EP8 - Benjamin Perry - "The Unbound Mudfest, Traka Heartbreak & The Privateer Reality"

EP8 - Benjamin Perry - "The Unbound Mudfest, Traka Heartbreak & The Privateer Reality"

From a spectacular European spring campaign to the brutal reality of the Kansas dirt. We sit down with Canadian globetrotter Ben Perry to debrief the absolute mudfest of Unbound Gravel and the extreme highs and lows of the 2026 season. We cut through the noise to discuss his heartbreaking crash while fighting for the podium at The Traka 360, the heavy mental and financial toll of a DNF in the biggest race of the year, and the harsh reality of the privateer hustle when factory teams are deploying 4 AM recon crews for the mud. Finally, we ask the ultimate question: what is the most valuable career path for a gravel privateer today, and why does winning Unbound change your entire life? In this episode: * 00:00 The Transition from Road to Gravel * 03:07 The Logistics of a Globetrotting Privateer * 06:24 Building Form & The Traka 360 Heartbreak * 12:42 The Evolution and Speed of the Front Group * 14:04 Unbound 2026: The Mudfest & DNF Reality * 30:40 Tech Check: Surviving the Mud & The Bike Setup * 38:09 The Privateer Dilemma & Flaws in the Gravel Series * 53:55 Bouncing Back & The Next Targets * 58:20 Why Winning Unbound Changes Everything Follow Ben’s globetrotter journey: On Instagram: @benjperry [https://www.instagram.com/benjefperry/] The Gravel Paddock takes you inside the professional peloton. Subscribe so you never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@TheGravelPaddock⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thegravelpaddock/].

EP7 - Nathan Haas - "Coaching the Dirt, Over-Fueling Myths & The Comparative Mindset Trap"

From a decade in the World Tour to pioneering the European gravel scene, Nathan Haas has seen the sport evolve from the inside out. Now the Director at Team EF Coaching in Girona, Nathan joins the pod to break down the reality of modern gravel training and the extreme professionalization of the peloton. We cut through the noise to discuss the true paradigm shift requiring athletes to work on bike skills and training stimulus variations (instead of just logging empty miles), why the obsession with pushing endless carbs might be ruining your race, and the ultimate danger for any athlete: the comparative mindset. In this episode: * 00:00 The Transition from World Tour to Gravel Racing * 03:17 The Evolution of Gravel Cycling in Girona * 05:07 Technological Advancements in Gravel Bikes * 07:47 Training Paradigms for Gravel Athletes * 10:39 The Importance of Skills and Nutrition * 15:46 Coaching and the Privateer Experience * 24:54 Managing Expectations in Competitive Cycling * 25:29 The Importance of Social Training * 29:19 The Evolution of Gravel Racing * 30:06 Professionalism & Safety in Gravel Racing * 34:46 Cultural Differences in Gravel Racing (USA vs. Europe) * 44:17 Common Training Mistakes in Gravel Pros Follow Nathan's and Team EF Coaching journey: On Instagram: @nathanpeterhaas [https://www.instagram.com/nathanpeterhaas/] & @teamefcoaching [https://www.instagram.com/teamefcoaching/] And discover their training plans on: teamefcoaching.com [https://www.teamefcoaching.com/]  The Gravel Paddock takes you inside the professional peloton. Subscribe so you never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@TheGravelPaddock⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thegravelpaddock/].

EP6 - Karolina Migoń - “The Traka Rollercoaster, Pas Racing Dynamics & Defending Unbound”

