Diversion was founded on the concept of doing things differently: finding new ways to ride classic routes and elevating what a day on the bike can look and feel like. So, when we started planning the 2026 ride calendar, we thought, why not bring back a classic?
The challenge was set: an epic gravel ride following the route of the infamous underground race, the Cowichan Valley Nightmare. Connecting two of Vancouver Island's major cities, Nanaimo and Victoria, the route delivers some of the island's best gravel, climbs, and scenery along the way
The day started dark and rainy at 4:30 AM, but cutting through downtown Vancouver before the crack of dawn is always more fun than you'd think. After an early ferry, eggs benny, and a breathtaking view as we crossed the Georgia Strait, we arrived in Nanaimo and got straight to work.
A few quick kilometres on coastal roads later, we hit the champagne gravel.
As with all DV rides, coffee and treats are a must, and The Garage in Duncan was the perfect stop for the group. We were also lucky enough to be joined by Tobias Kongstad, one of the world's top gravel riders and a member of the Pas Normal Studios Racing team. A little caffeine and sugar was exactly what we needed before watching Tobias absolutely destroy a 25-kilometre stretch of gravel all the way up to Lake Cowichan, collecting a few KOMs along the way, naturally. Let's just say, the rest of us had some work to do to keep up.
Crossing the halfway mark, spirits were high, but we still had the most challenging segment of the day ahead: the Malahat.
After a couple of crossings of the world's highest trussel bridge, we were locked in for the crux of the day. The group rallied, and not a single rider failed to complete the climb. A few high fives celebrated the final leg, and we were ready to race to the ferry.
Luckily, the temperatures cooled, and it was nothing but smiles as we boarded and started dreaming about the calorie-packed meal waiting for us on the other side.
Two hours later, we were back on the mainland. The look on everyone's face said only one thing:
So, what's the next one?
Checkout the route on Strava here
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