CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

What does it take to win the toughest ultra gravel race in the world?

Rob Britton takes us inside his record-breaking victory at the 2025 Unbound XL, the brutal 350-mile self-supported gravel race across Kansas.

Rob breaks down the key decisions that helped him average over 20 mph for nearly 18 hours and smash the previous course record by more than two hours.

From aerodynamics and nutrition strategy to hydration systems, gravel race tactics, and bike setup optimization, this episode explores how small performance gains compound over ultra-distance racing.

We also dive into the development of Castelli’s first Unlimited Gravel Suit, featuring integrated hydration storage, aerodynamic cargo pockets, and real-world testing at the highest level of gravel racing.

Topics covered in this episode:

•Winning the 2025 Unbound XL
•Gravel racing aerodynamics explained
•Ultra-endurance nutrition and hydration strategy
•Integrated hydration systems in cycling apparel
•Aero gains over 18 hours of racing
•Gravel bike setup for ultra racing
•Racing through the night against Lachlan Morton
•Comfort vs speed in endurance cycling
•The future of gravel race apparel and technology

If you’re into gravel racing, bikepacking, endurance sports, cycling tech, or performance optimization, this episode is packed with insights from one of the fastest ultra-gravel performances ever recorded.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on cycling performance, innovation, aerodynamics, and elite racing.

– IMPORTANT LINKS –
Rob Britton
Castelli SOG

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:38 Quickfire Round
04:05 Chasing Lachlan Morton Through the Night
06:21 Racing History with Lachlan & The Final Catch
07:05 Tactics, Fatigue & Managing the Lead
07:50 Bike Setup, Aerobars & Carrying Nutrition
10:38 Why the Speed Suit Could Have Decided the Race
11:58 How Ultra Racing Has Changed in Recent Years
13:32 First Ride in Castelli's Prototype Gravel Aero Suit
15:25 Nutrition Storage, Hydration & Self-Supported Racing
17:31 Why Ditching the Hydration Pack Was a Huge Advantage
19:35 Aero Performance & Suit Design Details
21:21 Castelli's Aero Heritage & Innovation Story
23:12 Marginal Gains, Ryder Hesjedal & Performance History
23:48 Winter Riding, Future Testing & What's Next
24:18 “The Netflix of Cycling Clothing”
24:28 Outro

– HOST –
Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate 150 years of innovation, Castelli unveils a special edition Giro d’Italia kit—blending heritage, performance, and cutting-edge design.

In this episode, we sit down with Castelli Global Brand Manager Steve Smith to unpack the story behind the anniversary jersey worn by Soudal Quick-Step. From silk jerseys and the first-ever speed suit to aerodynamic breakthroughs and modern race-day technology, this conversation dives deep into the moments that reshaped cycling apparel.

You’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic innovations, the thinking behind the 150th anniversary design, and what it takes to keep pushing the limits of speed—decade after decade.

This isn’t just a look back. It’s a glimpse into the future of performance.

LINKS
⁠STRAVA Challenge ⁠
⁠Social Ride, May 9⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠Steve Smith, Castelli Brand Manager ⁠⁠

⁠⁠Gabba R White Paper⁠⁠
⁠⁠The Gabba Story ⁠⁠🎧
⁠Gabba Wind Tunnel Testing⁠ 🎧

CHAPTERS
00:00 — 150 Years of Castelli
00:57 — From Silk to Speed
02:00 — Giro Anniversary Kit
03:29 — Design & Scorpion Timeline
05:50 — 1967: First Speed Suit
07:20 — 1977: Lycra Shorts
09:40 — Colored Shorts Break Rules
11:45 — 1982: Sublimation
12:50 — 2007: Aero Race
16:20 — Aero Adoption
17:05 — Gabba & Sanremo
17:56 — Today’s Fastest Kit
20:29 — Marginal Gains
20:56 — Wind Tunnel Life
21:23 — Peak Aero?
23:39 — Innovation Pressure
24:41 — Future Materials
25:22 — Where to Buy
26:09 — Closing Thoughts

– HOST –
Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Full-time school teacher by day, ultra gravel powerhouse by night — Svenja Betz is redefining what’s possible in endurance sport.

