[music] Alex: Yes, racing.
Conor: All right, they're behind us already. Alex: Come on then.
Conor: Oh my, this is not how I remembered racing. As cycling fans, we have fallen in
love with Strade Bianche, the Tuscany hills, the epic gravel sectors, and that brutal steep
finish to Piazza del Campo. Italian racing at its best.
Alex: Our friends over at Komoot have got a campaign running at the moment to get everyone
to ride their very own Strade Bianche by creating a route local to home and ride it in the spirit
of the modern-day classic. Conor: Yes, and when we got wind of this,
we had to give it a go ourselves. I love route planning and getting a bit mucky. We thought
we'd show you our very own Strade Bianche route.
Neal: Sounds like you guys are going off-road. I know some good trails right here.
Speaker 1: Yes, we do. Alex: We can be riding hard and fast.
Speaker 1: Yes, we've got a few tips. We can do that.
Conor: Okay, yes, if you feel up to it. Speaker 1: Amazing. What's hard about it?
Conor: I guess we better follow them. Alex: Should we try and catch them up? They're
not hanging around. Conor: Right, let's go. Come on.
[music] Conor: Today's route that I planned on commute
is around 30 kilometers with a few climbs thrown in for good measure. I've also included
a couple of gravel sections to really give it that iconic Strade Bianche feel. I plan
to finish the ride on a brutally hard climb too to finish off the day. Although now I'm
not sure if the GMBN boys have got something else planned instead. Now, the main Strade
Bianche is 180 kilometers long with 63 kilometers of Tuscany gravel over 11 sectors. It's actually
a fairly recent addition to the men's pro cycle in calendar, with its first edition
being in 2007, but since then it has become a firm favorite in the cycling season. Becoming
quite comfortable alongside names such as Peru Bay and the Tour of Flanders.
Alex: Yes, that's right. The very name, Strade Bianche means white gravel roads, and this
really evokes for some unique and jaw-dropping racing, which this event has become famous
for. Conor: Yes, and rightly so because we love
the men's, and now women's, Strade Bianche Donne and we just can't wait to watch it.
[music] Neal: Right, I think that's enough of road.
I know a good trail [unintelligible 00:02:47] or what is called a sector.
Speaker 1: [unintelligible 00:02:49] Conor: Quick, Alex. Better get on their wheel,
mate. Oh my goodness. [scream] [music]
Conor: Oh my god. Ah, it's muddy. ?Neal: Nice. Not too bad. See.
Conor: We made it. [music]
Neal: You guys are flying now. Conor: That was pretty outrageous that first
sector. Anyway, I'm really interested to hear your own thoughts on Strade Bianche and how
you feel about road races, starting to dabble more and more in off-road sectors and gravel
sectors, coming from a mountain bike background. What do you think about all of it?
Neal: Yes, I love it. I've watched it before and it's a beautiful part of the world. I've
actually ridden a mountain bike around. I think it's great. I love watching races like
the Barry-Roubaix where there's an extra element to the racing that makes it hard. It's really
fun to watch those guys and girls really struggle while they're battling each other on the terrain
and the weather sometimes as well, so love it, great.
Conor: When you see these kind of multi-discipline riders like van der Poel, Van Aert, and Pidcock
as well, he's dabbling in a mountain bike too. I say dabbling, he's doing rather well
at it. Does it give you the feeling of wanting to give it a go, if it'd been about racing,
would you have given it a go? Neal: I don't know about me. I'm more of a
gravity-assisted rider to be fair, but I love seeing these modern riders like Wout van Aert,
van der Poel riding mountain bikes, winning on mountain bikes. Just brilliant all-around
cyclists. Conor: Yes, it's fantastic. I actually didn't
get to ride Strande Bianche myself. I have done the sectors. I did struggle with it in
the dryer. Actually, really struggle with my breathing. It just gets so dusty. It's
just a marvel watch. Neal: One of those things that it's better
to watch than probably do. Conor: Yes, for sure. Anyway, I'm enjoying
this route. At first, it was pretty brutal. I'm not sure it could get any worse than that,
can it? Neal: Next sector, 1.9 kilometers long. I
think it's gonna be a bit more technical, a bit wetter. It's time to maybe spice it
up, have a bit of a race. Conor: Yes, I'm feeling that.
Neal: Off-road versus GCN? Conor: Go on then. Let's get a point system
going. Right then, first one to the end wins. [music]
Conor: We're getting an advantage. I think we're going to need it.
[music] Neal: All right, they're behind us already.
Conor: Oh Christ. ?Alex: All right, pick the pace up, mate.
[music] Neal: Easy.
Speaker 1: That was fun. Neal: It was good.
Conor: Good. Neal: Rough.
Conor: Oh, guys, that was pretty rough. I don't remember seeing that in Strade Bianche
though. Speaker 1: Cobbles, that's cobbles.
Conor: Yes, cobbles, gravel with everything else. I was too far back to have won that
one. Alex: I did my best but GMBN.
Speaker 1: I think GMBN. Conor: Fair enough. GMBN won. It was GMBN
on the first sector. Alex: Back on solid ground now, we need to
up our game a little bit. Conor: Yes, I think I'm going to try and keep
things a bit more sensible from now on, guys. Take it easy, a bit of a rest, come on.
