Can A Gravel Rider Actually Win The Gravel World Championships? | GCN Show Ep. 560

[@gcn]

Are roadies going to dominate this year’s gravel world champs? 🚴

[@matthewlewis2072]

Yes. Next question

[@matthewlewis2072]

Certainly not an American one, the World's involve corners

[@matthewlewis2072]

14:20 50m of vertical elevation us not enough in, say, Bath.

[@Andy_ATB]

More than likely; it's another disappointing course. Not enough climbing, and not technical enough.......

[@Choedron]

To start with, yes. But give it a few years, then we will see riders, who have really specialized on gravel. There will come new training methods, which target the gravel.

[@georgesa.videau8332]

No! 2023 rewards cross overs. A cyclocrosser won the road worlds, a roady won the Mt b worlds, a ski jumper won el Giro and a fisherman won the Tour de France.

[@gcn]

Who's winning the gravel worlds? 👀

[@georgesa.videau8332]

@@gcn A roadie on a gravel bike or a gravel specialist on a road bike.

[@WendsH]

Matt Stephens commenting on a cleatless sprint is ironic considering how much trouble he has clipping in.

[@ZeroSeriesMMX]

Matt resuming chase of Peter Sagan and trying to clip in: "F**k sake!" -- years ago. 🤣

[@jlhinsk]

The proper questions should be, "Is the route really a gravel route this year?"

[@matthewlewis2072]

Straight and boring, as in US gravel?

[@cjohnson3836]

@@matthewlewis2072 Better than the pewee club velodrome race you Euros tried to pass off last year.

[@KelvinSuddith]

@@matthewlewis2072US gravel boring? Clearly you’ve ridden all of the Lifetime races, the mountain climbs and descents of Colorado, and the bluffs of Arkansas, if you can believe that they are straight 😂😂

[@gcn]

We'll have to wait and see! Do you think that'll chance the outcome of the race? 🤔

[@badsamaritansofficial6704]

160k is too short for a gravel race.

[@mitch_smith]

Dan and Si are legit, the elite duo of presenters!

[@kokonanana1]

I miss Matt. And the Brick!

[@KelvinSuddith]

Matt’s voice almost made this feel like an older video!

[@robbchastain3036]

No knock on the other presenter duos, just that nothing tops Chet and David. 😀

[@mikes1976]

So glad to see Dan and Si together again. Great chemistry!

[@Chasing-Daydream]

I just did my 1st gravel ride/race ever at The MidSourh in Oklahoma. Specifically, the 12 mile inspiration race. I instantly recognized my minimal XC MTB experience, gave me an edge at certain points. But I lacked cyclist legs to handle the climbs. I'm already planning both road and gravel time, into this years training plans. NOT being dedicated to only one discipline of riding, just seems like the better idea to improve my skills across the board. I'm just a rookie but only focusing on one discipline seems like self sabotage to me. Learning how to open my hips up and extend my legs more, to finally get speed during the MidSouth gravel race. Was applied the very next weekend in this years 1st Tour de Dirt XC race. Where I may have finished last. But I finished proud of my progress and motivated to train harder . My GoPro pocket deleted that race though. 😢 IMO. Learning to road and gravel ride, is definitely going to improve my chances of reaching podium for XC. But, I'm now also planning to add gravel races into my bike racing journey. So gravel podium goals are also on my radar. And I already know how much my XC experience helped me there. So, Baby steps ATM. Im just getting started. Thanks for the interesting topic.

[@Iron883Man]

Cromwell and other non-Europeans were allowed to race at the EC Gravel because it also was a qualifier for the World Championship of next year.

[@Bill_Melater]

#CaptionCompetition: Hamming it up on the podium after winning the race, Marta is proving once again she's no phoney Bologna

[@dennisgreene5055]

THIS IS THE WINNER!!!!