She didn’t just take on the biggest races in ultra gravel — she won them all. First Unbound XL, then The Traka Adventure, and Badlands.

Her rise has been anything but conventional. She doesn’t train full-time. She doesn’t follow the typical pro playbook. And she doesn’t sleep during races.
Instead, she relies on instinct, resilience, and a deep love for the process.

In this conversation, we dive into what really matters when the distances get serious: how to fuel properly without falling into energy deficits, how to pace when sleep isn’t an option, and how to stay mentally strong when everything starts to fall apart.

Svenja also opens up about balancing elite performance with a demanding career, navigating the pressure of social media, and why being “skinny” isn’t the key to going faster.

If you’re curious about ultra cycling or wondering how far you could really go, this episode might just challenge your assumptions and inspire you to push your own limits.

– IMPORTANT LINKS –
Follow Svenja Betz: https://www.instagram.com/svenja__betz/
Castelli SOG: https://www.instagram.com/castelli_sog/

– CHAPTERS –
00:00 – Intro
02:18 – Balancing teaching + ultra racing
05:25 – Training with limited time
09:41 – 52 hours, zero sleep
13:45 – Intervals vs endurance
18:36 – Nutrition, RED-S & weight myths
22:51 – Fueling strategy in ultras
25:31 – Heat, hydration & survival
32:12 – Are you ready for 500km+?
40:14 – Mental toughness & self-talk
43:05 – Winning move at Badlands
47:34 – Social media vs reality
54:47 – Castelli kit, mindset & identity
59:33 – What’s next: new goals

– HOST –
Søren Jensen, Global Marketing Manager at Castelli, has worked for this iconic brand since 2006. He usually rides backroads and dirt trails, testing new gear in the Italian Dolomites. If you can't find him there, check the Castelli Headquarters in Fonzaso. Connect:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
If you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@castelli-cycling.com⁠⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our conversation with sports performance nutritionist Dani Hofstetter, we go beyond theory and into the real-world habits that actually improve endurance performance.

From properly fueling long and double training days to understanding why most athletes underestimate their glycogen needs, this episode breaks down what really matters when it comes to carbohydrate intake, recovery, and metabolic efficiency.

We dive into:
Why you can’t fix bad fueling during the ride
The critical first hour post-training (and why most athletes waste it)
Simple, repeatable habits that outperform complex strategies
The risks of underfueling, RED-S, and chasing weight loss too aggressively
How to stay consistent when juggling training, work, and life

Fresh off his new book Train, Eat, Repeat, Dani shares a clear, no-nonsense approach to nutrition—cutting through trends, supplements, and overcomplication to focus on what actually works.

Whether you’re chasing performance gains or just want to feel better on the bike, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.

👉 If you haven’t listened to part one, start there first:
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000758776017

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
3:05 Why you can’t fuel hard training during the ride
4:03 The missing habit: building consistent fueling routines
5:25 Why post-ride nutrition gets neglected
7:53 The ideal recovery shake formula
8:59 Hydration: how much you actually need to replace
9:24 Planning vs reality: why logistics kill recovery
10:48 Train less, recover better? The real performance gain
11:00 Weight loss & performance: a risky trade-off
13:09 RED-S explained: warning signs athletes ignore
18:37 Nutrition mistakes when traveling
24:03 Probiotics, supplements & gut health
25:49 3 race nutrition rules for hotel stays
28:27 Why there are no shortcuts in nutrition
29:44 Biohacking, social media & performance myths
31:32 Study: social media can reduce performance by 9%
37:18 A perfect fueling day for a long ride
41:11 Protein, carbs & fiber: simple daily guidelines
44:11 The idea behind Train, Eat, Repeat
51:25 Favorite Castelli winter kit
54:27 Outro

– LINKS –
TRAIN EAT REPEAT - The Endurance Cookbook
https://www.dorlingkindersley.de/buch/marlene-low-feride-dogum-dani-hofstetter-fabian-haefeli-train-eat-repeat-9783831050734

PREVIOUS EPISODES
Smart Nutrition for Hot Weather Riding
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000722138953

