CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

5,000 metres of climbing. 120 kilometres. Steep gravel tracks, hidden roads and one very simple idea: how much climbing can you possibly pack into the shortest ride?

This time, we head deep into Alta Badia to uncover the story behind YOLOmites 5000 — one of cycling’s most unique and unofficial adventures.

What started as a slightly crazy idea between Igor Tavella and Jered Gruber has become an annual pilgrimage for a small group of riders drawn to the same unlikely combination: brutal climbs, beautiful roads, good friends and absolutely no rush.The number 5,000 was chosen simply because it sounded good. The first calculation suggested it would take around 120 kilometres to reach it.

Somehow, the idea stuck.In this episode, Igor and Jered take us back to the beginning of YOLOmites — from road bikes, rim brakes and 25mm tyres to modern gravel bikes, huge cassettes and mountain-bike gearing. They explain how the routes have evolved, why the ride remains deliberately small and invitation-only, and what makes the hidden roads of the Dolomites such an extraordinary playground for cycling.

We talk about surviving 5,000 metres of climbing, pacing yourself, the infamous YOLO Mini, nutrition, weather, the ultimate YOLOmites bike setup, and what happens when the ride gets really, really hard.

But YOLOmites was never meant to be a race. It’s about riding slowly enough to stay together. Looking up from the handlebars. Discovering roads you might otherwise never find. Laughing when things get difficult. And discovering that sometimes the hardest days on a bike can also be the most rewarding. Because there’s something about the Dolomites that makes the suffering worth it.

Recorded shortly after the 10th edition in 2025.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro

02:58 – Random Round of Questions

14:40 – What Exactly Is YOLOmites 5000?

16:35 – The Crazy Idea That Started It All

19:13 – Discovering the Hidden Roads of the Dolomites

20:30 – Road Bikes, Rim Brakes & 25mm Tyres

23:38 – How the Bikes Changed the Ride

25:35 – Why People Keep Coming Back

26:16 – What Makes the Dolomites So Special?

29:31 – How to Survive 5,000 Metres of Climbing

32:26 – Designing the Route: 120km, 5,000m & Counting

34:51 – The YOLO Mini: The Escape Route

36:34 – Food, Lunch Stops & Fueling the Ride

40:37 – What Happens When the Ride Gets Really Hard?

44:22 – Riding, Shooting & Surviving: A Photographer's Perspective

48:02 – Why Riding Together Makes the Impossible Possible

52:18 – Who Is YOLOmites Really For?

53:17 – Why Is It Still Invitation-Only?

58:15 – How Can You Get Into YOLOmites ?

1:00:30 – The Ultimate Bike Setup

1:05:31 – What to Wear in the Dolomites in September

1:08:37 – Bags, Pockets & Carrying Everything You Need

LINKS

⁠2026 Route⁠

2025 Route

⁠2025 Anniversary Video Recap⁠⁠

Castelli Story and Gallery⁠

⁠Pralongià Route⁠⁠

Hotel Ustaria Posta ⁠

CONNECT

⁠Jered Gruber

⁠⁠Igor Tavella⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We caught up with Paul Magnier at Soudal Quick-Step’s altitude camp in Tignes at the end of July to go behind the scenes of his sprinting, training and the technology helping him find another level.

We talk aero testing and wind-tunnel development, the Castelli Sanremo 8S Veloce speed suit, lead-out trains, sprint positioning, gym work and explosive power, as well as the technology being developed to improve rider safety, including airbag systems.

At just 22, Paul has already racked up 32 professional victories, including three Giro d’Italia stage wins, the Ciclamino jersey and a WorldTour one-day victory. But he’s not stopping there – his ambition is to reach 100 career wins and, one day, become world champion.

We also look back at his breakthrough Giro experience, what it’s like going head-to-head with the fastest sprinters in the world, and how his confidence, instinct and understanding of the sprint have evolved.

Because at this level, winning isn’t just about producing more watts. It’s about finding speed everywhere.

You don’t want to miss this one. It’s a great conversation about speed, confidence, technology and the relentless pursuit of the perfect sprint.