[@erlendsteren9466]

Some ofhe strongest gravel, mountainbike and cyclocrossriders have signed for a roadteam, and their strenght is so extreme that they are favourites in gravelraces. Wout van Aert is one of the best roadies on the planet, because of his strenght, but his strenght emerged in cyclocross, so he is actually a cyclocrosser performing great both on gravel and road. When talking about socks. I got some that touch my knee. Good in the autumn when its getting somewhat colder.

[@HkFinn83]

Name one rider who legitimately came from gravel to the road

[@Acousticmarine678]

They should make a rule that gravel events can only serve hamburgers, french fries, and milkshakes at the feed stations, maybe beer too. That way the purebreds won't show up for the fun :)

[@MarrafaCycling]

No, gravel cyclists will never be able to beat the legs of road cyclists on fast courses, but if the UCI organised a competition like it was in Millau in France, gravel cyclists would probably have a better chance. That means the organisation need to think in diversity, not loops and fast easy dusty roads.

[@cjohnson3836]

Europeans are too worried about getting some mud on their shoes. And the roadies don't have the upper body strength to lift a gravel bike. So UCI will never let that happen. The real gravel world champion is crowned in Emporia.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Not saying he'll win but Keegan has a higher wattage per kilogram than Wout. Put him over 2000m altitude and he may have the best watts per kilo on the planet or he's at least very close to it. And while he's no MVDP, he does have national mountain bike titles so he's not exactly an incapable bike handler.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

​@cjohnson3836 if the gravel capital were created in California, Europeans would possibly wanna race there. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to go to Kansas. When I visit family in Arkansas from Utah, I hold my breath and don't drink so I don't have to stop in Kansas😂

[@bimblingalong]

after Si failing to clear the barriers, Ollie trying to ride down a sandy slope, & Dan busting his ankle cycling on grass I'm almost surprised that any other GCN presenter is willing to risk cyclocross! Looking forward to the carnage!

[@gcn]

GCN and cross is always a spicy mix... throw Conor in and it's a recipe for fun🙌 Turn your notifications on and you wont miss the video 🔔

[@dominicbritt]

GCN haven’t done their research. The US based Pro Gravel riders spend most of their season racing at altitude.

[@NimrodGilAd]

I'd like to see Peter Sagan do a wheelie on the custom bike with the huge back wheel 😁

[@gcn]

He would make it effortless and cool 😎

[@oraszuletik]

Good old Matt! The cleat expert!

[@materialpost600]

Maybe Tiffany Cromwell was included in the European Gravel Championships in the Spirit of Eurovision, which also allows entries from Australia.

[@gcn]

Hahaha that'll be it!

[@matt_acton-varian]

The hack/bodge with the bars rolled down... perhaps an anti-theft measure? If a thief would struggle to control the bike wouldn't they be less likely to try and steal it?

[@lsantilli]

Here is the deal: If a gravel rider wins the Gravel World Championships, GCN is then obligated to create a new separate channel called GCNGC (GCN Gravel Channel) dedicated to gravel coverage and their sport alone.

[@stevev7814]

Swenson is on superb form. He’s got a chance

[@gcn]

You can never count him out! Will he fend of the likes of Wout?

[@dylanrobertson5010]

punctures… the worse the condition the better the chance

[@ethangodridge6833]

Cracking GCN+ documentary. Chapeau Conor.

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed it! Should we can him lining up for another gravel race?

[@spacehabitats]

For years there has been a gravel race held annually near Lincoln, Nebraska called "Gravel Worlds". Many gravelers were upset that the organizers of the new world championships failed to acknowledge that fact and some have even decided to boycott them. Maybe that hasn't kept the pro roadys away, but then they never really cared about gravel racing before either.

[@stou6093]

#CaptionCompetition: In a race where most raise the stakes, Marta ups the ante with a raised 'steak' and ensures she'll 'meat' competitors at the finish!