RED-S Ep. 1
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000671492861

RED-S Ep. 2
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000672166132

Sports Nutrition: Winter Training, Indoor Riding
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000639782748

Sports Nutrition: Race Day Fueling, Hydration Strategy
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000638271631

Sports Nutrition: What is the Optimal Diet for Cycling Performance
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000636862451

Sports Nutrition: Carbs, Fruits, Veggies for Everyday Performance
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000635636881

– CONNECT –
Dani Hofstetter
⁠Website⁠: ⁠
https://danihofstetter.ch⁠
Instagram⁠
https://www.instagram.com/dh_performance_nutrition/

Host: Soren Jensen⁠⁠⁠
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carbs, fueling, and metabolic efficiency – few topics create more confusion in endurance sports. Sports performance nutritionist Dani Hofstetter joins us to clear it up.

Fresh off the release of his new book Train, Eat, Repeat, Dani shares a practical, no-BS approach to nutrition – cutting through the noise of extreme diets, high-carb trends, and supplement hype.

You’ll learn why most amateur athletes don’t need 120g of carbs per hour, how pros actually fuel differently, and why training intensity, not just nutrition, determines your metabolism.

This conversation goes beyond gels and grams per hour. It’s about building a sustainable system that supports performance, recovery, and long-term health – without obsession or perfectionism.

Whether you’re an elite cyclist, racing ultras or Gran Fondos, or simply want to feel better on the bike, this episode will change how you think about fueling.

What You’ll Learn
Why most cyclists are undereating—not overeating
The real difference between pro and amateur fueling needs
How training too hard kills fat metabolism
Why carbs are still misunderstood in endurance sports
The truth about 90g vs 120g carbs per hour
How to structure nutrition for training days vs rest days
Why perfectionism in nutrition can backfire
The biggest fueling mistakes causing GI issues and poor performance

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro
03:30 – Rapid fire: myths, carbs, and recovery
05:30 – Hydration mistakes and GI issues
06:20 – Why high performers often eat too little
10:00 – Use it or lose it metabolism explained
12:00 – Low-carb training and why it can backfire
13:30 – Perfectionism in endurance athletes
16:00 – Emotional + social role of food in performance
18:30 – Why carbs are still misunderstood
21:30 – Pro vs amateur fueling
23:30 – Why amateurs shouldn’t copy pro carb intake
25:00 – The engine analogy: amateur vs pro physiology
27:30 – How many carbs you actually need
28:30 – Gut training and fueling strategy
29:30 – Fat vs carbs: what really fuels performance
31:00 – The athlete who tolerates more fuel wins
33:00 – Why everyday nutrition matters more than supplements
34:30 – Why low-carb training is outdated
36:00 – Training zones mistakes (most athletes train too hard)
37:30 – Why fat burning depends on intensity
39:00 – Fasting: helpful or harmful for athletes?
42:30 – Structuring nutrition: rest days vs hard days
44:30 – Glycogen depletion and why recovery takes longer than you think
47:00 – Why most athletes underfuel their week
48:30 – The importance of planning nutrition
49:00 – Post-ride mistakes
50:00 – The real recovery window explained
51:10 – Outro

– LINKS –
TRAIN EAT REPEAT - The Endurance Cookbook
https://www.dorlingkindersley.de/buch/marlene-low-feride-dogum-dani-hofstetter-fabian-haefeli-train-eat-repeat-9783831050734

PREVIOUS EPISODES
Smart Nutrition for Hot Weather Riding
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000722138953

RED-S Ep. 1
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000671492861

RED-S Ep. 2
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000672166132

Sports Nutrition: Winter Training, Indoor Riding
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000639782748

Sports Nutrition: Race Day Fueling, Hydration Strategy
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000638271631

Sports Nutrition: What is the Optimal Diet for Cycling Performance
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000636862451

Sports Nutrition: Carbs, Fruits, Veggies for Everyday Performance
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000635636881

– CONNECT –
Dani Hofstetter
⁠Website⁠: ⁠
https://danihofstetter.ch⁠
Instagram⁠
https://www.instagram.com/dh_performance_nutrition/

Host: Soren Jensen⁠⁠⁠
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.