We hope you'll enjoy this one!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

05:21 Quick-fire: Paul Magnier on sprinting, instinct and speed

08:36 Beating some of the world’s fastest sprinters

10:00 Recon, Finding the fastest line, Race instinct vs. data

11:26 The dream lead-out: Jasper, Dries & Fabio

16:10 Building more explosive power for 2026

17:00 Box jumps, gym work and the sprint “kick”

17:59 The Giro’s special 150-year Castelli jersey

19:01 Developing Paul’s prototype sprint aero suit

22:17 Why Tim Merlier raced in "Paul’s" suit

23:14 Sprint position, handlebars and aerodynamics

25:02 The surprising science of aero fabrics

27:40 What could the future of cycling technology look like?

28:16 Inside the new cycling airbag safety project

31:15 WorldTour wins, the Classics and 100 career victories

33:33 Pure sprinter or future Classics rider?

34:57 Growing up in Grenoble, MTB

38:24 Seven hours and 5,000m of climbing… tomorrow?!?

40:00 The Sanremo 8S Veloce: built and made with pros!

41:50 Post-recording update: Paul’s race program

– LINKS –

Other podcast episode with Paul Magnier:

Sprint Power & Classic Dreams (2024)

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000699990338

The Rise of the French Powerhouse (2025)

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000735689566

Sprint Secrets (2025)

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000736461228

CONNECT ⁠

⁠Paul Magnier Instagram⁠

– HOST –

Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect: ⁠LinkedIn⁠

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Video and Photo credits:

Ashley & Jered Gruber:

https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber

https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber

Sam Bauget:

https://www.instagram.com/sam_has_a_camera

Wout Beel:

https://www.instagram.com/wout.beeld

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kim joins us to discuss the incredible highs and difficult setbacks that followed her breakthrough 2025 season.

From winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège and becoming the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, to recovering from a fractured wrist after a devastating spring of crashes, Kim opens up about pressure, self-doubt, resilience, and returning to the biggest race of the season with even bigger ambitions.

Whether you're a cyclist, an athlete, or simply someone fascinated by resilience and high performance, this is an honest conversation about what happens after success, and what it takes to come back even stronger.

– LINKS –

Previous episode:

⁠Kim's Journey into cycling, Chasing Dreams⁠

⁠Kim's Instagram⁠

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:58 Catching up in Tignes before the TdFF

02:03 From promising talent to breakthrough season

04:48 Steep Learning curve, winning Liège & becoming the first African rider in yellow

08:11 Hunger of winning, Living with pressure, expectations & self-doubt

11:49 Representing Mauritius on the world stage

14:10 The crashes that changed everything & Recovering from injury

21:44 TdFF ambitions: yellow, stages & GC

23:50 Why teamwork matters more than results

26:05 Looking beyond the Tour: World Championships & the future

28:25 Final thoughts

________

After a breakthrough 2025 season that saw her win Liège–Bastogne–Liège and become the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, Kim Le Court Pinaar returns to the Castelli Podcast for an honest conversation about what came next.

Recorded during AG Insurance–Soudal's altitude camp in Tignes, just two weeks before the Tour de France Femmes, Kim reflects on the pressure that follows success, recovering from a fractured wrist after a difficult spring of crashes, and the resilience needed to return to the sport's biggest stage.

We also discuss representing Mauritius, overcoming self-doubt, the importance of the team's "Wolfpack" mentality, and why true success is about far more than results. As Kim prepares to chase yellow once again, she shares the mindset that's driving her into the biggest race of the season.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kim joins us to discuss the incredible highs and difficult setbacks that followed her breakthrough 2025 season.

From winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège and becoming the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, to recovering from a fractured wrist after a devastating spring of crashes, Kim opens up about pressure, self-doubt, resilience, and returning to the biggest race of the season with even bigger ambitions.

Whether you're a cyclist, an athlete, or simply someone fascinated by resilience and high performance, this is an honest conversation about what happens after success, and what it takes to come back even stronger.