[@jesuspascualcamino]

I would have loved hearing Si say "on a Legit GCN elite water bottle." It would have been so fitting : )

[@cjohnson3836]

23:30 So he replaced a carbon leaf spring with a....carbon leaf spring.

[@nevakos24]

I'm glad you mentioned the pi-pop bike.. it looks intriguing! I hope you try one out on a video

[@MTBScotland]

Maybe if they actually did all the riding on gravel.

[@WaechterDerNacht]

Really looking forward to that video of Connor with Amy! That's gonna be fun!

[@gcn]

It's great! We can't wait for you to see it... A future GCN classic for sure 🙌

[@malachipash3824]

#CaptionCompetition "people said I wouldn't muster the strength to mount a ham launcher off my shoulders; boy do they feel silly now!"

[@ricodave]

I'm supprised there was no bingo wings caption for that one!

[@bubblesezblonde]

The 2023 Gravel World Championships have been decided at Unbound in Emporia Kansas.. Keegan Swenson won the Men's elite event and Caroline Schiff won the elite women's' race. I watched the UCI 'gravel races' and they were found wanting.

[@cjohnson3836]

Exactly

[@kokonanana1]

The UCI has no jurisdiction here!

[@gcn]

Are you hoping that the route this year is more "gravely" - It would be be great if Keegan and Schiff could do the double? 👑

[@longheadedshorthorse]

Reminds me of watching the van tours of the under funded Tour de Fems, then watching Chris Hall explain he was using 24 spokes on his front wheel because that was the type of son28 he was able to borrow for Badlands from a friend.

[@biketrybe7071]

All of the GCN presenters are knowledgeable and entertaining. But it is always a treat when the original duo hosts the GCN Show together.

[@gcn]

We don't mind kicking it old school with these two either 🙌

[@PeterRodriguez-k7i]

#captioncompetition another cycling transfer shock this week, Marta Cavalli has confirmed she is moving to Team Jambon-Visma

[@JakeMartin-qi1by]

I did the Cintron Tour of Majorca in 2011, absolutely nuts :) Yanto, Chris Opie, Clancy... I rode off a cliff etc

[@fritspas]

#captioncompetition "We can only imagine what Sepp Kuss would do..."

[@thewisconsingravelcyclist]

The US is going all in to to get Keegan and Alexy in the main moves. They are the two strongest riders. Guys like Payson McElveen will be watching for attacks and possibly be there later in the race top help if he has a good day. The rest of the team like Brennan wertz are on damage control.He a diesel engine that can sit on the front and do damage as needed. Luke Lamperti is there as well but havent seen him ride much gravel so not sure what to expect there. Lots of other minor players for the US but will be very interesting to see how the race plays out. Watch for US to try to be on the front all day with how narrow some of these roads get to make sure that they are in position to go with ANY move that could be dangerous. My two cents. Looking forward to the race!!!

[@gcn]

Some strong ideas here! US have a strong team for sure, The big pro names will have to have there eyes on riders like Keegan and McEveen 👀 It's going to be a super interesting fight 🥊

[@TyTy22_]

I think you’re overlooking how much work Keegan has put into his training, specifically this season. That being said, the Wouts of this race are still going to be hard to beat

[@gcn]

We would love to see Keegan take the win! He's a strong rider for sure 🙌

[@travisbooth78]

Nice to see Si wearing the Australian while talking about an Aussie in the Euro Gravel champs

[@kaltonian]

good one guys, regarding the Sagan story he has faded from the spotlight due to contracting covid a few seasons ago, which then turned out to be long covid, damn shame, as he says himself he just doesn't feel the same & that he can't reach his maximum performance, to us mortals he is still fast but just not as fast as he once was.

[@darrylhuculak4996]

I was once passed by an actual one-legged cyclist during a fondo. I would have felt bad, but this guy's one leg was almost as big as both of mine put together. His calf was as big as one of my quads.

[@Spongeblunt]

If roadies keep dominating your off-road race series, maybe your terrain is a bit poncey and you need to up your game.

