In this "ultra-coded" episode, Thomas is joined by American ultra-distance gravel racer and writer Chris Mehlman to break down his 3rd place finish at the Badlands race in Southern Spain and to talk about his “The Dark Side of Ultra Racing [https://chrismehlman.substack.com/p/the-dark-side-of-ultra-racing?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Fdark%2520side%2520ultra&utm_medium=reader2]” piece.

Chris shares his approach to preparing for one of the most brutal 780-kilometer ultra-races on the calendar, detailing the mental battle of pushing through extreme heat and two sleepless nights in the unforgiving Gorafe Desert. It’s a deep dive into the meticulously planned logistics and fierce competitive spirit required to stand on the podium alongside the toughest racers in the world.

Topics in this Episode:

 * The Meticulous Prep: How Chris mapped out every single potential food and water refill point—down to fountains and convenience stores—kilometre by kilometre to survive the long, unsupported stretches in the desert.
 * No Sleep, No Tracker: Chris shares why he never looked at the race tracker during the race to manage stress, and why missing sleep for 40 hours was a necessity to stay competitive in the 780 km event.
 * Littering and Drugs: Chris wrote about littering issues and a pack of Tramadol found on the Badlands course. We talk about “the Dark Side of Ultra”
 * Tour of Detours: After Badlands, Chris went straight to the UK for a multi-day, 1,500 km bikepacking trip covering England and Wales.

Featured in this Episode:

 * Chris Mehlman: Ultra-Endurance Cyclist and writer. Read his work on his Substack [https://chrismehlman.substack.com/] and follow his journey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the_mehlman_delivers/].
 * Thomas Euler: Host of the Gracing Podcast and author of the The Gravel Stack Newsletter [https://thegravelstack.substack.com/]. Follow Thomas on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thegravelstack]

Don't forget to subscribe! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Gracing and leave us a rating. And for Thomas's weekly gravel analysis, subscribe to The Gravel Stack newsletter!

The Dark Side of Ultra, Badlands, and more with Chris Mehlman 

In dieser Episode sprechen Paul Voß und Thomas Euler über die heißesten Gerüchte im professionellen Gravel-Sport. Im Fokus stehen die rasante Professionalisierung des Sports, die Entstehung von "Superteams" und die Geldfrage im Gravel.

Außerdem sprechen die beiden über die Gravel Europameisterschaft – inklusive des Dramas um Rosa Klöser – US Gravel Nationals und blicken kurz voraus auf Ranxo, das Finale der Gravel Earth Serie.

Themen dieser Episode:

 * Der Professionalisierungsgrad im Gravel: Wie viele Teams sind wirklich professionell organisiert und wo verläuft die Grenze zwischen Amateur und Profi, da es keine Lizenzpflicht gibt.
 * Das Specialized Superteam-Gerücht: Die Hosts diskutieren die kolportierte Entstehung eines Gravel-Superteams mit Stars wie Keegan Swenson, Mads Würtz Schmidt, Matt Beers und Sofia Gomez Villafane.
 * Die Gehaltsfrage: Wie sehen die Jahresgehälter der Top-Fahrer im Gravel aus? Was sind Roll-over-Prämien und wie hoch sind die versteckten Kosten wie Reise und Mechaniker, die Team-Verträge attraktiv machen?
 * Team-Struktur vs. Persönlichkeit: Wird die Social-Media-Präsenz der Fahrer weiterhin wichtiger ist als die Teammarke sein?
 * Platten-Drama: Thomas berichtet detailliert über das Pech von Rosa Klöser, die sieben Kilometer vor dem Ziel mit einem Platten ihre sichere Goldmedaille verlor..
 * UCI und Livestreams: Kritik an der fehlenden Übertragungsqualität und den Gefahren durch Age-Grouper in den Profi-Rennen.

Corrections Corner:

Bradyn Lange bekam nicht den Rick, sondern Continental Terra Speed 45 von Dylan Johnson und hat die US Nationals auf ihnen gewonnen.