– LINKS –

Previous episode:

Kim's Journey into Cycling – Chasing Dreams

Kim's Instagram

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

03:25 Catching up in Tignes before the TdFF

04:10 From promising talent to breakthrough season

07:05 Winning Liège & becoming the first African rider in yellow

10:35 Why winning is the only goal

11:50 Living with pressure, expectations & self-doubt

14:25 Representing Mauritius on the world stage

16:35 The crashes that changed everything

20:30 Recovering from injury & learning resilience

21:50 Returning to racing at the Tour de Suisse

23:50 TdFF ambitions: yellow, stages & GC

25:55 Why teamwork matters more than results

28:40 Looking beyond the Tour: World Championships & the future

31:20 Final thoughts

________

After a breakthrough 2025 season that saw her win Liège–Bastogne–Liège and become the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, Kim Le Court Pinaar returns to the Castelli Podcast for an honest conversation about what came next.

Recorded during AG Insurance–Soudal's altitude camp in Tignes, just two weeks before the Tour de France Femmes, Kim reflects on the pressure that follows success, recovering from a fractured wrist after a difficult spring of crashes, and the resilience needed to return to the sport's biggest stage.

We also discuss representing Mauritius, overcoming self-doubt, the importance of the team's "Wolfpack" mentality, and why true success is about far more than results. As Kim prepares to chase yellow once again, she shares the mindset that's driving her into the biggest race of the season.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to win the toughest ultra gravel race in the world?

Rob Britton takes us inside his record-breaking victory at the 2025 Unbound XL, the brutal 350-mile self-supported gravel race across Kansas.

Rob breaks down the key decisions that helped him average over 20 mph for nearly 18 hours and smash the previous course record by more than two hours. 

From aerodynamics and nutrition strategy to hydration systems, gravel race tactics, and bike setup optimization, this episode explores how small performance gains compound over ultra-distance racing.

We also dive into the development of Castelli’s first Unlimited Gravel Suit, featuring integrated hydration storage, aerodynamic cargo pockets, and real-world testing at the highest level of gravel racing.

Topics covered in this episode:

•Winning the 2025 Unbound XL

•Gravel racing aerodynamics explained

•Ultra-endurance nutrition and hydration strategy

•Integrated hydration systems in cycling apparel

•Aero gains over 18 hours of racing

•Gravel bike setup for ultra racing

•Racing through the night against Lachlan Morton

•Comfort vs speed in endurance cycling

•The future of gravel race apparel and technology

If you’re into gravel racing, bikepacking, endurance sports, cycling tech, or performance optimization, this episode is packed with insights from one of the fastest ultra-gravel performances ever recorded.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on cycling performance, innovation, aerodynamics, and elite racing.

– IMPORTANT LINKS –

Rob Britton

Castelli SOG

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

02:38 Quickfire Round

04:05 Chasing Lachlan Morton Through the Night

06:21 Racing History with Lachlan & The Final Catch

07:05 Tactics, Fatigue & Managing the Lead

07:50 Bike Setup, Aerobars & Carrying Nutrition

10:38 Why the Speed Suit Could Have Decided the Race

11:58 How Ultra Racing Has Changed in Recent Years

13:32 First Ride in Castelli's Prototype Gravel Aero Suit

15:25 Nutrition Storage, Hydration & Self-Supported Racing

17:31 Why Ditching the Hydration Pack Was a Huge Advantage

19:35 Aero Performance & Suit Design Details

21:21 Castelli's Aero Heritage & Innovation Story

23:12 Marginal Gains, Ryder Hesjedal & Performance History

23:48 Winter Riding, Future Testing & What's Next

24:18 “The Netflix of Cycling Clothing”

24:28 Outro

– HOST –

Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate 150 years of innovation, Castelli unveils a special edition Giro d’Italia kit—blending heritage, performance, and cutting-edge design.

In this episode, we sit down with Castelli Global Brand Manager Steve Smith to unpack the story behind the anniversary jersey worn by Soudal Quick-Step. From silk jerseys and the first-ever speed suit to aerodynamic breakthroughs and modern race-day technology, this conversation dives deep into the moments that reshaped cycling apparel.

You’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic innovations, the thinking behind the 150th anniversary design, and what it takes to keep pushing the limits of speed—decade after decade.