Alex: All right, so let's come on. BMX track? Neal: Yes.
Conor: BMX track? Speaker 1: BMX track.
Conor: Guys. Speaker 1: BMX track.
Conor: What on earth is this? I have never seen anything like this in a professional
race. Speaker 1: This is cobbles.
Conor: Cobbles? Neal: This is a velodrome, there's a berm
over there. Conor: This is jumps.
Alex: I'm not sound for this. Conor: I've never done this in my life. It's
time to get serious. [music]
Alex: Three, two, one, go. Conor: Slipping.
[music] Conor: Guys, wait.
[music] Conor: Oh my goodness.
Neal: That was surprisingly good. Conor: I survived anyway.
Alex: I'll tell you what, I was absolutely gutted to have lost that race, but I have
only got myself to blame. I'll tell you what is impressive, it is amazing what you can
find on the back door of around the home area when you're out riding with a few friends
that know where they're going. Conor: Yes, it is amazing. Although I think
the BMX track was a step too far. It was mighty impressive to see your skills on that. Descending
in the [unintelligible 00:08:24] like a kind of sofa ride with a packet of chips.
Neal: Your bike kind of looks like a BMX, Conor.
Speaker 1: Yes, it does. Conor: Okay, guys. Take it steady, take it
steady. Anyway, we're going to kind of-- I'm going keep a lid on things now because we're
racing towards the final steep climb of the day, our Piazza del Campo of this ride. It's
going to be a great one. Got a steep one, nice lane to get there. Nice and gentle, nothing
crazy. I think that was off. Speaker 1: 16%.
Conor: 16%, yes, but no more off-road sectors. Speaker 1: All right. Can't promise anything.
[music] ?Alex: It's a bit scary right there.
[music] Speaker 1: Hey, Neal. Before we hit the last
horrible climb, I reckon we could squeeze in another route, off-road, like an off-road
one. Real master one. Neal: We better make it the best yet.
Speaker 1: No, it's going to be rocky and horrible. This next sec-tour is going to be
unreal. Conor: Guys, just looking at the route here,
it's saying straight on few kilometers till the finish climb of the day, and then we're
done. Neal: No, no, boys. Next left.
Alex: Left? Speaker 1: Yes.
Neal: I still have a surprise for you. [music]
Cyclist 1: Careful Alex. Alex: This is a bit much, do you not think?
[music] Alex: [inaudible 00:10:29]
[music] [laughter]
Alex: I totally railed that one guys. Conor: [inaudible 00:10:46] mate.
Alex: Had that one, you should've seen me. ?Cyclist 1: You look good.
Alex: You should've seen me. Neil: You were so fast moss was growing on
you. Conor: You were being like one with the trail.
[laughter] Alex: Okay guys, on the final climb of the
day finally, things got interesting a bit there I'll give you that one. I was hoping
for a picturesque [unintelligible 00:11:07] and I think I got a bit more than I bargained
for. Now the last one of the day, this is our Piazza del Campo that famous finish in
Strade Bianche. I'll tell you what, here in Bars in the southwest of England, we have
our own steep climb. Speaker 1: It's getting steep
Alex: I'll tell you what, it's time to get our revenge here, race to the top come on.
GCN versus GMBN. It's one of those epic scenes about an [unintelligible 00:11:36] cramping
at the finish after a brutal day on the bike. [music]
Glory to the victor. Good effort me, at least we showed them something about road riding.
Cyclist 1: That was everything I have. Alex: I haven't gone that hard since I retired.
Cyclist 1: All right, catch your breath. Alex: Yeah pretend we're not out of breath.
Cyclist 1: [crosstalk] easy. Alex: Quick yes, pretend we're not out of
breath. You alright, right Neil. Cyclist 1: It's okay
Alex: Okay Cyclist 1: Was your cycling okay?
Neil: Hi, it was punchy. Alex: It's a bit of a gradual one, yes?
Cyclist 1: The stink bit's coming up. Alex: Well, tell you what, I'm feeling the
legs after that one. Blake and Neil thank you so much for joining us.
Blake: You're welcome. Neil: Thanks I enjoyed most of that, I enjoyed
it. Alex: I'm sorry we had to give a bit of a
race on that last climb, I think if you would've not waited for us at the bottom of all those
sectors, you would've been miles ahead. Cyclist 1: You would've been serving a cup
of tea by now. Alex: Yes. It was so impressive to see the
skills you have on those descents so, fair play. We did make it to the end of our very
own Strade Bianche on our doorsteps, it was so much fun. I think I'm going to need a few
months of recovery after that one. Cyclist 1: Yes it's been amazing. I', absolutely
exhausted after that but if you've been inspired to create a route of your own, then over to
Komoot and don't forget to tag in Strade Komoot, and if you wanna see the route that we've
ridden today, you can check that out down in the description below.
Alex: Yes. If you do go out on your very own Strade Bianche route, please do take a photo
of it and upload it to the GCN app and submit it in the epic ride category. We'll try and
look through and pick our favorites. Guys that was epic bike ride [crosstalk] thank
you so much. Blake: Loved it, thank you.
Neil: Brilliant. Alex: Thank you for watching everyone.
Cyclist 1: See you later. Neil: See you soon.
[00:14:00] [END OF AUDIO]