Die Hosts:

 * Paul Voß: Host des Autsaid Podcasts. Folgt Paul auf Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/paul_voss/] und abonniert den Autsaid YouTube-Kanal [https://www.youtube.com/@autsaidcc]
 * Thomas Euler: Host des Gracing Podcasts und Autor des The Gravel Stack Newsletters [https://thegravelstack.substack.com/]. Folgt Thomas auf Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thegravelstack].

Abonniere uns, um keine Neuigkeiten aus der Gravel-Szene zu verpassen!

Autsaid Podcast: Superteams, Gerüchte und ein Platten-Drama

Thomas is joined by Andrew Vontz from Choose the Hard Way and Beyond the Peloton. The two share their observations from the 2025 gravel season and tell us what excites them for the remainder of the season.

Topics in this Episode:

 * The Rise of "Grass Racing": Is "grass" is becoming the next defining surface in gravel. Will we have surface specialists like in Tennis, even?
 * Is Mud a Problem? The role of mud pits and Minimum Maintenance Roads (MMRs) in races like Unbound and Gravel Worlds can be outsized. Should organizers reroute to prevent mechanicals and damage to expensive equipment?
 * Safety and Logistics: Do shared feed zones for pros and amateurs need to be separated?
 * Self-Supported vs. Pro Support: A discussion on the ethos of "self-supported" racing and how it clashes with the professionalization of the sport, and whether a diversity of race styles is beneficial for gravel.
 * Breaks Win Races: An observation on the trend of early breaks winning many of the season's marquee races and the lack of a "domestique" culture in gravel racing.

Featured in this Episode:

 * Andrew Vontz: Andrew is the author and host of the Choose the Hard Way Podcast [https://choosethehardway.libsyn.com/] and Substack [https://alwaysthehardway.substack.com/]. He’s also co-host of Beyond the Peloton [https://open.spotify.com/show/38KNvwfP4y7ALpBBu1izsI].
 * Thomas Euler: Your host and author of The Gravel Stack [https://thegravelstack.substack.com/], Connect with Thomas on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thegravelstack] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/cookxride.bsky.social].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring you more great content.

Late Season Check-in with Andrew Vontz

In dieser deutschsprachigen(!) Episode tauchen wir tief in eines der härtesten Ultra-Rennen Europas ein: Badlands. Thomas spricht mit beiden Gewinnern Svenja Betz und Rick Steffen über ihre Erfahrungen auf der 780 Kilometer langen Strecke durch die spanische Wüste.

Svenja, die als erste Frau ins Ziel kam, teilt ihre persönliche Geschichte. Nach einer enttäuschenden Erfahrung im letzten Jahr, die sie als "Niederlage" empfand, kehrte sie mit einem neuen Mindset zurück, um das Rennen als "Goodlands" zu erleben. Sie spricht über die mentale Herausforderung, das Training neben ihrem Referendariat zu meistern und ihre Ernährungsstrategie auf der Strecke.

Auch Rick Steffen blickt auf sein Rennen zurück. Er gibt Einblicke in seine minutiöse Vorbereitung und seine Renntakti. Außerdem spricht er über seinen Sturz im letzten Jahr und wie er es schafft, das Radfahren mit seinem Job als Feuerwehrmann zu vereinbaren.

Themen dieser Episode:

 * Comeback Badlands-Sieg: Wie sich die beiden von ihren „Niederlagen“ im Vorjahr zum Triumph katapultierten.
 * Vorbereitung vs. Spontanität: Wie sich Svenjas "Mal gucken"-Vorbereitung auf das Rennen auswirkte und wie Rick alles bis ins kleinste Detail plante.
 * Ernährung im Ultra-Rennen: Svenjas und Ricks Ansätze, ihren Körper über 800 Kilometer mit Energie zu versorgen.
 * Jäger und Gejagte: Wie es anfühlt das Rennen als Jägerin und als Gejagter zu bestreiten.

