Stick around for the final moments of the interview. You won’t regret it. A must-listen for photographers, creatives, cyclists, and anyone curious about what happens beyond the barriers. 

In this final chapter with Ashley and Jered Gruber, we go fully inside the work. What does it really take to create meaningful images in professional cycling — when conditions aren’t perfect, expectations are sky-high, and every decision happens at race speed?

From recalibrating a “five-out-of-ten day” into something publishable, to the unique pressure of iconic climbs like Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez, Ashley and Jered break down the invisible labor behind race photography; stage research kilometre by kilometre, fighting logistics, editing in the car, uploading from hotel rooms late at night, and still finding the energy to tell the story on social media.

We talk about roadside encounters with fans, unexpected human moments, and the strange contrast between riders fighting for their careers and crowds treating race day like a party. 

The conversation also turns deeply personal — covering burnout, injury, recovery, insecurity, creativity, and the long-term sustainability of a freelance career in modern cycling media.

From shooting the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, to rebuilding after a devastating crash at the Tour of Flanders, to finding grounding at home after months on the road — this episode is about process, endurance, passion, and finding beauty where no one else is looking.

A must-listen for photographers, creatives, cyclists, and anyone curious about what happens beyond the barriers.

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🇮🇹 Uno sguardo autentico dietro le quinte della fotografia nel ciclismo professionistico. Ashley e Jered Gruber raccontano pressione, processo creativo, infortuni, burnout e perché, nonostante tutto, continuano a tornare sulle corse.

🇩🇪 Ein ehrlicher Blick hinter die Kulissen der Profi-Radsportfotografie.

Ashley & Jered Gruber über Entscheidungsdruck, kreative Prozesse, Verletzungen, Erschöpfung und warum sie trotz allem immer wieder zurückkommen.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

03:07 The Five Out of Ten Day Mindset

06:30 Mont Ventoux

09:06 Alpe d Huez and Race Day Chaos

11:05 Roadside Fans and Human Moments

16:27 Familiar Places and Returning Each Year

20:03 Planning a Grand Tour Stage

27:26 Editing Uploading and Long Nights

34:01 Giro vs Tour vs Vuelta

36:20 Mens and Womens Racing

39:48 Tour of Flanders Crash 2024

46:29 Shooting the Giro from the TV

52:46 Riding Bikes and Staying Human

58:37 Freelance Insecurity and the Future

1:03:24 Advice for Aspiring Photographers

1:08:27 Legacy and Closing Thoughts

1:13:04 Outro

CONNECT ⁠

Ashley Norris Gruber

https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber/

Jered Gruber

https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber/

– 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

Check out our new collection: Castelli-cycling.com

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