This weekend saw the first ever official British National Gravel Championships, held in the Forest of Ae in Dumfries and Galloway, and it's one the team and everyone at Ribble HQ will be talking about for a long time. The team took all four elite national jerseys and, with seven riders on the start lines, every single one of them came home with a medal.
Sunday's gravel races were the big ones and, for two of our riders, the day the whole season had been building towards. Sophie Wright started the year with this race circled. Then, six weeks ago, she broke two ribs in a training crash. Most riders would have written the summer off. Not Sophie. She won the women's national title with a clear gap back to the rider behind her. There were a few tears at the finish, and not just hers.
After some disappointment with 3rd last year, I've spent 365 days working for this title. I attacked after one of the steepest climbs, then went solo for 70km to the finish. I gave it everything, and was so happy to share this victory with the team once I crossed the line.
Sophie Wright
Jenson Young then made it a golden double, adding the men's gravel title to the TT jersey he had won the night before, and finishing the weekend as a double national champion. Like Sophie, he did it with daylight back to his nearest challenger, and in a field that included WorldTour riders like Ben Swift.
An amazing weekend for the team winning all 4 elite national titles, I couldn’t be prouder to be part of it and be able to wear the stripes on my back for a year and fulfil my main goal of my season. The hard work that went into this race from myself and everyone else around makes these victory’s even sweeter.
Jenson Young
There was a nice bonus in the men's results too. The organisers ran an additional 30 to 40 age category across the TT, which meant Ben picked up a second jersey as category champion, with Harry Tanfield second, and Metheven Bond third. Three more medals for the collection before Sunday had even started.
Weekends like this are why we're in gravel. It's a young category, and backing British riders to win at national level, on bikes developed off the back of what they teach us through racing like this, is something we're incredibly proud of.
The team now head to the European Championships.
Follow the Ribble Outliers on Instagram for everything from the trails, and see the bikes that won the jerseys.
I’m really pleased to retain the TT title - I put a lot into this one and my was strong and measured. I’m also pleased with my performance in the race, and helped control the group behind Sophie
Abi Smith
As a brand, weekends like this are why we're in gravel. It's the fastest growing category in cycling and still young enough that a British team can help shape where it goes, so backing riders at this level, and giving them the equipment and support to win, is something we're genuinely proud to put our name to.
THE BIKE BEHIND THE RIDE
ULTRA-GRIT: Outliers Team Edition
At the heart of every ride was the ULTRA-GRIT, our bike built specifically for elite gravel racing. Fast, capable and designed to perform across demanding terrain, it delivered when it mattered in the Forest of Ae. From technical singletrack to relentless climbs, it was the bike behind every one of the team’s medals.
Thinking about getting into gravel riding or ready to upgrade your bike? Explore our full gravel range and find the ride that’s built for your next adventure.
We Came, We Saw, We Conquered.
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