In dieser Episode:

 * Svenja Betz: Gravel-Fahrerin und Gewinnerin des Badlands 2024 (Frauen-Kategorie). Folge ihr auf Instagram: @svenja__betz [https://www.instagram.com/svenja__betz/]
 * Rick Steffen: Gravel-Fahrer und Teilnehmer an Badlands. Folge ihm auf Instagram: @rick.steffen [https://www.instagram.com/_rick_steffen_/]
 * Thomas Euler: Dein Gastgeber und Autor des Gracing Podcasts. Folge Thomas hier [https://linktr.ee/cookxride].

Verpasse nicht dieses packende Gespräch über mentale Stärke, akribische Planung und die raue Realität des Ultra-Gravel-Racings!

Abonniere uns und hinterlasse eine Bewertung! Wenn dir diese Episode gefallen hat, abonniere uns bitte und hinterlasse eine Bewertung. Das hilft uns, mehr Hörer:innen zu erreichen und weiterhin neuen Gravel-Content mit Herz und Hirn zu kreieren.

Badlands Recap mit den Gewinnern Svenja Betz & Rick Steffen

In this episode, Thomas sits down with two of gravel's top pros, Emily Joy Newsome and Matt Beers, to recap last weekend’s Lauf Gravel Worlds. They dive into the race's challenging conditions, strategic decisions, and the unique aspects of racing with a massive prize purse on the line.

Join us as Emily and Matt share their first-hand accounts of the 150-mile course, the infamous minimum maintenance roads, and what it takes to compete at the highest level of American gravel racing. Matt gives the inside story of his race-winning sprint finish against his buddy Keegan Swenson, while Emily reflects on her strong performance in a stacked women’s field.

Topics in this episode:

 * The OG Gravel Worlds: A breakdown of the 150-mile (245km) course in Lincoln, Nebraska, characterized by long, straight roads and rolling hills.
 * Racing for a $100,000 Prize Purse: Emily and Matt discuss the mental approach to competing in a race with the largest single-event prize purse of the season..
 * Tackling the Mud: The athletes recount their experiences with the course's notorious "peanut butter mud" and the last-minute equipment changes they made and didn’t make to handle the conditions.
 * The Power of Live Streaming: A conversation about how live race coverage is changing the sport for both fans and pros, offering new exposure for riders and sponsors.
 * Race Strategy: Emily and Matt reveal their tactics for navigating the terrain, from managing pulls in a group to racing in crosswinds and using hills to their advantage.
 * The Women's Race: An analysis of how Gravel Worlds successfully structured the women's race to minimize interference from other riders0.

Featured in This Episode:

 * Emily Joy Newsome is a professional gravel racer from Texas. She rides on Pas Racing. Follow her racing on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emilyjoynewsom/].
 * Matt Beers is a top-level mountain bike and gravel racer. Among his plentiful palmares are three Cape Epic and two BWR California wins. You can find him on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mattbeers55/].
 * Thomas Euler: Your host of the Gracing podcast and author of The Gravel Stack newsletter [https://thegravelstack.substack.com/].

Don't miss this engaging conversation about what it takes to perform at the highest level of gravel racing!

Subscribe and leave a review! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review. It helps us reach more listeners and continue to bring you great content.

Lauf Gravel Worlds with Matt Beers & Emily Joy Newsome

Paul hat sich erneut Carolin Schiff ans Mikrofon geholt. Offen spricht Caro über ihre Red-S-Diagnose, das abrupte Saisonende und die Pläne, die sie gemeinsam mit Trainer Philipp Seipp schmiedet, um zurück an die Weltspitze des Gravelsports zu kommen. 

Like und abonnier gerne diesen Podcast!

Maloja x Autsaid Kollektion im Sale [https://www.maloja.com/de-de/online-shop/?cat=3&special_product=1729] www.maloja.com

Paul auf Instagram https://www.instagram.com/paul_voss/

Carolin auf Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carolinschiff/

Autsaid YouTube Kanal https://www.youtube.com/@autsaidcc

Carolin Schiff im Gespräch über Gesundheit, Training und Zukunft nach der Red-S-Diagnose

In this episode, Thomas sits down with Geerike "Gee" Schreurs of the powerhouse SD Worx-Protime team. Coming off her second-place finish at Core4 in Iowa, Gee shares her insights on the race from the race.

