The Wildest Race I’ve Ever Done. Can I Survive?

We’re at the Gravel World Championships 2024! The best male and female riders on the planet are here, including Mathieu Van der Poel, Lotte Kopecky and Marianne Vos, and of course – Si! Si will in fact be competing in the most ferocious, competitive group: the 40-44 year olds. He’s got an epic Colnago bike with him, and the drive to take on the challenge. But his training hasn’t quite gone to plan…so, will he survive?

In collaboration with @colnagoTV and @RideShimano:

⏱️ Timestamps: ⏱️
00:00 Can Si survive the gravel world championships?
00:56 More on the race at Leuven!
02:16 Day before the race
04:19 Race day
08:00 The training
10:10 No fitness, no problem!
10:31 Si's Colnago G4-X fitted with Shimano's GRX Di2 12-speed groupset 🙌
12:59 Hurting 60km in
13:41 Valtteri Bottas?!
16:27 Final lap of circuit
18:23 Si's final result
20:20 The aftermath

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What did you think of Si's experience at the gravel world championships? 🚵‍♂️ Would you love to take on a race like this? 👀

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🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
The Break of Dawn - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Dark Before Dawn - Will Harrison
All Blue Skies - The Fly Guy Five
Standoff - FLYIN
Just the Right Amount - Arthur Benson
Never Catch Me Shlippin' - Guustavv
The Limbo Twist - Speedy The Spider
Writing With Highlighter, Paper - Epidemic Sound
Timpani, Hard Mallet, Roll, Crescendo (D) - Epidemic Sound
Calling - Ooyy
Mountain Shadows - Wanderer's Trove
Don't Shake My Tree - Will Harrison
The Grim Reaper (Instrumental Version) - Roof
Open Minds - Johan Glossner
Fleamarket Boss - Harry Edvino
Where's My Fix - Will Harrison
Vinyl, Record Scratch, Stop - Epidemic Sound
Hurriganes Forever - Andreas Dahlback
Dirty Feet - Andreas Dahlback

#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #gravel #gravelworldchampionships #gravelbike #colnago #mathieuvanderpoel #lottekopecky #mariannevos #gravelworldchamps #shimano

📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images

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[gcn]

What did you think of Si's experience at the gravel world championships? 🚵‍♂️ Would you love to take on a race like this? 👀

[CyclingSteveL]

Imagine being another rider at the world champs being passed by a dude wearing 20 year old kit, carrying a selfie-stick, making a youtube video. Then Valteri Bottas zooming by like some sort of gravel-Jesus. Crazy stuff.

[tman]

What u talking about man? 76th is good! Lots of strong riders out there who would have trained all year for this. You should be proud to have qualified and to have competed!

[lux-wattage]

Thrilled the UCI finally gave in and allowed you to post the video! It would’ve been a real loss for this incredible footage to vanish under gravel dust, never seeing the light of day. Huge kudos to Si for powering through to the finish!

[JustMikeH]

I find this encouraging.

To see a former pro struggle to find time to train in-between life priorities, still race, stuggle, and yet still complete is encouraging.

I was never a pro rider, will never be a pro rider, and have not raced for years. I am training to race next summer. My only goal for next year is to avoid DNF with my secondary goal to see how close I can get myself to the middle of the finishing times of my age group. It might sound like a really weak goal, but sometimes life priorities keep me from riding as much as I'd like.

So thank you Si for your struggle. This is encouraging me to keep riding and give racing a try next summer.

[hellodisdat]

I'm 7mins in but it needs to be said. This shit is fkn great. The content, the editing, the backing music while old man Si get into the race.. even the idea to do this in this way.. so good and in glad i can watch it for free. Thankyou.

As a 41 year old dad of 3 who has recently done a 125km race and went through ups and downs I have utmost respect (and envy), Simon. Beautiful, entertaining and honest video, spectacular event... Shame on everyone saying it was not "real gravel" just because it was not another Unbound.

[prispin]

We hope you stay on top of the dark places and balance family and cycling and GCN - you inspire a wide variety of people across the cycling community every day. Most of us will never race, let alone in a World Championships, but you help all of us set goals in endurance cycling, and just plain having the joy of cycling in our lives!

[KFlickinger]

I love those races where you oscillate between, "I'm not quite dead yet" and "I got better." True age grouper!

[BrianMcMahon]

Way to go Si, should be proud of that 76th position, top quality video and presentation as always.

[fogsmith]

Chapeau Si - it was so cool to see your reactions post race - the rawness and honesty were awesome. Please consider more videos like this one. Thanks from Colorado.

[lazlo]

Okay let’s go through a checklist:
Didn’t crash✔️
Never visited the canal✔️
Never had chain jam sandwich ✔️
Stayed upright through the mud ✔️
Didn’t let out breakfast in the forest✔️
Rode a bike half the planet can’t afford ✔️
Has backing from Japan ✔️
Films while racing ✔️
Finishes what he started✔️
Keep looks impressive from we’re I’m sitting!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 bravo Si.. bravo.

[fritsgerms]

One word; brilliant. Age groupers are the heart of all endurance sports. It answers the why.

[dorydiaveloneart]

Mr. Si CONGRATULATIONS ….YOU ARE THE MAN !!! . Really find all the info REALLY HELPFUL AS AN OLDER COMPETITIVE RIDER WITH OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES … I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR APPROACH, YOU HUMILITY, AND MOST OF ALL HOW WELL YOU DID … YOU ROCK!!!

[prestachuck]

Minimal to no training or physical preparation, finishes in the top half of his race at world championships with no mishaps or mechanical whatsoever. Simon ought to very proud of his performance. No doubt his family and close friends will be. Props, Si!

[tonystredwick]

Love Si and his presentation style. Self deprecating and modest. Proper achievement to qualify and compete. Chapeau.

[cyclingnerddelux]

Si, I’ve been an age grouper for many years. Frankly, finishing as strong as you do is a result you can be very proud of. Nice job. Go Belgium!

[markschindel]

I would be extremely proud of what you did. You qualified for worlds and were part of a select group of riders in the world.

[questgivercyradis]

Si! You didn't train and you still were top half of the group! Just looking at the times compared to distance, that's FAST for everyone. And you just go "yeah, I think I'll just go on a race" and get through it? Absolutely excellent! Most of us are happy to just be able to ride for a few hours without racing!
Cheers dude :)

[GenYHikikomori]

Simon is a battle-hardened veteran. Kudos to you for still doing this.