{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/64ba47265648a8001146d33c/6924845b20344a04134acac1?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"JOE LAVERICK | Privateer’s Life, Marginal Gains & Having Fun!","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/64ba47265648a8001146d33c/1764000415687-f1931851-f308-4be5-997e-e56051839c4f.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Joe Laverick was one of the standout British talents through his junior years and earned a place on one of the top development teams in cycling: Hagens Berman Axeon. He spent two seasons there under the guidance of the world-renowned Axel Merckx.</p><p><br></p><p>Joe had hoped to make the jump to the WorldTour, but things didn’t fall into place, and he found himself without a contract at the end of 2022 — facing an uncertain future.</p><p><br></p><p>Instead of walking away, Joe built something completely different: a one-man privateer project that blends road racing, time trialling and gravel, fuelled by spreadsheets, sponsors, side clients and a serious obsession with marginal gains.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Joe lifts the curtain on:</strong></p><ul><li>What it actually costs to race as a privateer (race budget, travel, equipment)</li><li>Why you need to be more than “just a bike racer” in 2025</li><li>Balancing being a rider, writer, team owner, sponsor-hunter, soigneur and logistics manager</li><li>How he uses products like the Castelli Gabba R and new gravel kit – and why honest feedback matters</li><li>The learning curve of gravel: tyre pressure, technical skills and why it’s an “untapped jigsaw of performance”</li><li>200+ days on the road in the US gravel scene, host housing, burnout, and finding balance</li><li>Why enjoyment is the ultimate performance metric, and his advice for young riders choosing between the pro pathway and privateer life</li><li>We wrap up with Joe’s dream Girona loop over Sant Hilari and Montseny – a 6.5-hour, 180–200 km that he still calls one of the best rides in the world.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>– LINKS –</strong></p><p>Joe Laverick</p><p>https://www.instagram.com/joe.laverick/</p><p>https://www.strava.com/athletes/7026027</p><p><br></p><p>Sant Hilari Ride</p><p>https://www.strava.com/activities/10469253051</p><p><br></p><p>Castelli SOG</p><p>https://www.castelli-cycling.com/spirit-of-gravel</p><p><br></p><p>Men’s Unlimited Gravel Collection:</p><p><a href=\"https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Men/Collection/Unlimited/c/Man-Col-Unl\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">⁠https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Men/Collection/Unlimited/c/Man-Col-Unl⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p>Women’s Unlimited Gravel Collection:</p><p><a href=\"https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Woman/Collection/Unlimited/c/Wom-Col-Unl\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">⁠https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Woman/Collection/Unlimited/c/Wom-Col-Unl⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p>Castelli's Xmas Ride, Nov 29:</p><p>Overview | <a href=\"https://www.strava.com/clubs/66959\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/66959⁠</a></p><p>Italy | Signup form: https://www.castelli-cycling.com/castelli-unlimited-christmas-ride-2025</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>CHAPTERS</strong></p><p>00:00 – Intro, Castelli Christmas Gravel Ride &amp; Spirit of Gravel Cabal</p><p>02:00 – Who is Joe Laverick? Beating Remco &amp; Girona life</p><p>04:00 – Quickfire round: fashion crimes, coldest rides &amp; junior chaos in Belgium</p><p>09:10 – Contracts dry up: Tour of Alsace, injuries &amp; the decision to go privateer</p><p>14:30 – Building “Joe Laverick the brand”: writing, sponsors, and race budget reality</p><p>18:30 – Gear geek: equipment choices, spreadsheets, and why the Gabba R blew his mind</p><p>22:00 – Influencer vs athlete: social media, honesty and choosing the right partners</p><p>27:20 – 200 days on the road: US gravel, burnout and learning to say “no”</p><p>32:30 – Gravel as an “untapped jigsaw”: tyre pressure, skills and doing more with less budget</p><p>44:40 – Joe’s favourite Girona mega-loop &amp; how not to bonk</p><p>47:00 – Advice to young riders: pro vs privateer, happiness and why fun has to come first</p>","author_name":"Castelli Cycling"}