From a spectacular European spring campaign to the brutal reality of the Kansas dirt. We sit down with Canadian globetrotter Ben Perry to debrief the absolute mudfest of Unbound Gravel and the extreme highs and lows of the 2026 season.

We cut through the noise to discuss his heartbreaking crash while fighting for the podium at The Traka 360, the heavy mental and financial toll of a DNF in the biggest race of the year, and the harsh reality of the privateer hustle when factory teams are deploying 4 AM recon crews for the mud. Finally, we ask the ultimate question: what is the most valuable career path for a gravel privateer today, and why does winning Unbound change your entire life?

In this episode:

• 00:00 The Transition from Road to Gravel

• 03:07 The Logistics of a Globetrotting Privateer

• 06:24 Building Form & The Traka 360 Heartbreak

• 12:42 The Evolution and Speed of the Front Group

• 14:04 Unbound 2026: The Mudfest & DNF Reality

• 30:40 Tech Check: Surviving the Mud & The Bike Setup

• 38:09 The Privateer Dilemma & Flaws in the Gravel Series

• 53:55 Bouncing Back & The Next Targets

• 58:20 Why Winning Unbound Changes Everything

Follow Ben’s globetrotter journey: On Instagram: @benjperry

The Gravel Paddock takes you inside the professional peloton. Subscribe so you never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@TheGravelPaddock⁠⁠.

From a decade in the World Tour to pioneering the European gravel scene, Nathan Haas has seen the sport evolve from the inside out. Now the Director at Team EF Coaching in Girona, Nathan joins the pod to break down the reality of modern gravel training and the extreme professionalization of the peloton.

We cut through the noise to discuss the true paradigm shift requiring athletes to work on bike skills and training stimulus variations (instead of just logging empty miles), why the obsession with pushing endless carbs might be ruining your race, and the ultimate danger for any athlete: the comparative mindset.

In this episode:

• 00:00 The Transition from World Tour to Gravel Racing

• 03:17 The Evolution of Gravel Cycling in Girona

• 05:07 Technological Advancements in Gravel Bikes

• 07:47 Training Paradigms for Gravel Athletes

• 10:39 The Importance of Skills and Nutrition

• 15:46 Coaching and the Privateer Experience

• 24:54 Managing Expectations in Competitive Cycling

• 25:29 The Importance of Social Training

• 29:19 The Evolution of Gravel Racing

• 30:06 Professionalism & Safety in Gravel Racing

• 34:46 Cultural Differences in Gravel Racing (USA vs. Europe)

• 44:17 Common Training Mistakes in Gravel Pros

Follow Nathan's and Team EF Coaching journey: On Instagram: @nathanpeterhaas & @teamefcoaching

And discover their training plans on: teamefcoaching.com

The Gravel Paddock takes you inside the professional peloton. Subscribe so you never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@TheGravelPaddock⁠⁠.

What does it take to go from a heartbreaking crash in a 360km race to fighting for the podium in a 200km race just 24 hours later?

In Episode 6, we sit down with Karolina Migoń to debrief one of the most insane displays of resilience the gravel peloton has ever seen.

From her background as a software engineer in Switzerland to her "statement" 2025 season where she won The Traka 360 and Unbound back-to-back, Karo has become a powerhouse in the pro ranks.

We dive deep into her recent Traka "rollercoaster," her streak of 4th places this season, and the inner workings of the PAS Racing team structure.

In this episode, we cover:

• 00:00 - The Swiss Base: Why she trains in Lausanne instead of the Girona bubble.

• 07:19 - Going Full Pro: How winning Unbound allowed her to quit her tech job and focus 100% on racing.

• 10:47 - PAS Racing Dynamics: Team tactics vs. the privateer model in the women's elite field.

• 13:26 - The 4th Place Streak: Dealing with mechanicals and the mental load of being "so close" to the win.

• 17:52 - The Traka 2026 Debrief: The lead group crash, the broken frame, and the 24-hour turnaround to race the 200.

• 33:22 - Bike Setup & Nutrition: Riding blind without navigation, 1x setups, and pushing 90g of carbs/hour.

• 42:57 - The Ultimate Goal: Defending the title at Unbound Gravel.

The Gravel Paddock takes you inside the professional peloton. Subscribe so you never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram: @TheGravelPaddock.

Follow Karolina:

On Instagram @karo_migon

On Strava @Karolina Migoń