'The Happiest Gravel Roads on Earth,' the tagline read on the FNLD GRVL website. Well, they're certainly having a right laugh now, aren't they? My feet are burning, my back's aching and my legs are cramping.
They can stick their 'happiest place to live title' - seven years in a row - up their collective pakarat. Then again, look around you. No choking cars, pines that visually and aromatically lift the soul, plus a parcours whose challenging credentials are matched by endless, awe-inspiring panoramas. Maybe the FNLD GRVL marketing team had a point, after all...
FNLD GRVL is the brainchild of Coloradobased SBT GRVL, short for Steamboat Gravel, that annually sells out its 3,000 capacity. Its Finnish counterpart, held in Lahti, is only in season two but this year's episode, held in mid-June, attracted 700 riders with aims to double that in 2025.
It certainly has two high-profile figureheads to spread the FNLD GRVL message as the race is co-organised by Australian Tiffany Cromwell, who's ridden for Canyon-SRAM since 2016, and partner Valtteri Bottas. When not spending every Clockwise from top left The event's all very well organised, with activities laid on for several days around race day; Do the Midnight Sun course and the light might begin to fade a little by the end; Flagging? Just think of the after party....
This pair looks like they've experienced the happiest gravel roads on Earth; spare moment on the bicycle, Bottas competes in Formula One for the Kick Sauber team and previously racked up 10 wins and five Constructors' Championships with Mercedes.
Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
No limits
Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz
UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel
FOREST COMMISSION
Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland
15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES
Featuring Yorkshire, the USA, Sri Lanka and more, here are our picks of the world's greatest gravel races and routes
The stuff of dreams
Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course
"I rode 3,000 miles around Britain on a bamboo bike to highlight our climate crisis"
Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions
STAR TREK
New tube shapes and carbon lay-up makes the eighth generation of Trek's legendary Madone an aero and climbing bike all rolled into one
GOLD RUSH
With conflict around the world, Paris 2024 was a ray of light. Here are our highs of a mighty Olympics
HIGHER CALLING
Pro cycling commentary is a formidable skill that Ned Boulting and Matt Stephens make look easy. Andy McGrath drops in on their booth at this year's Giro d'Italia to learn their secrets
