by Marshall Opel

Racing and competition, whether internal or external, are optional aspects of gravel biking and can be expressed in lots of ways.

At the front of the pack, fitness fanatics prefer to push themselves both mentally and physically to and sometimes beyond their limits. Behind those flat out racers are the pacers – measuring their efforts in a more relaxed way. This style of riding is more social and allows for more looking around and savoring at aid stations. Modern gravel events are about balance. The Gravel Royale is meant to challenge everyone on the bike, but not be the only thing going on. Stages range from 80-130km (50-80) miles, race directors expect fast racers to cross the finish line around lunchtime and the journey-person rider should finish somewhere in the mid to late afternoon.Â

Asked who this gravel stage race is for, TransRockies president, Aaron McConnell said, “Anyone who’s looking for a different kind of adventure. A way to do some really big riding in places not many get to experience.” Gravel is still relatively new to the Canadian backcountry as Aaron says – it could be a road racer who’s getting into gravel, mountain bikers who want to get back to the area, or triathletes that want an adventure vacation. When Aaron and the team at TransRockies set out to create their first ever gravel stage race, they knew they wanted to make it accessible to a wide range of riders. Whether it’s a hard core racer or a family out for adventure, the Gravel Royale is for riders looking to explore one of the most beautiful areas in North America.

Gravel Ladies

The TransRockies Gravel Royale wants to help change the stereotype that men outnumber women when it comes to gravel. The race is aiming to have at least 33% female participation in its first year as it strives to make that percentage an even split. Two ladies that are sure to mix it up at next year’s event are Kendra Fergusson and Krista Turcasso. Kendra, from Calgary will be competing in her first TransRockies event, but has more experience racing gravel than most. Krista did her first TranRockies ten years ago and is excited to race on a gravel bike for the first time next year.

For Kendra, it started in Emporia

Kendra came across a Bicycling Magazine tech feature on gravel bikes of DK. The bike that caught her eye was that of Rebecca Rusch aka the Queen of Pain. Rusch, who has a hatrick of DK200 victories under her belt, was perhaps the most prominent racer in the burgeoning gravel scene and after Fergusson saw her setup, she was literally off to the races. “I read about it and just decided to sign up!” For Kendra, gravel represented something new. “I just got really interested. It sounded like fun -way different than anything we do around here.”

Fergusson is no stranger to racing having competed in road, track and cyclocross events, but the gravel scene seemed different. “It was a real eye opener of how the racing community should be. They’re people supporting each other. Sometimes in road racing, people do things at the expence of other riders and that’s not what gravel racing’s about.” According to Kendra, gravel racing is still developing around Western Canada. She prefers to gravel ride in the mountains. “I much more enjoy going to the mountains and riding actual fire roads than the gravel that’s right around Calgary.” Kendra has a condominium near Kimberly, BC and has been exploring the Kootenay gravel. “Exactly what you want for a gravel race. Some of the roads are super gnarly, but they’re not manufactured gravel [like Calgary].”

“It’s borderline mountain biking, but on dirt roads.” For Kendra, not all riding is about racing. “Mountain bike racing never really appealed to me. I love to mountain bike, but I don’t like the racing part of it. So this (TRGR) just sounded awesome.”

Kendra’s advice to new gravel riders is to try everything first. “If it’s possible, go ride [the course] before.” Kendra feels like in general, women like to know what’s in store more than men. “Women want to do events they know they can finish.” Fergusson contrasted that to men who “are a lot more likely to do things they have no idea if they’re going to finish.” For Fergguson, knowing she can complete the event allows her to relax more and have fun.

If you’re hoping to be competitive, Fergguson recommends that you play the long game. “You’re not going to win the race on the first day, but you can lose it.” Later in the race, fatigue and mishaps can play a big factor.

“Give-a-fucks run out by the last day. If you manage to stay in it until the last day, you can do surprisingly well.”

