and racing a five-day stage race in Iceland seemed out of reach.
But Starla wasn’t ready to give up. With support from her Duo teammate, Lauren Zimmer, and a focused recovery plan, she set one goal: make it to the start line.
Recovery Fueled by Focus
Starla committed to rehab with Dynamic Athlete in Boulder and a specialist chiropractor to restore alignment and core mobility. But fueling her recovery mattered just as much. She leaned on Flow Formulas Endurance Mix and Recovery Mix to keep energy steady through limited training sessions and to help her body repair between therapy appointments.
When she was offered a spot at the XCM MTB World Championships, she made the tough call to say no, choosing presence over pressure. That decision left space for Iceland.
By race week, she was ready. Not fully healed, but ready.
The Bike Drama
Travel added its own test: Starla’s AirTag revealed her bike never made it onto the flight. Forty-eight hours of stress later, her luggage finally arrived minutes before the transfer shuttle. She could finally focus on the race, and on staying fueled for what was ahead.
The Rift Experience
The Rift MTB delivered world-class logistics and Icelandic magic in equal measure: fjords, lava fields, bog mud, and snow-dusted ridge lines. Starla and Lauren’s teamwork as well as fueling, were the constants that carried them through.
- Stage 1 & 2 (Akureyri Loops): Fjordside climbs, bike park flow, and high-fives from school kids. With rib pain limiting her hike-a-bike ability, Starla leaned on Lauren’s strength. Together, they fueled every climb with 90g of carbs per hour from Flow Endurance Mix - crossing the line hand in hand for two stage wins.
- Stage 3 (The Queen Stage): An hour-long hike-a-bike, shallow breathing struggles, and louse descents. Lauren shouldered extra weight while Starla focused on steady fueling - knowing glycogen and hydration would make or break the day. Flow’s electrolyte balance helped her manage her energy despite rib-restricted breathing, while Lauren kept them moving. They crossed the line exhausted but victorious.
- Stage 4 (Metal & Momentum): Lava fields, geothermal steam, and high-speed gravel. This was Starla’s chance to shine. With the power of Flow’s endurance carbs and sodium mix, she pulled into the wind, shielding Lauren and delivering them safely to another win.
- Stage 5 (The Final Push): Thick fog, Iceland’s infamous bog mud, and a screaming descent into the finish line at Skógarböð Spa. Fueled by Flow for one last big push, Starla and Lauren crossed the line together, completing five stages, five wins, and one unforgettable adventure.
Lessons from Iceland
Starla didn’t just win despite her injuries, she thrived because she trusted her teammate, her recovery, her fueling and left all the expectations behind her. From green-trail spins in rehab to five straight stage wins in Iceland.
The Rift MTB wasn’t just a race. It was proof that resilience, the right fueling, and the right partner can turn setbacks into triumphs.
If you’re dreaming of Iceland, take Starla’s advice: don’t hesitate. Go experience it yourself!