This isn’t just a look back. It’s a glimpse into the future of performance.

LINKS

⁠STRAVA Challenge ⁠

⁠Social Ride, May 9⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Steve Smith, Castelli Brand Manager ⁠⁠

⁠⁠Gabba R White Paper⁠⁠

⁠⁠The Gabba Story ⁠⁠🎧

⁠Gabba Wind Tunnel Testing⁠ 🎧

CHAPTERS

00:00 — 150 Years of Castelli

00:57 — From Silk to Speed

02:00 — Giro Anniversary Kit

03:29 — Design & Scorpion Timeline

05:50 — 1967: First Speed Suit

07:20 — 1977: Lycra Shorts

09:40 — Colored Shorts Break Rules

11:45 — 1982: Sublimation

12:50 — 2007: Aero Race

16:20 — Aero Adoption

17:05 — Gabba & Sanremo

17:56 — Today’s Fastest Kit

20:29 — Marginal Gains

20:56 — Wind Tunnel Life

21:23 — Peak Aero?

23:39 — Innovation Pressure

24:41 — Future Materials

25:22 — Where to Buy

26:09 — Closing Thoughts

– HOST –

Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Full-time school teacher by day, ultra gravel powerhouse by night — Svenja Betz is redefining what’s possible in endurance sport.

She didn’t just take on the biggest races in ultra gravel — she won them all. First Unbound XL, then The Traka Adventure, and Badlands.

Her rise has been anything but conventional. She doesn’t train full-time. She doesn’t follow the typical pro playbook. And she doesn’t sleep during races.

Instead, she relies on instinct, resilience, and a deep love for the process.

In this conversation, we dive into what really matters when the distances get serious: how to fuel properly without falling into energy deficits, how to pace when sleep isn’t an option, and how to stay mentally strong when everything starts to fall apart.

Svenja also opens up about balancing elite performance with a demanding career, navigating the pressure of social media, and why being “skinny” isn’t the key to going faster.

If you’re curious about ultra cycling or wondering how far you could really go, this episode might just challenge your assumptions and inspire you to push your own limits.

– IMPORTANT LINKS –

Follow Svenja Betz: https://www.instagram.com/svenja__betz/

Castelli SOG: https://www.instagram.com/castelli_sog/

– CHAPTERS –

00:00 – Intro

02:18 – Balancing teaching + ultra racing

05:25 – Training with limited time

09:41 – 52 hours, zero sleep

13:45 – Intervals vs endurance

18:36 – Nutrition, RED-S & weight myths

22:51 – Fueling strategy in ultras

25:31 – Heat, hydration & survival

32:12 – Are you ready for 500km+?

40:14 – Mental toughness & self-talk

43:05 – Winning move at Badlands

47:34 – Social media vs reality

54:47 – Castelli kit, mindset & identity

59:33 – What’s next: new goals

– HOST –

Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our conversation with sports performance nutritionist Dani Hofstetter, we go beyond theory and into the real-world habits that actually improve endurance performance.

From properly fueling long and double training days to understanding why most athletes underestimate their glycogen needs, this episode breaks down what really matters when it comes to carbohydrate intake, recovery, and metabolic efficiency.

We dive into:

• Why you can’t fix bad fueling during the ride
• The critical first hour post-training (and why most athletes waste it)
• Simple, repeatable habits that outperform complex strategies
• The risks of underfueling, RED-S, and chasing weight loss too aggressively
• How to stay consistent when juggling training, work, and life

Fresh off his new book Train, Eat, Repeat, Dani shares a clear, no-nonsense approach to nutrition—cutting through trends, supplements, and overcomplication to focus on what actually works.

Whether you’re chasing performance gains or just want to feel better on the bike, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.

