In the third installment of our series about pros in the off-season, Payson chats with two cyclists from different sides of the racing world: former WorldTour rider-turned-gravel racer Ruth Winder, and the 2022 EWS World Champion Jesse Melamed.
Ruth talks about recuperating from a mentally grueling season. After retiring from the WorldTour, she decided to compete in the Lifetime Grand Prix last year but came up against some unexpected hurdles. She talks about the work she’s done in the off-season to rediscover why she began riding her bike in the first place, and her newfound love of skiing.
Jesse talks about the exhilaration of winning the Enduro World Series and wanting to jump straight back into training. But with a trip to Spain and some celebrating back home in Squamish, BC, he managed to take some time off before packing in the miles in Arizona and California. He talks about why Enduro racers put in so many hours on the road, and how he’s prepared for moving teams this season.

Our long-form interviews with Ruth and Jesse can be found at the links below:

#70 Quarantine Companion #12 with Ruth Winder

#160 Jesse Melamed, enduro racer

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