Texas-based gravel guru Colin Strickland opened the season final weekend at MidSouth Gravel in Oklahoma, pushing by way of some ‘wild climate per normal’, snow-melt mud and a number of punctures for a Thirteenth-place end. Strickland got here off a tough coaching camp in Jalisco, Mexico three days previous to the Oklahoma race, the place he was runner-up in 2020, and continues to be working into his peak season type.
In three weeks Strickland will line up towards a lot of his MidSouth Gravel rivals, together with winner Cole Paton, third-place finisher Adam Roberge, John Borstelmann, Peter Stetina and Ted King, in Monterey, California for the primary of six races of the Life Time Grand Prix collection, the Fuego MTB 80K cross-country mountain bike race on the Sea Otter Basic.
It’s been some time for the reason that 2016 Pink Hook criterium collection winner seemed ahead to a mountain bike race, having spent years within the gravel winners’ circle. He took victory at Gravel Worlds in 2017 and 2018 in addition to second place in 2021, the Unbound Gravel 200 win in 2019 and The Rift Gravel Race victory later that yr as nicely.
“I’ve been using some mountain bike and am assured with my talent set. It shouldn’t be too technical [Fuego MTB], however extra doubtless using on all lungs and coronary heart,” he stated in an interview with Cyclingnews.
“I constructed up a brand new mountain bike, for starters. I’ve been charging round my native Austin trails, getting snug with the sting of traction. I’ve by no means raced the Sea Otter course, so I’m undecided what to anticipate.”
The collection shall be contested by 30 ladies and 30 males for an equally-split prize purse of $250,000, paid to the highest 10 riders – first place is $25,000 – with probably the most factors accrued from 5 of the six races. Sea Otter’s Fuego MTB 80K on April 9 is one among three occasions, together with Crusher within the Tushar on July 9 and Chequamegon MTB Competition on September 17, which additionally supply particular person occasion purses.
“I plan to attend all six occasions, which is a smart method since harm and sickness do occur,” Strickland added.
Rio Grande Gravel creates Texas off-road doubleheader
Strickland spends most of his time between endurance occasions deep within the coronary heart of Texas, and can get an opportunity to amp up his conditioning in Might with back-to-back gravel grinders in his residence state to arrange for Unbound Gravel on June 4. The Pink Bull Rio Grande Gravel will launch on Might 7 with a 75-mile occasion for women and men, adopted by Gravel Locos 150 the subsequent weekend.
“It’s particular to see Texas contributing some cool and distinctive occasions to the calendar. The roads themselves are very rugged within the space. It will likely be actually cool,” stated Strickland, who rode within the space close to Marfa final fall with Payson McElveen. “We have been scouting some desolate roads within the space. It’s a difficult place to search out, however that’s a part of the draw – It’s probably the most magnificent locations within the nation.”
The inaugural Rio Grande Gravel will begin and finish on a personal, 30,000-acre cattle ranch and resort, Cibolo Creek Ranch. A 25-mile circuit shall be utilized by rivals, with Rio Grande Gravel organisers recommending disc brakes on these tough roads since “rim brakes won’t be adequate for a number of the descents”.
“It’s a bit faraway from Marfa, however at evening it is likely one of the darkest skies in America. I took a number of journeys on the market a few yr in the past. It’s close to Massive Bend Nationwide Park,” Strickland stated of the serene setting, positioned within the Chihuahuan Desert.
Rio Grande Gravel is strategically positioned earlier than the 150-mile Gravel Locos after which Unbound Gravel 200, making it “a stepping stone to extra huge races.”
Strickland, who was runner-up at Gravel Locos 150 in 2021, noticed the 2 Texas races as each handy and difficult to assist in giving him the shape for Unbound, which he gained three years in the past.
“Relating to my buildup to Unbound, I imagine I’ll be finest served by stacking probably the most variety of laborious race days attainable. This was the method for my success at 2019 Unbound, and I plan to attempt to emulate that in 2022.
“I strive to not race for cash, as it may be disappointing. There are one million methods to ‘kibosh’, and that takes the enjoyable out of it. So successful… if it occurs, it occurs.”