[@RyonBeachner]

As an American who has never heard the term “poncey”, I got a good laugh out of this one.

[@biodegreaser4009]

Hahaha Yes😅😅😅

[@timbuckley6590]

Is this GCN or Derek & Clive? Dan is definetley operating at slight angle to the Universe. Brilliant.

[@G60syncro]

#CaptionCompetition "-Here's a bit of tadella... -I need more tadella" I'll see myself out.....

[@staypufft80]

Towel over the bars works just fine.

[@rob-c.]

And doesn’t require pointlessly throwing a load of cling film into the bin every week either 🤷‍♂️

[@adamwallace9790]

Caption comp: Champagne disaster on the podium as grocery list confusion leads to ham and not bottle given to winner.

[@CorneliusJames]

Ozzies at the Euro Gravel BickenChampionships? Sure why not! Australia were allowed to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest!

[@jasonfoster7357]

Look at World Tour performances at Unbound. The fix is in when the roady friendly course was chosen... hoping Kegan can overcome UCI attempts to bias the results.

[@climbslc2281]

c'mon Keegan!! I want to see the checked shirts!!! (but yes, the course is pretty much a baby gravel route so tough ask)

[@SteveTrice]

Poor old Marta, who's going to tell her, that's not Parma it's Mortadella?

[@dh7314]

I couldn’t name a single pro gravel rider 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@ArdGeal]

Maybe the bike with the upturned drops is the ultimate commuter and the owner hangs his shopping bags off of them after hitting the off-licence after work??

[@magicknight8412]

Caption competition "Chip on your shoulder? no no these days its a ham on your shoulder"

[@jhouston14]

Si tipped the right answer exactly at 10:00. US gravel courses and distances are SO different from the still evolving Euro “gravel courses” that the World Champs are still just a dusty road race by direct comparison.

[@jhouston14]

Si’s raced SBT - where I have been fortunate to participate- and knows exactly how different the tactical, physical and mental challenges are. As a point of reference, I overheard a former World Tour pro exclaim in the finish area that SBT was similar to and possibly harder than Liege Bastogne Liege.

[@JayLato]

6:35 I need to watch more mountain biking.

[@robbchastain3036]

There's plenty of room for both, the Spirit of Gravel and the Pursuit of High Performance. With plenty of action in between. And it is very cool that enthusiasts and pros can compete together here in the States. But there is so much good to say about gravel events and maybe it is all about the Spirit of Adventure and that's a big deal for Americans.

[@chrisweidner]

Probably Keegan had some high altitude camps being that he won the Leadville 100 where most of the 100 mile race takes place at an altitude higher than the tallest Alps around 10,000 ft or over 3,000 m.

[@donaldrieger381]

Do I smell a Castelli red flannel GCN jersey on sale for Christmas?

[@Sweeneybyname]

That plastic wrap Hack/Bodge is vile. Not only is it hugely wasteful but I can only imagine the treacherousness of getting out of the saddle and your hands just sliding off, resulting in a bit of an incident. Also, massive LOL moment when hearing of the upcoming Hank video. Somebody at GCN must really dislike him. Or he must really dislike himself by volunteering to do such things.

[@gcn]

Believe it or not Hank comes up with all his own ideas... 😵‍💫

[@Sweeneybyname]

@@gcn so the latter of the two then. I would suggest an intervention, but, selfishly, it is too funny to put an end to

[@jgourdo]

#captioncompetition : With a Cavalli-er push on the final climb, second place is awarded a hard-earned Marta-della

[@JMcLeodKC711]

Holy Crap….who “Bodged” that lollipop stick hack? That is the greatest hack since Otto Jacome used pieces of a Coke can to keep Greg Lemond’s TT bars from slipping on the last day of the 89 Tour

[@whatifindbeautiful]

It's settled. You two must travel together from now on. You have chemistry like Merry and Pippin, or Dominic and Billy. It's like the LOTR on bikes.