What does it take to go from a heartbreaking crash in a 360km race to fighting for the podium in a 200km race just 24 hours later? In Episode 6, we sit down with Karolina Migoń to debrief one of the most insane displays of resilience the gravel peloton has ever seen. From her background as a software engineer in Switzerland to her "statement" 2025 season where she won The Traka 360 and Unbound back-to-back, Karo has become a powerhouse in the pro ranks. We dive deep into her recent Traka "rollercoaster," her streak of 4th places this season, and the inner workings of the PAS Racing team structure. In this episode, we cover: * 00:00 - The Swiss Base: Why she trains in Lausanne instead of the Girona bubble. * 07:19 - Going Full Pro: How winning Unbound allowed her to quit her tech job and focus 100% on racing. * 10:47 - PAS Racing Dynamics: Team tactics vs. the privateer model in the women's elite field. * 13:26 - The 4th Place Streak: Dealing with mechanicals and the mental load of being "so close" to the win. * 17:52 - The Traka 2026 Debrief: The lead group crash, the broken frame, and the 24-hour turnaround to race the 200. * 33:22 - Bike Setup & Nutrition: Riding blind without navigation, 1x setups, and pushing 90g of carbs/hour. * 42:57 - The Ultimate Goal: Defending the title at Unbound Gravel. The Gravel Paddock takes you inside the professional peloton. Subscribe so you never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram: @TheGravelPaddock [https://www.instagram.com/thegravelpaddock/]. Follow Karolina: On Instagram @karo_migon [https://www.instagram.com/karo_migon/] On Strava @Karolina Migoń [https://www.strava.com/pros/6529037]

EP5 - Nicole Frain - “The UCI Winning Streak, Women’s Peloton Dynamics & 1x Setups”

From the road to the very front of the global gravel peloton. In Episode 5 of The Gravel Paddock, Antonin Liverset sits down with Nicole Frain, currently one of the most dominant forces on the European circuit. Fresh off an incredible 3-win streak in the UCI Gravel World Series (including a massive solo victory at Wörthersee) and a brutal podium finish at Monaco, Nicole gives us an unfiltered tactical debrief of her season so far. In this episode, we cover: * 00:00 - Intro & The Aussie Engine: The transition from Australian National Road Champion to top-tier gravel privateer. * 08:30 - The Perfect Season Start: The secrets behind her winning streak, the technical mistake that turned into a "tactical masterclass," and the physical toll of back-to-back racing weekends. * 26:14 - Women’s Peloton Dynamics: Are team tactics taking over, or is it still every privateer for themselves? * 33:16 - The Data Check: The reality of elite gravel physiology (it's not about 1000W sprints, it's about pushing 210W for 5 hours). * 36:11 - The Tech Check: Her Factor Ostro setup, the 1x 13-speed Campagnolo drivetrain, and her exact tire pressures. The Gravel Paddock takes you inside the professional peloton. Subscribe so you never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram: @TheGravelPaddock [https://www.instagram.com/thegravelpaddock/] Follow Nicole's journey: @_nicolelouise_ [https://www.instagram.com/_nicolelouise_/] on Instagram @Nicole Frain [https://www.strava.com/pros/20092842] on Strava. And find all info about Nicole on her website www.nicolefrain.info [https://www.nicolefrain.info/]

EP4 - Julian Siemons - “CX Transition, 351W at The Hills & Euro Racing Focus”

How do you transition from explosive 60-minute cyclocross mud fests to surviving brutal 5-hour battles at the front of the professional gravel peloton? In Episode 4 of The Gravel Paddock, we sit down with young Belgian powerhouse Julian Siemons (GVA Gold Gravel Team) for a raw, tactical reality check. Fresh off a massive performance at the Gravel Earth Series event "The Hills" in Italy, Julian drops the filter on what it actually takes to compete in the modern European gravel scene. 🎙️ In this episode, we dive into: * The CX Engine: How the traditional Belgian cyclocross school shapes bike handling and the breakaway mindset. * "The Hills" Race Debrief: A pure tactical deep dive into the decisive moments, pacing strategies, and a crazy data check: pushing 351W Normalized Power. * The Tech Check: The 1x vs 2x drivetrain debate, his exact bike setup with the GVA Gold project, and tire choices. * The Pro Calendar: Why the European gravel scene is getting so fast and his upcoming objectives at The Traka. ⏱️ Chapter Markers:00:00 Introduction to Gravel Racing and Julian Siemons03:22 Julian's Transition from Cyclocross to Gravel05:38 Team Dynamics and Strategies in Gravel Racing08:17 Race Debrief: The Hills Race Strategy10:37 Pacing and Endurance in Long Gravel Races12:52 Technical Aspects of Gravel Racing Equipment15:11 Future Goals and Upcoming Races for Julian17:48 The Evolution of Gravel Racing and Personal Aspirations32:57 That's a wrap 🏁 The race starts here. If you enjoyed this deep dive, please hit that follow button and drop a 5-star rating! 📱 Follow the Paddock: Instagram: @thegravelpaddock Guest: @julian_siemons