Does being a WorldTour pro make you better at gravel? Not necessarily, says Emily Newsom
Newsom wants to win every race she enters, including The Mid South this Saturday. But she knows her pro license doesn't guarantee a thing.
In just a few years, gravel cycling has gone from a fringe pursuit to the hot style of riding and racing, with current and former WorldTour professional jumping in the mix. Gravel cycling has many attractions: escaping traffic, noise, and congestion – whether rolling solo, riding with friends, or racing with competitors. At VeloNews, we cover all the major events and many of the small, quirky ones, bringing you the inside stories from the riders at the front and the back of the back. We also test a wide variety of gear, often in races like Unbound Gravel or The Mid South, and give you our unvarnished feedback here.
Newsom wants to win every race she enters, including The Mid South this Saturday. But she knows her pro license doesn't guarantee a thing.
The former rowing world champion says he wants to take gravel seriously. "But at the same time, I don't want to take it or myself too seriously. A whole lot of people are doing this as recreation; this is their outlet."
How does the 34-year-old fit it all in? By being thoroughly stoked on everything she does.
Tubeless tires, wider rims, special wheels, secret tire pressure — a mechanic shares the details of what goes into building out the race bikes for Strade Bianche.
Eight days, 91,000 feet of climbing, and 650 miles of gravel in what is basically a credit-card bikepacking race. Ooph!
Firm and shaped beneath the foot and at the heel; almost sock-like and malleable for most of the upper.
The red-orange clay of Oklahoma is calling. Will it be a mudder this year?
Hands-on with a new premium race version of the popular semi-slick gravel rubber
The 38-year-old opens up about not making the Tokyo team, the thrill of racing in front of hometown crowds, and sharing her experiences through public speaking.
One of the fastest tires in our lab test just got faster with a dual-compound tread.
Cadex AR 35 weigh 1,270g with ceramic bearings and claims of higher lateral and transmission stiffness than competitors.
The NorCal series continues to foreshadow the upcoming gravel season with stunning performances by California-based pros.
A documentary attempts to capture the essence of what the discipline means to athletes and organizers.
Check out Betsy Welch's author page.
Check out Betsy Welch's author page.
$159 shoe joins the brand's Terra X5 and Powerstrap X4 as a roomier, slightly wider option.
20 mm of integrated front suspension meets an already progressive gravel bike.
Colorado wildflowers decorate Ruth Winder's custom Trek Checkpoint.
I’d heard tall tales of the Rock Cobbler for years. It did not disappoint.
The non-profit's mission is to 'Shred the Stigma' around mental health, and the new Floyd's squad is committed to sharing that goal.
After 13 years of professional riding, Winder is finding out it's not that easy to turn off the switch. But she's doing everything she can to have fun while trying.
43 mm-wide mixed-terrain tires, stable geometry, drop bars, wide-range gearing, and front suspension — in 1993.
The new gravel race from Red Bull will happen on May 7 near Marfa, Texas.
At last weekend's Rock Cobbler, four riders had a run-in with a bull on course. We ask a lawyer what he thinks.
Smart shaping and clever construction pair perfectly with 35 mm-wide tires — and a wider version could be on the way.
Nobody did a good job here except the bull.
The seven-time Grand Tour winner has big questions about the safety and fairness of stage racing.
The Bakersfield, California event is known for marrying on-course shenanigans and full throttle racing.
The four-time Tour de France winner opens a debate over safety concerns in road racing.
A CT regular returns with a fresh custom titanium gravel bike built for going further.
Also, why you may not have heard of the Canadian endurance cyclist and why he's one to follow.
Pros Hannah Shell and Brennan Wertz win the south Florida gravel race while hundreds of others enjoyed the sunshine, sea birds, and camaraderie.
The Dutch rider also has her sights set on the Tour de France Femmes, which she hopes will inspire the next generation of female riders.
The new race debuts on the edge of the Everglades Sunday, February 6.
I tested Easton's new ergo gravel bar with its size-specific diameters on a big, multi-day ride.
Check out Betsy Welch's author page.