[@TheBushleaguer]

Caption contest: Marta asks, "now let's discuss pay disparity. "

[@GeekonaBike]

A point of order, the Lifetime GP (the big bucks USA gravel series) isn't exclusively gravel. Half of the races are MtB.

[@gcn]

True, but don't you think that makes for some great racing? 🏁

[@a1white]

Dan’s caption was so ham fisted

[@seattlegrrlie]

This episode was legit

[@bama95]

I know it is a bit of a niche but what do you think about Wahoo RGT shutting down? For those who aren't familiar, it was a sort of "free Zwift" made by Wahoo. In my experience, it opened the doors to indoor training for many cyclists with a limited budget, like me, since it could be used just with speed and cadence sensors (MyWhoosh doesn't) on any type of indoor trainer. I guess I will switch to running this winter.

[@stuartmisfeldt3068]

RGT was not developed by Wahoo. It was its own separate app, then it was acquired by Wahoo. Wahoo then didn’t promote it or continue developing it. Now it has been put in the bin. I worry that Wahoo will do the same to the Sufferfest (SUF), that they also acquired, since they have gotten rid of the original staff that developed it as well. Shame on you Wahoo. I don’t think GCN will approach this topic due to sponsorships.

[@michielvanderwal1276]

#captioncompetition: Marta Cavalli really pleased with the close support of Dan Big-ham

[@denisethewriter5789]

Caption competition: It’s so good to see female riders finally getting equal coverage after years of heavy lifting in the sausage fest.

[@kenflewitt3941]

Surely, almost the definition of "Gravel" is that it's a hybrid of road & off-road riding, so the world champ should be a product of that hybrid. You quoted Van Aert as a roadie, but surely he's the epitome of a hybrid rider skilled at both cross & road, which is kind of 'Gravel'🤔

[@ColoradoBiker]

You guys are silly. Keegan lives in Utah and trains above 2,000-3k meters nearly every day. He just smoked everyone at Leadville (4,000m elevation) and broke the course record. To bad this race isn't actually much of a gravel race. Certainly not a high altitude one either.

[@jeremiahbishopswheelhouse]

Ha ha ha love the banter...

[@valdoimpalatorez]

You wouldn't want that capacitor to pop, though :D

[@Andrew_smart100]

Peter Sagan will be remembered as much for his charisma, which is Waning in professional corporate sports ,.

[@richardstoner866]

You’re right about social media fanning the flames….I’ve stopped X as I was always receiving video clips of near misses and confrontations with cyclists….they make riding feel so dangerous…

[@waywardchildcyclist]

Sitting on the wheel ti it comes to a stop gives a whole new meaning to saddle sore Dan 😂

[@gcn]

Ouch! 😬

[@ankjaers]

To me the true world champ race is still unbound 200m. The UCI race have yet to feature an actualy gravel route. I would love to see the top roadies attend that instead

[@neilashton9459]

So for sure World Tour pro’s have a level of fitness that is way higher…..but Keegen did pretty damn good for being “just” a gravel rider and without the one slip out probably would have been in the lead group. Would have loved him to win if for no other reason than a giant middle finger to this incredibly condescending GCN episode (you guys are better than this). Mock the spirit of gravel if you want (and it can be silly at times) but its the roadies and UCI who are trying to co-opt the gravel space and sucking the joy out of it while bringing their judgemental, and beaurocratic baggage.

[@NI.V.2]

#caption competition:Marta training for the Ham-phibious forces of Italy😂

[@addario]

The handlebars pointing down look more like someone was probably trying to steal with bar with shifters and got disturbed so they are just hanging down.

[@mountainclimberzoom]

#CaptionCompetition You've got to ham it to her, Marta was ready to meat her competition!

[@nineunauk]

Caption: “they said passo di Mortadella was one of the toughest… ha!!”

