Gravel racing has been one of the fastest growing sectors in mass-participation sports over the last decade or so, particularly in the US, where high-profile races like UNBOUND Gravel, Rebecca’s Private Idaho and Belgian Waffle Ride have grown massively in popularity, attracting a broad range of both veteran and newcomer cyclists to the sport.
It’s against this backdrop that in 2019 professional road racer Amy Charity launched her own gravel race around the ski resort town of Steamboat Springs, CO, where she then lived. As Forbes magazine put it, SBT GRVL went on to become a remarkable overnight success, selling out in just 9 minutes in its second year and becoming one of the best gravel racing experiences in the world.
So what has been the secret to the race’s massive success? That’s what we’re here to find out with Amy’s help - and in the process learn a thing or two about the unstoppable sensation that is gravel racing.
In this episode:
- An "overnight success": planning and launching SBT GRVL
- The importance of local infrastructure in supporting a world-class race
- Building community relations and being a respectful "guest" in the local community
- The appeal and insane growth of US gravel racing
- Road racing vs gravel racing vs mountain biking
- How inclusivity helped propel gravel racing's growth
- The cost advantages/disadvantages of organizing a gravel race vs a road race
- Making SBT GRVL a more welcoming event for female athletes and newcomers
- Including a non-competitive e-bike category into the event
- Activating sponsorships year-round through grassroots and team-building events
- Offering a VIP package/experience option
- Bringing the SBT GRVL brand to Europe with FNLD GRVL
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