Ep 16: Formula One Superstar Valtteri Bottas Gets Into the Gravel Racing Business

09/02/22 • 38 min

In this extra special episode of the show, we are very excited to sit down with Formula One driver, Valtteri Bottas! As an enthusiastic cyclist, and budding gravel racer, Valtteri has a really interesting perspective on the sport and why it appeals to him in parallel and in contrast with his main occupation. Valtteri's partner is Tiffany Cromwell from the Canyon-SRAM team, and Valtteri talks about how much this relationship has influenced his passion for cycling. We talk about how he sees his cycling benefitting his driving, and also the main differences between the two sports. Along the way, our guest shares some very interesting insights into what goes into a Formula One race, and some of the biggest misconceptions about the sport too. With the massive cultural impact of the Drive to Survive series, Formula One has seen a steep increase in the number of fans of the sport and Valtteri talks a little about what it has been like to be filmed for the show. Towards the end of our chat, our guest also opens up about his hopes for his retirement and some of the other passions and ventures he has, including a gin distillery and a coffee roastery! Join us to hear it all!

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Ep 15: Ashley Korenblat is a mountain biking pioneer, advocate, innovator, CEO, and all-round inspiration

Mountain-biking pioneer, Ashley Korenblat, has one of the coolest stories in cycling. After graduating from Dartmouth Business School in the ‘80s, the Arkansas native did a stint on Wall Street, but found that bond trading got in the way of her passions for cycling and skiing. She made her way back to New England where she joined the startup bike company, Merlin Metalworks, as CEO. She helped fellow Arkansan, Bill Clinton, get elected president before bailing on the East Coast altogether and relocating to Moab, Utah, where she has resided ever since. Ashley and her husband acquired Western Spirit Cycling, and she has led the company as CEO for the past 23 years and counting. In today’s episode, Ashley shares how she has seen mountain biking explode in popularity since she first got involved in the early ‘90s and how we can advocate for the value that mountain bikers provide when it comes to public land management in the pivot from resource extraction to recreation. We also touch on the ride she did with Bill Clinton, what her transition from Merlin Metalworks to Western Spirit taught her about problem-solving and leadership, and how she hopes to make the mountain bike industry more welcoming and accessible. All this and more in today’s episode. Make sure not to miss it!

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Ep 17: WorldTour Rider Tiffany Cromwell Embraces the US Gravel Scene with Tiffany Cromwell

Professional athletes make for great role models, but the focus has usually been on men. Women athletes are rising in the ranks across many different sports, and in this episode, we speak to Tiffany Cromwell, who is pushing the bar for competitive women's cycling. Tiffany is a highly respected figure in the sport and competes internationally for CANYON//SRAM Racing Team. She is currently competing on the world circuit, where she is considered to be fierce competition amongst her teammates and rivals. Tiffany has represented Australia in multiple world championships and at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. She is not your 'typical' professional cyclist and has many passions outside the race track, such as photography and travel. She is driven by her desire to raise awareness about women's cycling in Australia and worldwide. Recently, Tiffany has embraced the Gravel scene, which has pushed her out of her comfort zone. In our conversation, Tiffany shares some of her recent gravel cycling experiences and what made her first interested in the relatively new cycling movement. We talk about the various international competitions she has raced in, her immense success as a professional cyclist, and what she has planned for the rest of the season. Hear what she enjoys most about riding GRVL and some of her favorite moments of her professional cycling career. We also dispel misconceptions about women's cycling and learn why it is so important. Don't miss out on this fascinating conversation with renowned cyclist and role model, Tiffany Cromwell!