Welcome to our 50th newsletter!
Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? This week we have plenty of new tech, as well as one of the coolest gravel events on the calendar.
I’m coming at you from Girona, but next week I’m heading to Italy for team training camp. A few of my teammates are starting to come back to town for the season, and it’s great to have us all back together again. On Axeon, about two-thirds of us live in Girona.
This past weekend I completed one of, if not my favorite bike ride of all time. With six hours of training to do, we decided to head over the French border. We rode north, skirting Roses before crossing over into France. The views were spectacular with the perfect asphalt road hugging the coastline. We descended into countless little coastal towns and finally decided on a boulangerie for a re-fuel. After an incredible pastry and an awful coffee, we headed back over to Spain. The ride was six and a half hours. I loved every second.
Have a good week on the pedals, and catch you soon!
Joe
Feel free to email me at joe@nplus1.cc if you have any questions, or feel I’ve missed something that is worth putting in the Newsletter.
📖 Read
#roadracing
Last week, we covered Team Qhubeka-NextHash’s fall from grace after getting into bed with a sketchy cryptocurrency firm. This week, team principal Doug Ryder goes on record to talk about the team’s closure, legacy, and future. This Q&A sets things straight, right from the source.
12-minute read
#roadracing
Tour de France and Giro d’Italia champion, Egan Bernal, is recovering in hospital after colliding with the back of a bus. Bernal crashed while on training in Colombia with the Ineos Grenadiers. At the time of writing, he has successfully undergone complex, but successful spinal injury. This is a developing story.
5-minute read
#tech
Brompton, known for their innovative folding bicycles, has just released their lightest model ever, weighing just 7.45 kg. The titanium bike is made in Sheffield, before being shipped to London to be built, which maintains the British heritage. Fancy a commuter bike that is lighter than most road machines? Well, they start at £3,750.
5-minute read
#gravel #travel
Rwanda is a country with a complex history, and as recent as the 1990s it experienced one of the most devastating genocides in human history. In 2022, Rwanda is statistically one of the safest countries in the world, and it’s building a reputation as Africa’s cycling hotbed. Gorilla Gravel and the Rwanda Beyond Project are two of the most exciting things to come out of the country. Simon De Schutter is involved in both, and he lifts the lid in this interview.
23-minute read
#gravel #training
Pete Stetina is one of the best gravel racers in the world. The American splits his prep into five phases. From base fitness to racing itself, Stetina’s advice is a good starting point for anyone who wishes to get involved in the gravel scene. Take a look at his Groad Trip for all the pointers.
7-minute read
📱Tweet of the week
Finally! EF announced their new kit this week, what’re your thoughts?
🎧 Listen
Cameron Mason is one part of the up-and-coming UK cyclocross scene. He is the U23 British National Champion and won the Dendermonde cyclocross World Cup in Belgium. He sits down to talk about his journey to the top of the sport, and his passion for off-road racing. There is all the other craziness that you’d expect from a Matt Stephens podcast too.
65-minute listen
👀 Watch
Now, this is how to promote a World Championship event.
4-minute watch
👋🏻 Introducing
In this new part of the Newsletter, each week we’re going to introduce one of the brands that we work with at N+1.
Introducing… Buzz Power
Natural organic sports fuel made from 98% raw honey and performance electrolytes that is both gut and eco-friendly - what’s not to like? Born in southern England, Buzz Power is everything you want for cycling fuel. They are very clear that it is NOT an energy gel. It is much, much better!
Be sure to download our app and browse their collection!