Cycling. Gravel – Worlds – Connor Swift: “The Belgians? They were hitting each other”

Last Sunday, the Gravel World Championshipswon this year by Marianne Vos (Netherlands) for the women’s edition and Mathieu Van der Poel (Netherlands) for the men’s edition. Connor Swift (Great Britain) participated in these World Championships and finished 6th in the ultra-dominated race by Mathieu Van der Poel. Guest on the podcast Geraint Thomas and of Luke Rowe (Watts Occurring), the team runner INEOS Grenadiers returned to his somewhat crazy experience in Belgium during the race.

Video – Connor Swift finished 6th, behind Van der Poel at Gravel

“No one cares about anyone.”

“Honestly, you should go there just for the experience,” commence Connor Swift. “Take a look at last year, at the start of the Gravel World Championships, because obviously I’ve done it twice now, there’s nothing like it. It’s literally a tug-of-war and no one cares about anyone,” he recalls with a wry smile. “I’ve never stuck out my elbows this much and last year I literally stuck out my knees so no one can overtake me. You have 290 guys, all looking for an attachment point that’s two guys wide or even single file,” he continues. “In the first kilometer, there’s Tim Merlier in the grass with a Belgian at his side and they butt each other even though they are from the same nation,” concludes the Briton from the training INEOS Grenadiers.