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Rob Roskopp was a driving force during skateboarding’s most explosive era as a skater and in business. Later he brought that same raw, instinctual approach into mountain biking, building, growing, and exiting a rider-driven brand along the way.

In this episode of the Specialized Bicycles Podcast, Ben Capron sits down with Roskopp for a direct conversation about creativity, risk, and what it means to stay authentic while building a business for riders.

His story moves from the hardcore originality of early skate culture to ripping on dirt, to bringing that same mindset into product and business. Trusting feel. Backing riders. Creating things that actually make riding better. Today, that path has led him to Specialized, where he helps advance mountain bike product and contribute to strategy.

Along the way, he reflects on identity, progression, and growing a business while staying true to what matters. The conversation closes on something simple, but timely. Less hate. More connection. More shared stoke.

This episode goes beyond origin stories, covering:

• How skate culture shaped his approach to riding, product, and business
• Why instinct and feel still matter in modern product development
• What it takes to grow without losing authenticity
• His current work advancing mountain bike product at Specialized
• Why positivity and shared experience matter more than ever

It is a conversation about edge, evolution, and building for riders, then and now.

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You likely know Christopher Blevins from his celebrated career in cross-country racing that culminated in a record-breaking 2025 season, where he finished #1 in UCI XC points and claimed both the overall XCO and XCC titles. What you may not know is the process behind that success, the mindset that shaped it, and the deeper ‘why’ that keeps driving him forward.

In this episode of the Specialized Bicycles Podcast, Ben Capron sits down with Christopher for an open conversation about the season that changed everything, the inner work that made it possible, and his goals for the future.

His story moves from growing up in Durango and racing BMX as a kid, to finding his way through doubt and reconnecting with his purpose, to becoming one of the most thoughtful and dynamic riders in any sport. Along the way, he reflects on the part he plays in R&D at Specialized, creativity, community, and the role mindfulness plays in helping him perform at his best. The conversation also looks ahead to what’s next, including his goals for 2026, and the 2028 Olympics.

This episode goes further than race results, covering:

• What stood out most from his landmark 2025 season

• How process, presence, and adaptability shaped his success

• The role of mindfulness in racing and daily life

• How BMX, road, and XC each helped form him as a rider

• His goals for 2026 and the road to the 2028 Olympics

• Why community, creativity, and service matter beyond competition

It is a conversation about flow, focus, and the deeper purpose behind one of the most compelling and inspirational riders in sport.

GUEST: Christopher Blevins

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Instagram: @christopherblevs

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Go inside the design of the fastest gravel wheels ever made. 

Roval Category Leader Chris Wehan and Olympian + Unbound Champion Sofia Gomez Villafañe pull back the curtain on the development of Roval Terra Aero CLX and Terra CLX III—two wheels built for the fastest gravel races on earth.

We break down Virtual 70 aerodynamics, real‑world tire + rim system performance, 21% more compliance, massive flat‑protection gains, and how these wheels influence race strategy at Unbound Gravel, Big Sugar, Sea Otter, the UCI Gravel World Championships, and more.
If you’re into gravel tech, race‑day speed, equipment testing, or behind‑the‑scenes product development, this episode delivers the full story: the motivation, the engineering challenges, the breakthroughs, and the athlete feedback that shaped the final result.

Topics we cover:
• Why aero matters now in modern gravel racing
• Virtual 70 and why Terra Aero is faster without going deeper
• 21% compliance gains on Terra CLX III and where you feel them
• Flat protection and why bead hook design can save your race
• What Sofia feels on course—and how speed shows up in hour 5 and 6
• How Roval’s engineering team partnered with athletes from the very first prototype
• Which wheel to choose for Unbound, Big Sugar, Worlds, or everyday gravel riding

Featuring:
Sofia Gomez Villafañe — Unbound Gravel Champion, Big Sugar winner, Olympian, Multi-time National Champion
Chris Wehan — Category Leader, Roval Components, Pretty fast on a bike
Built for the roughest terrain. Designed for the fastest riders. Developed for real‑world race conditions across Kansas, Arkansas, California, and every gravel course in between.

Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more conversations with the engineers, athletes, and creators shaping the future of cycling.

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You likely know Demi Vollering for her Tour de France Femmes victory, her run of classics wins and Grand Tours, and the way she has pushed the level of women’s racing with every season. What you may not know is how her journey began, the confidence she built on the way to her first win, and the goals that still drive her forward.

In this episode of the Specialized Bicycles Podcast, guest host Ben Edwards sits down with Demi and Hannah Troop, S-Racing Road Liaison, for an open conversation about the path behind her success and the work that continues to shape her career.

Her story moves from the moment she discovered cycling, to her fast rise through the women’s peloton, to the long‑standing partnership with Specialized and what that relationship means to her. Through it all she has helped elevate the sport while showing that staying healthy and grounded is essential for performing at the highest level.

This episode goes further than her results, covering:

• How Demi discovered cycling and her journey toward her first win

• The key moments in her career and what she still dreams of achieving

• How she prepares for her goals in the upcoming racing season

• Her partnership with Specialized and how this connection helps her continue to improve

• How women’s cycling has evolved and why athlete wellbeing matters more than ever

It is a conversation about ambition, growth, and the mindset behind a champion who keeps finding new ways to rise.

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Levo just became a family. With Levo R, Specialized introduces “Electric Rally”—full‑power e‑MTB that feels lighter, sharper, and more connected on trail, all while delivering the SuperNatural ride feel riders love.