👉 If you haven’t listened to part one, start there first:

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000758776017

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

3:05 Why you can’t fuel hard training during the ride

4:03 The missing habit: building consistent fueling routines

5:25 Why post-ride nutrition gets neglected

7:53 The ideal recovery shake formula

8:59 Hydration: how much you actually need to replace

9:24 Planning vs reality: why logistics kill recovery

10:48 Train less, recover better? The real performance gain

11:00 Weight loss & performance: a risky trade-off

13:09 RED-S explained: warning signs athletes ignore

18:37 Nutrition mistakes when traveling

24:03 Probiotics, supplements & gut health

25:49 3 race nutrition rules for hotel stays

28:27 Why there are no shortcuts in nutrition

29:44 Biohacking, social media & performance myths

31:32 Study: social media can reduce performance by 9%

37:18 A perfect fueling day for a long ride

41:11 Protein, carbs & fiber: simple daily guidelines

44:11 The idea behind Train, Eat, Repeat

51:25 Favorite Castelli winter kit

54:27 Outro

– LINKS –

TRAIN EAT REPEAT - The Endurance Cookbook

https://www.dorlingkindersley.de/buch/marlene-low-feride-dogum-dani-hofstetter-fabian-haefeli-train-eat-repeat-9783831050734

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Smart Nutrition for Hot Weather Riding

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000722138953

RED-S Ep. 1

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000671492861

RED-S Ep. 2

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000672166132

Sports Nutrition: Winter Training, Indoor Riding

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000639782748

Sports Nutrition: Race Day Fueling, Hydration Strategy

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000638271631

Sports Nutrition: What is the Optimal Diet for Cycling Performance

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000636862451

Sports Nutrition: Carbs, Fruits, Veggies for Everyday Performance

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000635636881

– CONNECT –

Dani Hofstetter

⁠Website⁠: ⁠

https://danihofstetter.ch⁠

Instagram⁠

https://www.instagram.com/dh_performance_nutrition/

Host: Soren Jensen⁠⁠⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carbs, fueling, and metabolic efficiency – few topics create more confusion in endurance sports. Sports performance nutritionist Dani Hofstetter joins us to clear it up.

Fresh off the release of his new book Train, Eat, Repeat, Dani shares a practical, no-BS approach to nutrition – cutting through the noise of extreme diets, high-carb trends, and supplement hype.

You’ll learn why most amateur athletes don’t need 120g of carbs per hour, how pros actually fuel differently, and why training intensity, not just nutrition, determines your metabolism.

This conversation goes beyond gels and grams per hour. It’s about building a sustainable system that supports performance, recovery, and long-term health – without obsession or perfectionism.

Whether you’re an elite cyclist, racing ultras or Gran Fondos, or simply want to feel better on the bike, this episode will change how you think about fueling.

What You’ll Learn

• Why most cyclists are undereating—not overeating
• The real difference between pro and amateur fueling needs
• How training too hard kills fat metabolism
• Why carbs are still misunderstood in endurance sports
• The truth about 90g vs 120g carbs per hour
• How to structure nutrition for training days vs rest days
• Why perfectionism in nutrition can backfire
• The biggest fueling mistakes causing GI issues and poor performance

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro

03:30 – Rapid fire: myths, carbs, and recovery

05:30 – Hydration mistakes and GI issues

06:20 – Why high performers often eat too little

10:00 – Use it or lose it metabolism explained

12:00 – Low-carb training and why it can backfire

13:30 – Perfectionism in endurance athletes

16:00 – Emotional + social role of food in performance

18:30 – Why carbs are still misunderstood

21:30 – Pro vs amateur fueling

23:30 – Why amateurs shouldn’t copy pro carb intake

25:00 – The engine analogy: amateur vs pro physiology

27:30 – How many carbs you actually need

28:30 – Gut training and fueling strategy

29:30 – Fat vs carbs: what really fuels performance

31:00 – The athlete who tolerates more fuel wins

33:00 – Why everyday nutrition matters more than supplements

34:30 – Why low-carb training is outdated

36:00 – Training zones mistakes (most athletes train too hard)

37:30 – Why fat burning depends on intensity

39:00 – Fasting: helpful or harmful for athletes?