“I know the level of organization at a TransRockies event is spectacular. I’ve definitely been at gravel events where they don’t anticipate how long it’s going to take and they run out of water or silly stuff like that. But with TransRockies, I know the organization is going to be top notch. They’re going to take care of every single person. It’s pretty awesome to be doing something like this over four days and we’re going to get taken care of every single day. That’s pretty great.

What to pack?

“I travel pretty lightly. For long events, I always wear wool socks. For gravel riding, I always wear gloves with as much padding as possible. I always have a wind jacket – just in case. And, I always carry a set of latex gloves if I’m going to be in the mountains. They’re not the most attractive, but if it gets wet, they’ll actually keep your hands warm, because they don’t breathe well.” Laughs.

When asked what tires she’ll be running at next year's event. Kendra likes the Kenda Happy-Mediums. “Either a 38mm or 40mm. It’s going to be four days so I’m probably going to go with 40’s.”

Krista Turcasso on exploring her backyard

Turcasso is the editor and publisher of Fernie Fix magazine in Fernie BC. Most years in the past decade, Tucasso has been lining up at TransRockies mountain bike events (with a few years off as she became a mom.) But next year, the Gravel Royale will be something new. Turcasso has been riding dirt roads for years on her mountain bike, but had her first experience on a gravel bike this Spring. Turcasso was excited about alt-surface riding with its speed and efficiency “It just has so much flexibility.” Turcasso likes how gravel bikes handle compared to mountain bikes. “They’re faster – a little bit more exciting being on the backroads.”

Coming Together

After years of TransRockies events (including a few victories) under her belt, Turcasso knows what to expect at a TransRockies event. “The reason people like these kinds of stage races, you’re part of this crew. You’re having all your meals together. You get to know everyone and everyone is so supportive. It’s kinda like a little family. It’s really neat to meet people from around the world. They’re coming to where I grew up, it gives me fresh eyes. I’m excited to explore some more backcountry areas.” For Krista, stage racing is about expanding and coming together. “You just do stuff you’ve never done before, and make lifelong connections. It’s cool.”

Krista and her family live in the town she grew up in, Fernie, BC. She left for school, then landed in Calgary. She found herself going back to Fernie every weekend. So, 14 years ago, Krista moved back home and started an outdoor lifestyle magazine called Fernie Fix. It’s been covering the area’s mountain culture, arts, and events ever since. “It’s a pretty fun way to keep up to date with everything that’s happening in Fernie. It just surprises me how many stories you can continue to tell over all these years. How do you not run out of ideas? It’s just because of the people here. People move to the community with so much to offer, it just keeps it alive.”

Around the time Krista moved home to the mountains, she picked up mountain biking. Krista points at TransRockies for exposing her town’s bounty of great trails to the rest of the world. Mountain biking has made the community change too. “It changed our summers, which were quiet. We had to work hard to convince businesses to stay open on the weekends because there just wasn’t the business. And now, you would not close on the weekend here. It’s great.”

“Something people always say about this area is that, obviously there’s amazing terrain to be explored, but it’s the communities that people are surprised by. It’s all these entrepreneurs with their own shops downtown. Even though we’re getting busier, we still have that feeling of community.” According to Turcasso, it’s not just Fernie that has a strong ‘mountain culture.’ “We were over in Rossland, they have these epic trails, then you go town and it’s these cute shops and really nice breweries. You’re staying in a town with people who live there.”

Krista is looking forward to ending the ride in her hometown. “So many of the places that we’re going to go through are just stunning. But that last day looks really hard. It’s long, but I’m really excited to come through that White Swan area and head towards Fernie. That last climb- then it’s downhill to town. I’m excited for that feeling of coming home.”

Krista reminds other riders to take time to take it all in.“I’ve ridden a lot of this route, it’s so beautiful. It’s pristine. Take the time to appreciate where you are, you know? Even if you’re in racer mode, sometimes you gotta look around. Even if you’re riding into a headwind for 40km’s you gotta just take yourself out of that. Look around and just appreciate it. Because, you know, when are you ever going to be in that spot again?”