Team Spirit

Gravel, more so than other cycling disciplines, prides itself on its pioneering spirit. It is apt, therefore, that it puts both genders on equal footing. Women compete with men over equal distances, from the same start line, battling the elements together at the same time.

In hindsight, creating a Café du Cycliste Gravel Team was an obvious choice. The idea being to form a group of women, tough as nails, ready to face any challenge head-on, willing to throw down the gauntlet to men and even ride circles around them on the long and perilous races. Of course, physical condition is paramount, but mental strength is where a race is often won and lost. When muscles have been pushed to their limits, the brain must take the reins and haul the body over the finish line.

It’s a personal battle, fought side by side with one’s teammates. Maria, Danielle, Annabel and Lydia; the four ‘True Grit’ of the team, have been getting acquainted on the trails. On paper results played a part in their selection, but the most important criteria was a combative, exuberant and off-the-wall personality. Café du Cycliste was out to have a blast while competing in the mythical races on planet Gravel such as The Traka (Spain), Unbound (USA) and The Rift (Iceland).

The arrival of the inaugural UCI Gravel World Series has added new flavour to the project, bringing with it a competitive aspect that was not part of the initial plan.

Without a doubt, the move to qualification races dilutes biking adventure spirit where the limits of a challenge are always pushed, where it is difficult to reconcile the fight for places with the next event. For the majority of the CDC-GT, qualification to the World Series was a formality.

The team will take part in the final on the 8th October 2022, some having taken podium places and victory laureates in the qualification race in Monsterrato (Italy).

A team spirit has grown organically over the course of the season’s races. Four athletes, hailing from different countries and speaking a myriad of languages, gelling together.

These international races put their daily lives on hold, lives of non-professional athletes who have a day job and a family watching them head out the door to race. For a few days, they are immersed in a unique, communal and intimate experience.

At a rate of around one race per month, the team has gradually become a family. Between races, the existence of each athlete evolves, their lives changing steadily or rapidly. The races provide an opportunity to catch up, where personal highs are celebrated, and lows commiserated.

Team members train individually between each event, the shared pre-race rides are a way to gauge their friends’ form. Sporting identical kits, a newfound power is born, and a feeling that the individual efforts begin to make sense in the group context, transforming into a collective strength. However, the reality of a gravel race is not conducive to teamwork.

The girls mix in with the various male groups that form early on in the race, getting into a rhythm and jumping from group to group to climb the rankings.

A peculiarity of these races is men being surprised to see women ahead of them in the race, sticking to their wheel, and having to stick to theirs too. The UCI Gravel World Championships will be held on the 8th October. The Gravel Team is in a relaxed mood leading up to the event.

At this stage, the main objective has already been achieved. The goal for the year was merely to take part in these races that gravel riders dream of. But the girls did more than just feature, they flourished.

Introducing CDC GT

Café du Cycliste’s first official racing team. Bringing together four dedicated riders, all hungry for big adventure on mixed terrain, the project will take them across the globe to experience the best of the world’s gravel competition.

The Rift

The Rift is an unmissable event on the Gravel calendar with a course offering volcanic landscapes, and a highly unique terrain. There’s nothing else in the universe quite like it, especially not for Annabel Fisher who rode to victory in the 200km.

The Traka

Girona’s location and laidback atmosphere make it irresistible to Gravel enthusiasts. The surrounding countryside is riddled with trails as far as the eye can see and, unsurprisingly, The Traka has established itself here as the benchmark European Gravel race.

Unbound

In terms of Gravel racing there is Unbound, and then there is the rest. For Gravel enthusiasts, Unbound is more than a race, it's a pilgrimage, a baptism of dirt and fire that every follower dreams of one day living.