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The race began before the gun—shoulder to shoulder, 12 rows deep, with a call-up protocol that flipped expectations and turned the opening meters into a high-stakes fight for position. From a fast frontage road into stairs and tight singletrack, Tyler McCandless had to manage chaos without panic: protect effort, find clean lines, and pass only when it counted. What followed was a masterclass in patience and presence—steady gains through the forest, a fierce late surge on a 30% wall to the summit, and a finish that helped Team USA lock down bronze at the World Mountain Running Championships in Confranc.

We get into the texture of Worlds that you can’t see on a results sheet: the camaraderie of sharing meals with athletes you’d never usually race alongside, the electricity of cheering other disciplines all week, and the way team identity changes how you suffer. Tyler breaks down the travel and course recon with Joe Gray, the jet lag fix that worked, and the quiet confidence that came from previewing key sections. We also revisit Broken Arrow VK—how a last-minute course change erased the runnable grind he wanted, why he still qualified under pressure, and what it feels like to crest steep singletrack with David Sinclair closing fast.

There’s gear talk too—Nike’s radical cooling long sleeve, why it’s more than a fashion statement, and how innovation is finally meeting trail reality. Then we look ahead: a winter marathon bid to punch a fifth Olympic Trials ticket (sub-2:16), plus a summer slate that fits Tyler’s engine—Sierre-Zinal, Pikes Peak Ascent, and select Golden Trail races. And we make the case for a dedicated U.S. uphill series to cultivate specialists, build team culture, and grow the fan base with short, watchable vertical races.

If you enjoy stories of resilience, smart racing on steep ground, and the power of team over self, you’ll want to queue this one up. Hit follow, share it with a trail friend, and leave a quick review—what part of Tyler’s strategy would you try on your next climb?

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Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello

Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod