We sat down with Mattia De Marchi to talk about The Grip, the brand-new elite gravel team backed by Wilier Triestina — and the vision behind it.

Born from the evolution of professional gravel racing, The Grip is more than just a team: it’s a project built around performance, storytelling, and a new way of approaching competition off-road.

In this episode, Mattia opens up about:

How The Grip came to life with Wilier Triestina

What makes this project different from traditional road or gravel teams

The future of elite gravel racing and where it’s heading

Balancing racing, identity, and passion in a fast-changing discipline

A deep dive into one of the most exciting new gravel projects in Europe — straight from the rider shaping it.

We had the chance to sit down with two incredible athletes — Jasper and Ivar — at the legendary Heathland Gravel in Belgium. 🇧🇪

This is no ordinary gravel race… it’s the only one in Europe that grants you a golden ticket to Unbound, the most prestigious gravel event in the world. 🌍

In this special episode, they open up about:

– Their journey to Heathland and beyond

– Wild stories from the trail

– What it really feels like to race Unbound

Grit, passion, and pure gravel spirit — this one’s unmissable 🔥

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts

After a long break focused on building the next phase of the Fantasy Gravel App, we’re back on the mic just in time for the biggest weekend of the year—Unbound!

In this episode, Shawn and Xavi sit down to talk about the wild week ahead: new app features launching for Unbound, insights on the course, and the riders to watch in both the XL and Unbound 200.

As the official game of the LifetimeGrandPrix, this is a huge moment for us—and we’re bringing daily coverage, livestream updates, and community picks straight to your screen.

Download the app, make your picks, and follow all the action.

Let’s play. Let’s race. Let’s Unbound. 🚴‍♂️🔥

The Philippines always feels like home, and what better way to kick off the season than by experiencing gravel racing at @attck.unrstrktd, the first race of the @gravelearthseries

We weren’t just there to follow the action—we immersed ourselves in the local gravel scene, connecting with the passionate community that’s shaping the sport in this incredible Southeast Asian country. After the race, we sat down with some of the top athletes to hear their thoughts on the event, the growing gravel culture, and what makes the Philippines a must-ride destination.

🎧 Tune in to get first-hand insights from the riders who took part!

Next stop: La Santa Vall—see you there! 🚴‍♂️🔥

Kicking off the year with a bang, we’re joined by two key figures from one of the standout teams of 2024—Pas Racing Gravel Team!
Lars Moss, Team Manager, and Tobias Kongstad, Sports Coordinator, sit down with us to share their journey:

Pas Racing has been one of the most active and dynamic teams on the gravel scene, and this conversation is a must-listen for fans of the sport.
With the new gravel season just around the corner, stay tuned to our socials and app for news dropping soon!

🎙️ Last Podcast of the Year: Inside the Classified Gravel Team

We’re wrapping up the year with an exclusive chat about one of the most exciting new teams in gravel racing—Classified Gravel Team. Team manager Nick Sannen joins us to recap their debut season and share insights into the challenges and opportunities of managing a gravel team. We also dive into their goals and ambitions for 2025 as they tackle multiple leagues and objectives.

🚴‍♂️ In January, the team will be in Girona for a training camp, and we’re thrilled to host a special night with them at Casa Athletic. Stay tuned for all the details!

Enjoy the conversation and let us know your thoughts!

Petr Vakoc: His Gravel Season Recap and Ambitions for Next Year

Mattia de Marchi: Reflecting on Gravel Racing’s Evolution and What’s Ahead

I've known Mattia de Marchi since the early days, long before gravel racing took off. We finally sat down at Casa Athletic to chat about the season after the Ranxo finale.

We explored the rise of gravel racing, Mattia’s unique perspective as a key voice in Europe, and some exciting developments on the horizon for 2025.

I did my best in Italian—hope you enjoy the conversation!

The Gravel Earth Series is wrapped!

After the grand finale at Ranxo, we sat down in our studio with Gerard Freixces, the mastermind behind GES and Traka, to reflect on the past year. We discussed the highlights of the series, exciting new developments, and his insights into the current global gravel racing scene.

For those not fluent in Spanish, we've also uploaded the video podcast to the Athletic Affair YouTube channel with subtitles, so you can follow along and enjoy this fascinating conversation.

Hope you enjoy it!

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You can play at Fantasy Gravel by downloading the⁠ ⁠app here⁠⁠: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6477162419

During the UCI Gravel race in Girona, we cheered on Alison Jackson as she put on an incredible performance, finishing second behind Tiffany Cromwell and earning her spot at the Gravel Worlds.

Alison joined us at Casa Athletic for an insightful conversation about the Girona race, the growing gravel scene, and her upcoming challenge at the Gravel Worlds.

Tune in to our chat, and don't forget to explore more about the riders on the Fantasy App⁠ . We'll be in Belgium next, thanks to Visit Flanders, so stay connected with us on social media for updates!