In this episode, host Ben Capron talks with Brian Gordon, Mountain Bike Product Manager at Specialized, about how full‑power e‑MTBs evolved from brute strength to intuitive control, what has to be true for a bike to feel SuperNatural, and how “usable power” shows up on steep tech climbs, loose-over-hard corners, and slick root webs.

Together they map the Levo lineup: Levo 4 as Electric Trail (benchmark versatility and balance) and Levo R as Electric Rally (full power with rally‑car precision). From rider archetypes to real setup guidance, Brian breaks down who benefits most from each bike and why. Then they dive into Levo R’s three pillars: SuperNatural Power via the Turbo 3.1 system (up to 850 W peak and 111 Nm, metered with adaptive traction control), Super Agile through a purpose‑built 140/130 chassis, a frame that’s hundreds of grams lighter, rally‑ready spec, and the GENIE shock that delivers coil‑like comfort with bottom‑out control. They also cover practical details that matter every ride, like geometry adjust, storage, and serviceability.

Finally, they demystify Super Range with a modular system—840 Wh, 600 Wh, and a 280 Wh extender—plus efficiency gains you can actually feel over long days. You’ll hear how to choose the right battery for your rides, why charging to 80% can extend longevity, and how Levo R’s efficiency translates to consistent support and less heat fade. The conversation ends where great rides begin: the emotional heart of Electric Rally and what the perfect Levo R day feels like.

GUEST: Brian Gordon Mountain Bike Product Manager, Specialized

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The award-winning Turbo Levo 4 just got more powerful, smoother, and more customizable, thanks to an over-the-air update you can install right from the Specialized App.

In this episode, host Ben Capron talks with Marco Sonderegger, Director of Turbo Technology at Specialized, for a deep dive into how Levo 4 continues to evolve, and what it really takes to create a SuperNatural ride feel.

Alongside what’s new in the latest OTA update, up to 22% more peak power, more torque, refined control, and new personalization, Ben and Marco dig into the nuances behind the numbers: how rider feedback shapes real improvements, how to manage range as performance increases, and what features like MicroTune and overrun actually do on the trail.

It’s a technical-yet-human, rider-first conversation about nuance, tradeoffs, and the thousands of decisions behind a ride that feels like “You, Only Faster.”

GUEST: 

Marco Sonderegger Director of Turbo Technology, Specialized

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From her victory at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, to lighting up the Tour de France Femmes with a stage win and multiple days in the yellow jersey, in 2025 Kim Le Court-Pienaar announced herself on the world stage. What you may not know is that her first foray into European road racing in 2015 began with a string of DNFs and DFLs.

In this episode of the Specialized Bicycles Podcast, guest host Ben Edwards sits down with Kim for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about one of the most unlikely and inspiring careers in modern cycling.

From grit to reinvention to breakthrough performance, Kim’s story is a masterclass in persistence, humor, and belief.

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Kim Le Court-Pienaar
Instagram: @kimlecourt

AG Insurance–Soudal
Instagram: @aginsurancesoudal

Specialized Road
Instagram: @iamspecialized_road

Subscribe to Specialized Bicycles on YouTube for more athlete conversations, behind-the-scenes racing insight, and the real stories shaping the future of cycling.

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What’s really behind the biggest gravel racing news in years?

In this episode of the Specialized Bicycles Podcast, Keegan Swenson and Sofia Gomez Villafañe sit down to tell the story in their own words.

The media has called Keegan’s move to Specialized Offroad Racing the gravel transfer of the decade. And with a roster that includes top male riders Matt Beers and Mads Würtz Schmidt, Keegan’s transfer has sparked a conversation about the dawn of the “super team” in gravel—and what real team tactics might look like at the pointy end of the biggest gravel races.

Keegan and Sofia cut through the noise and share the real story behind the move, the thinking that led to it, and what it means for the future of gravel racing.

This conversation goes deeper than headlines, covering:

• Why gravel is evolving, and what that evolution demands from athletes
• How Keegan approaches long-form gravel and MTB racing, strategy, and self-directed performance
• Sofia’s tireless, principled, and effective advocacy for equity in gravel racing, including realizing separate women’s starts at some of the sport’s biggest events.
• What it actually takes to build sustainable dominance in gravel, season after season
• How partnership, independence, and preparation intersect at the highest level

Rather than hype or speculation, this episode offers an authentic and spirited, first-person look at where gravel racing is headed and what it takes to lead it.

Hosted on the Specialized Bicycles YouTube channel.

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Sofía Gomez Villafañe
 Instagram: @sofithevilla

Keegan Swenson
 Instagram: @keegels99

Specialized Off-Road Racing
 Instagram: @specialized_offroadracing

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In this episode of the Specialized Podcast, guest-host Ben Edwards sits down with one of the most accomplished riders of his generation: Remco Evenepoel.

Joined by Leo Menville (S-Racing Road Liaison), we dive deep into Remco’s journey so far. From his rapid rise to the top of the sport to navigating injuries, setbacks, and the mental resilience required to come back stronger. Remco opens up about his relationship with Specialized, how bikes and equipment play a crucial role in his performance, and what continues to drive his obsession with improvement.

We also reflect on the biggest results of his career so far and explore his decision to begin the next chapter of his career with Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe, what motivated the move, and the ambitions that come with it.

Find out more about Remco here: https://www.specialized.com/remco-eve...

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