Join us as we recap her day in the muddy, humid conditions of Core4, and get the inside story on moment that went viral (gravel viral, that is). We also get a glimpse into what it's like to race gravel within a WorldTour team and look forward to a stacked Lauf Gravel Worlds.

Topics in this episode:

 * Core4 Race Recap: Gee's account of the challenging day in Iowa, from navigating the tough conditions to the final sprint finish.
 * The Traka Accident: How Gee rode almost 150 km with a fractured elbow and only stopped for safety reasons.
 * Lauf Gravel Worlds Preview: A look ahead at one of the biggest races on the calendar and what to expect in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Featured in This Episode:

 * Geerike "Gee" Schreurs: Professional Gravel Rider for Team SD Worx-Protime. Follow her journey on Instagram: @geerike_schreurs [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/geerike_schreurs/]
 * Thomas Euler: Your host and author of The Gravel Stack: https://thegravelstack.substack.com/ is also on Instagram: @cookxride [https://instagram.com/cookxride]

Don't miss this engaging conversation about what it takes to perform at the highest level of gravel racing!

Subscribe and leave a review! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review. It helps us reach more listeners and continue to bring you great content.

Geerike Schreurs on Core4 and the Future of Women's Gravel

In this special conversation, Thomas sits down with one of the most well-known and highly regarded gravel pros and host of the With Pace Podcast, Payson McElveen.

In this deep dive, Payson and Thomas talk about the future of gravel cycling, its current state, the evolving business side of the sport, and the trends that are shaping its future. They also touch on Payson's strong result at Leadville, what makes this iconic race unique, and how it's evolving alongside the sport.

Topics in this episode:

 * Payson's Leadville Recap: A look back at Payson’s strong 5th place finish at Leadville and how he overcame a hip injury from earlier in the season to achieve a top result.
 * Consolidation in Gravel: Is consolidation coming to the sport?
 * Governing Gravel: Does gravel need a cohesive series or "governing body" that is run more like the NBA than the UCI in order to make the sport sustainable?
 * Teams and Domestiques: Why teams may be good for gravel but would have to be implemented with a plan to be sustainable.
 * Gravel Media: How will live streams evolve? Why the sport's organic, athlete-driven media is a unique strength and need to be bundled and made accessible.

Featured in This Episode:

 * Payson McElveen: Gravel Professional & Host of the With Pace Podcast. Follow him on Instagram: @paysonmcelveen [https://www.instagram.com/paysonmcelveen/]
 * Thomas Euler: Your host and author of The Gravel Stack: https://thegravelstack.substack.com/ is also on Instagram: @cookxride [https://instagram.com/cookxride]

Don't miss this insightful conversation about what's next for the world's fastest-growing cycling discipline!

Subscribe and leave a review! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review. It helps us reach more listeners and continue to bring you great content.

The Future of Gravel with Payson McElveen

In this episode. Rosa Maria Klöser takes us with her on her victorious 160 km solo ride at Iceland's Monument of Gravel(™️), The Rift.

Rosa shares her last-minute decision to tackle this iconic race. Discover how she navigated the surreal lava landscapes, brutal climbs, and proper river crossings, ultimately making a bold move that secured her win. 

---

Topics in this episode:

First Impressions of Iceland & The Rift: Rosa's extra special experience as a first-timer in Iceland, including witnessing a volcanic eruption and being captivated by the surreal nature.

Navigating The Rift's Brutal Terrain: A detailed breakdown of the course, from early river crossings to chunky sections, and "walls" of climbs with pitches up to 22% on loose lava rocks, even encountering snow at 1500 meters of elevation.

Gear Talk: Insights into tire choices and the increasing prevalence of suspension forks in gravel racing. And why tightening valve cores is highly recommended. 