[@abikeesclerosada]

In my opinion, if it was a real gravel race, then yes, a gravel rider could win, but it is not a gravel race, its a road race with some gravel, as UCI likes it. The proper gravel race is Unbound,

[@steinfossgard5210]

Keegan for the win!

[@bobtavener4824]

V interesting that the bike featured in Hack/Bodge with the massive rear tyre was actually a Trek bike 😲 obviously didn't catch on

[@ltrtg13]

The Blue Cube with the handle bars pointing down. I defiantly call that a bodge. The worst thing is. I know someone who does the exact same thing. He says it's because he broke both wrists when he was younger and his wrist hurt if he has the bars in the correct position. The problem is, he buys bike big enough for Conor and he is nowhere near that tall. Also he keeps to original length stem.

[@stephenknight-lenihan3489]

Australia has been allowed to enter Eurovision, so there is a precedent for Ozzies to be allowed to compete in European competitions. The poor dears need all the affirmation they can get. And I love 'in the spirit of gravel'. It used to be 'in the spirit of mountain biking' before everyone got waaay too serious.

[@timgrassley4827]

#captioncontest Cavalli mid-ham-hoist: “I hope this ham is in the spirit of gravel.”

[@mikesima9396]

Keegan vs WVT on a real gravel course. The only result I would care to watch

[@RyonBeachner]

Wout Van Tert?

[@mikesima9396]

Yes Wout Van Aert

[@adeplu]

#CC: Ham really pleased to be in Parma 😊

[@ltrtg13]

Has Dan ever seen what happens when you sit on the moving rear bike wheel? There are plenty of videos on KZbin to show the error of that comment. At least that red thing doesn't need the dropper post raising to be able to get off the bike.

[@MrJhamil05]

I think most regular gravel riders don't think that the UCI Gravel race is really the championship. No rider is only going to be a Gravel racer even 5-10 years

[@wrench_n_ride8159]

Caption competition: hamming it up on the podium.

[@grantwelch9255]

#CaptionContest: Marta got into cycling to make ends meat.

[@ltrtg13]

When Si said the SRAM thing is for a curtain type of rider. Did Si look at Dan in the same way you look at someone else your talking to. Or in the context of this tech would be great for Dan?

[@318ishonk]

C'mon guys, Wout isn't a road rider. He's a CX rider and multiple CX worlds champ who happens to train on the road (riding races).

[@AndrewDemack]

100%. It would be like claiming that Tom Pidcock is a roadie.

[@HkFinn83]

Where do they spend most of their time/effort/training?

[@AndrewDemack]

@@HkFinn83 depends on time of year actually.

[@318ishonk]

@@HkFinn83 well if you count it like that then F1 drivers are also road cyclists 😅 And speed ice skaters, skiists, triathletes, etc...

[@HkFinn83]

@@AndrewDemack time of day too

[@wspmjw]

Isn't a gravel track a less refined surface than tarmac. Thus it is still a road.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Boom

[@charlesschneickert7477]

European gravel is not like American Gravel. Did they change this course from last year? Never underestimate Keegan. That man is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@clarklowe5632]

Gravel world championship needs to be length equivalent to the events that started it all. Not these short European routes. Half of what makes it so epic is the long distances. See how the road pros feel 6+ hours in with out being able to save energy in a peloton.

[@patrickc4984]

Roadies will dominate. There is not nearly enough rough gravel, sand, mud, distance, elevation, single track, or treacherous descending for Keegan to compete. In other words, not enough "gravel" in this gravel race.

[@Lockeness86]

Wout does cyclocross too, so I’m not sure Keegan’s chances would be any better on a technical course

[@gcn]

Would you also make the race longer? Like the big races in the states? 🇺🇸

[@patrickc4984]

true@@Lockeness86

[@patrickc4984]

I think longer and more technical nonsense to break up the pack would make it more like a gravel race. @@gcn