42:30 – Structuring nutrition: rest days vs hard days

44:30 – Glycogen depletion and why recovery takes longer than you think

47:00 – Why most athletes underfuel their week

48:30 – The importance of planning nutrition

49:00 – Post-ride mistakes

50:00 – The real recovery window explained

51:10 – Outro

– LINKS –

TRAIN EAT REPEAT - The Endurance Cookbook

https://www.dorlingkindersley.de/buch/marlene-low-feride-dogum-dani-hofstetter-fabian-haefeli-train-eat-repeat-9783831050734

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Smart Nutrition for Hot Weather Riding

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000722138953

RED-S Ep. 1

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000671492861

RED-S Ep. 2

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000672166132

Sports Nutrition: Winter Training, Indoor Riding

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000639782748

Sports Nutrition: Race Day Fueling, Hydration Strategy

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000638271631

Sports Nutrition: What is the Optimal Diet for Cycling Performance

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000636862451

Sports Nutrition: Carbs, Fruits, Veggies for Everyday Performance

https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000635636881

– CONNECT –

Dani Hofstetter

⁠Website⁠: ⁠

https://danihofstetter.ch⁠

Instagram⁠

https://www.instagram.com/dh_performance_nutrition/

Host: Soren Jensen⁠⁠⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Merida Miller – founder of Project Fearless, community builder with No Ordinary Women, TEDx speaker, gravel athlete, and self-described professional hype girl.

Mérida has made it her life’s work to empower young girls and gender-fluid youth to try new things, fall, and get back up again. From skateparks and classrooms, she has spent the past seven years helping girls and athletes build confidence through action – not by waiting to feel ready.

In this deeply honest conversation, Mérida opens up about training courage one brave step at a time, redefining confidence, and leaning on community and hype-crew through panic attacks, long gravel race battles, and life’s in-between chapters.

In this episode:

• ​Why being an amateur is something to be proud of
• ​Racing for joy instead of podiums
• ​Anxiety, ADHD, and “mental mechanicals”
• ​The power of gratitude mid-race
• ​Redefining leadership as listening
• ​Designing a cycling jersey that sees you
• ​And why finding your hype crew might be the most important training of all

This episode isn’t about being fearless. It’s about showing up anyway — and cheering others while you do.

🎧 Whether you race gravel, ride for fun, or are navigating your own next chapter, this one will stay with you.

– IMPORTANT LINKS –

Follow Merida Miller → https://www.instagram.com/mercatmiller/

Project Fearless → https://www.instagram.com/project.fearless/

No Ordinary Women → https://www.instagram.com/noordinarywomen.cc/

Cycling Culture Club - https://www.cyclingcultureclub.cc/

Cycling Culture Club IG – https://www.instagram.com/cyclingcultureclub/?hl=en

Castelli SOG → https://www.instagram.com/castelli_sog/

TEDx → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOYlSI99Xog

– CHAPTERS –

00:00 – You don’t have to race for the podium to be brave

02:37 – Meet Merida Miller: courage over confidence

05:03 – Quickfire round: fear, confidence & gravel reality checks

07:21 – Mental breakdowns, panic attacks & coaching yourself mid-race

09:07 – Turning the page: a new chapter as an athlete & leader

10:55 – From fashion design to founding Project Fearless

13:19 – Creating space for all girls — not just “sporty” ones

15:06 – Cheering as fuel: why hype culture matters

16:17 – What confidence really looks like at 12 years old

18:58 – Kids, social media & why offline time is essential

21:17 – Leadership lessons from team sports (even if you hate sports)

25:36 – “Confidence has a branding problem” explained

29:16 – Comfort zone vs growth zone vs panic zone

33:39 – Find your hype crew (and why it changes everything)

35:36 – Gratitude as an endurance superpower

37:29 – Comparison, confidence & mental mechanicals

38:43 – How Merida found gravel (and why road racing terrifies her)

40:30 – Feeling welcomed — and when cycling spaces fail

45:09 – Is gravel really inclusive?

46:57 – Anxiety, ADHD & endurance sport

51:47 – Redefining success: finishing happy

53:11 – Cycling Culture Club & building global communities

58:22 – Fail early, fail often: starting something from scratch

1:02:44 – Designing the ultimate SOG race jersey

1:08:19 – Racing with your heart on your sleeve

1:12:08 – Why visibility and joy matter in racing

1:14:00 – What success looks like in 20 years

1:15:37 – Final thoughts: courage, kindness & showing up

– HOST –

Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77/

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