The Gravel Loop

Mike Khosravani
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The Gravel Loop is a home for long-form conversations with gravel pro-cyclists, the kind that go past the highlight reel. Guests break down race strategy, what a 150-mile breakaway actually feels like, and the split-second calls that decide a result. Gear gets serious airtime too: what riders run, why they chose it, and the tradeoffs nobody puts on a spec sheet. Along the way, the show tracks where gravel racing is heading, the technology reshaping bikes and training, and what it means for the sport's future. No hype. No filler. Just riders talking straight.

Episodes

  1. Jul 7

    (audio only) Andrew (Lespy) L'Esperance on Racing in the Life Time Grand Prix Gravel racing, MTB, stage racing, and Building His Own Gear

    Andrew L'Esperance is a World Cup XCO racer, the Canadian Marathon MTB National Champion, and has represented Canada at the World Championships nine times across three disciplines. He's a long-time professional cyclist with an engineering background, and has raced gravel at the highest level for several seasons as part of the Life Time Grand Prix, North America's leading off‑road racing series. In 2026, Andrew is a Life Time Grand Prix athlete, competing across the series' marquee gravel and mountain bike events. Lespy's sponsors and pro products that he uses and trusts: - Maxxis: [⁠@maxxisbike⁠] - 3T Bicycles: [⁠@3tbike⁠] - Pearl Izumi: [⁠@pearlizumiofficial⁠] - Rex Wax USA: [⁠@rex_ski_and_bike_usa⁠] - Easton Cycling: [⁠@eastoncycling⁠] - Race Face: [⁠@raceface⁠] - Shimano Gravel: [⁠@shimanogravel⁠] - Shimano MTB: [⁠@shimanomtb] #Gravel #LTGP #LifeTimeGrandPrix #MTB #Maxxis #3TBike #PealIzumi #Shimano

  2. Jul 6

    Andrew (Lespy) L'Esperance on Racing in the Life Time Grand Prix Gravel, MTB, stage racing, and Building His Own Gear

    Welcome to The Gravel Loop Podcast. Canada's own Andrew L'Esperance, aka Lespy, a professional cyclist racing as a privateer with Maxxis, Pearl Izumi, and 3T Bikes among his sponsors. Andrew is a World Cup XCO racer, a Canadian Marathon MTB National Champion, and someone who's pulled on the maple leaf at the World Championships nine times across three different disciplines. He's been a full time cyclist for a decade, holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and has raced gravel professionally since at least 2022 as part of the Life Time Grand Prix, the premier off road racing series in North America. He is a Lifetime athlete and competing in the Lifetime Grand Prix 2026. A few things you might not know. Andrew started racing at 12 years old in Nova Scotia. He is the youngest of four boys, he is married to cycling Champion Haley Hunter-Smith. He is a strong and multidisciplinary engine and a true engineer by training. He helped design an electronic, hands free chain lube system with Faction Bike Studio and raced it at Unbound. Lespy's sponsors and pro products that he uses and trusts: Maxxis: @maxxisbike3T Bicycles: @3tbikePearl Izumi: @pearlizumiofficialRex Wax USA: @rex_ski_and_bike_usaEaston Cycling: @eastoncyclingRace Face: @racefaceShimano Gravel: @shimanogravelShimano MTB: @shimanomtb

  3. Feb 28

    From Wildcard to Champion: Unpacking the Journey with Cam Jones

    Welcome to the DirtCam flipped the script on the 2025 cycling season: Cam Jones, the Unbound 200 champion, and the Life Time Grand Prix overall winner - unpacking that journey. Cam went from being off the invite-only Grand Prix roster to tearing the gravel hierarchy and making his own path. We dive into how that journey became his ultimate rocket fuel and how a wildcard entry changed the trajectory of his entire career.The PastBefore the massive wins, there was pure chaos. Cam holds nothing back as he shares the story of his career developmentCrushing Unbound 200 & The Course Record BreakawayWe break down that legendary Unbound ride. Cam walks us through his aggressive race strategy, what it took to execute a mind-boggling 150-mile breakaway with Simon Pellaud, and how he managed the dust, the fatigue, and the mind games to cross the line in Emporia with a jaw-dropping course record.Gear Talk: Let the Legs Do the TalkingForget the hyper-obsessive wind tunnel data. Cam talks about his pragmatic approach to equipment testing. It’s a masterclass in proving that at the end of the day, you can’t buy speed - you've just got to work with what you’ve got and pedal harder than the guy next to you.What’s Next for the King of Gravel?With an off-season in the works and getting a moment to breathe, what does 2026 hold for the champ? We talk defending the crown, new targets, and why sometimes, just going with the flow is the ultimate strategy.Cam's Gear:Bicycle & ComponentsSCOTT Sports: @scottsportsusaSilca: @silca_veloShimano: @shimanomtb @rideshimano @shimanogravelIndustry Nine:@industry_nine @i9cyclingteamSchwalbe Tires: @schwalbetires4iiii Innovations: @4iiiicomApparel & AccessoriesRapha: @rapha @rapha_rccJulbo Eyewear: @julbo_eyewearNutrition & PerformanceKenetik: @bekenetikSpeedon Performance Fuel: @speedon_performance_fuel

  4. 12/08/2025

    Mastering Your Metrics: Inside Intervals.icu with David Tinker

    Intervals.ICU with David Tinker, founder and primary developer Intervals.icu is a Stellar platform to track your metrics, your fitness, whether you are a cyclist or love another sport. Knowledge is power and metrics are important. It is also important to be able to integrate data across different devices such as wearables. In this conversation, David Tinker shares his journey from a software developer to the creator of Intervals.icu, a platform designed for sport analytics. He discusses the importance of user feedback, the integration of AI, and the challenges of maintaining data accuracy. The conversation also touches on the growth of the cycling community, the significance of coaching, and the future of open-source hardware in fitness technology. David emphasizes the platform's commitment to user data accessibility and the ongoing development of features to enhance user experience. Host: @neuroccm (X) @neuroccm (BlueSky) Guest: @david_tinker (X) davidtinker.bsky.social (BlueSky) Instagram: VeloHealthLTD

  • 4 Episodes

About

The Gravel Loop is a home for long-form conversations with gravel pro-cyclists, the kind that go past the highlight reel. Guests break down race strategy, what a 150-mile breakaway actually feels like, and the split-second calls that decide a result. Gear gets serious airtime too: what riders run, why they chose it, and the tradeoffs nobody puts on a spec sheet. Along the way, the show tracks where gravel racing is heading, the technology reshaping bikes and training, and what it means for the sport's future. No hype. No filler. Just riders talking straight.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Khosravani
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mike Khosravani
  • Show Website
    The Gravel Loop