The veteran MTB and 'cross legend wouldn't have had a career in cycling without the international federation.
The eight-race series will ban aero bars and time trial bikes
Baxter replacement feature big titanium tubes, plenty of carrying capacity, and a new titanium fork.
Moots quadruples down on the Routt line, including a Neo Retro build for the Routt ESC.
Athletes and event organizers speak to us about what they've heard, while the UCI continues to defer any communication.
My sponsors have been announced, projects are in planning, and the race calendar is set. Now the uphill slog to fitness begins.
2021's winningest gravel racer talks about going gravel pro, the unhealthy wrath of the internet, and what she's excited about for 2022.
A US$1,400 wheel with the same rim as the US$2,500 flagship offering.
After the success of last year's Migration Gravel Race, the Amani Project rolls into 2022 with a new stage race and a team.
Gravel is my life, my career. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Like, really ahead.
Check out Peloton Magazine's author page.
The Colorado event will feature the same unique format as the original: commitment to the beginner experience, a charity partner, and lots of pros.
While not a brick and mortar museum yet, the project will honor the pioneers of the discipline, as nominated by members of the gravel community.
Some 15-20 existing events will serve as qualifiers for gravel worlds. Specific details will likely be announced by the UCI in early February.
While privateering may sound like a solo pursuit, I feel more connected to my community than ever before.
Bend, Oregon, Patagonia, Arizona, and Pueblo, Colorado books to launch in 2022 with more to follow
How the Canadian uses careful analysis — and self-produced YouTube videos — to become a better racer.
Amity Rockwell, Adam Roberge depart, up-and-coming gravel racers Brennan Wertz and Bradyn Lange join
The Boulder winter gravel adventure race joins other local outdoor industry businesses to raise funds and gather resources for victims of the December 30 blaze.
The June 4, 2022 Kansas gravel event features six distances, from 25 to 350 miles.
The 28-year-old mountain biker, gravel racer, adventurer, and podcaster will ride American-manufactured carbon in 2022.
The riders on the multi-discipline squad have lofty ambitions on the road, gravel, 'cross, track, and the internet.
Our editors weigh in on the 21 must-know, heavy-hitting headlines of 2021 and why they matter: Part two.
Next year, the 40-year-old Canadian will be back on the start line racing gravel for Floyd's of Leadville Racing.
Payson McElveen's chronicle of his September adventure riding across Iceland without stopping.
Five riders plus Floyd Landis and Dave Zabriskie will compete in gravel and cross-country races in 2022.
The June 4th event will feature three distances and will benefit the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship's Connected Communities Project.
60 riders were selected to race for $250,000. How is this going to shake out?
The defending champ of Unbound Gravel supports the series but wants to stay true to his post-retirement plan: having fun and no pressure.
A production gravel bike from the Irish company best known for its custom road bikes.
Amity Rockwell, Ruth Winder, Katerina Nash, and Lea Davison headline women's list; Keegan Swenson, Alex Howes, Pete Stetina, and Kiel Reijnen top the men's.
The three-day event will include educational clinics, group rides, and community gatherings.
The first drop-bar bike from the Colorado-based mountain bike company
After a decade racing at the highest level on the road, the Australian is after a new challenge.
Blurring the lines between gravel and XC bikes to conquer Swiss mountains.
The bike from the Colorado mountain bike brand features progressive geometry in a no-frills, race-ready package.
Gravel is like mountain bike style for people tired of just doing roadie things.
Conor Dunne joined the Ag2r pro in a stunning route in a mix of road and gravel connecting five of Spain's Canary Islands.
After seeing her female friends struggle with off-road riding, Eleanor Jaskowska wanted to help.
I struggled sometimes with the travel and social media, but 2021 was the best year of my career.
Last weekend, NK Gravel in the Netherlands crowned two national champions. Is the race a harbinger of more sanctioned gravel to come?
The hour-long Belgian Waffle Ride documentary is streaming on Outside TV
The annual ride across Iowa helped spawn a new genre of public rides and is now among the oldest and largest touring events in the world.
WorldTour riders filled the podium at the first ever women’s Dutch national gravel championships.