Rosa’s premiere WorldTour Season: A talk about Rosa’s road career in the Women's WorldTour, including picking up bottles from the wrong side of the car and how her sponsors and teammates look at gravel vs road racing in 2025.

Improving race conditions for pro women: We get into the recent discussion about the pro women's races in the UCI Gravel World Series and some ideas for improving the status quo. 

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Featured in This Episode:

Rosa Klöser: German Gravel Professional. Follow her journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosaklsr

Thomas Euler: Your host and author of The Gravel Stack: https://thegravelstack.substack.com/   [https://thegravelstack.substack.com/]is also on Instagram: https://instagram.com/cookxride

---

Don't miss this captivating account of one of gravel cycling's most demanding races!

Subscribe and leave a review! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review.

Conquering The Rift with Rosa Klöser

This episode dives deep into what truly drives value for a pro gravel athlete in today's dynamic landscape! Join host Thomas Euler as he chats with gravel pro Chase Wark and filmmaker John Peter (aka The Stable Cyclist).

In this insightful conversation, Chase reveals how his unique approach to content creation and his relatable persona are captivating audiences and sponsors alike. Alongside JP, who is documenting Chase's journey in a docuseries, we explore the power of storytelling in building a personal brand and how important doing so is for gravel privateers.

---

In this episode:

•⁠  ⁠The New Currency of Sponsorship: Discover why traditional race results might not be the sole focus for sponsors anymore and how visibility and relatability are becoming key metrics.

•⁠  ⁠The Power of the Docuseries: Chase shares his philosophy behind his docuseries, produced by John Peter, and how it's creating a deeper connection with fans, making him a more trusted voice for his partners.

•⁠  ⁠Launching Lunchbox Racing: Get the inside scoop on Chase and Drew Dillman's new team, their vision for the future, and their goal to support the next generation of gravel talent from underrepresented areas.

•⁠  ⁠The "Gravel Dads" Phenomenon: A hilarious and honest discussion about balancing professional racing with fatherhood, including practical tips and tricks from Chase and JP for fellow gravel dads.

---

Featured in This Episode:

Chase Wark: Professional Gravel Privateer, Content Creator, and Co-founder of Lunchbox Racing. Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasethebiker and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chasethebiker.

John Peter (The Stable Cyclist): Filmmaker and Podcaster. Find his work on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thestablecyclist and listen to The Stable Cyclist podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DqkYShLiqThJgNl2KMFY3

The Gravel Stack Newsletter: https://thegravelstack.substack.com

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Don't miss this episode that unpacks the evolving landscape of professional gravel cycling, the importance of genuine connection, and the exciting future of the sport!

Subscribe and leave a review! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating and review. It helps us reach more listeners and continue to bring you gravel-pilled content.

The Chase Wark Documentary with Chase and John “Stable Cyclist” Peter

Autsaid - Gravel Podcast entführt euch in die weite Welt des Gravelsports. 

Bei Autsaid gibt's die News aus der Szene, spannende Interviews und Equipmenttipps vom Gravel-Profi. Euer Host ist Paul Voß.

Gracing - The Autsaid Race Talk gibt mit Vorschauen und Analysen zu den wichtigsten Rennen einen Einblick in die Gravel-Racing-Szene. Euer Host ist Thomas Euler mit wechselnden ExpertInnen an seiner Seite. Der Podcast ist in englischer Sprache.

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Autsaid - Gravel Podcast takes you into the wide world of gravel. 

Autsaid provides news from the scene, exciting interviews and equipment tips from gravel pros. Your host is Paul Voss.

Gracing - The Autsaid Race Talk provides an insight into the gravel racing scene with previews and analyses of the most important races. Your host is Thomas Euler with changing experts at his side. The podcast is in English.

Instagram:

 * Paul Voß [https://www.instagram.com/paul_voss/] 
 * Thomas Euler [https://www.instagram.com/cookxride/]
 * Autsaid [https://www.instagram.com/autsaid.cc/]

Paul Voss

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