CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

5,000 metres of climbing. 120 kilometres. Steep gravel tracks, hidden roads and one very simple idea: how much climbing can you possibly pack into the shortest ride?

This time, we head deep into Alta Badia to uncover the story behind YOLOmites 5000 — one of cycling’s most unique and unofficial adventures.

What started as a slightly crazy idea between Igor Tavella and Jered Gruber has become an annual pilgrimage for a small group of riders drawn to the same unlikely combination: brutal climbs, beautiful roads, good friends and absolutely no rush.The number 5,000 was chosen simply because it sounded good. The first calculation suggested it would take around 120 kilometres to reach it.

Somehow, the idea stuck.In this episode, Igor and Jered take us back to the beginning of YOLOmites — from road bikes, rim brakes and 25mm tyres to modern gravel bikes, huge cassettes and mountain-bike gearing. They explain how the routes have evolved, why the ride remains deliberately small and invitation-only, and what makes the hidden roads of the Dolomites such an extraordinary playground for cycling.

We talk about surviving 5,000 metres of climbing, pacing yourself, the infamous YOLO Mini, nutrition, weather, the ultimate YOLOmites bike setup, and what happens when the ride gets really, really hard.

But YOLOmites was never meant to be a race. It’s about riding slowly enough to stay together. Looking up from the handlebars. Discovering roads you might otherwise never find. Laughing when things get difficult. And discovering that sometimes the hardest days on a bike can also be the most rewarding. Because there’s something about the Dolomites that makes the suffering worth it.

Recorded shortly after the 10th edition in 2025.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro
02:58 – Random Round of Questions
14:40 – What Exactly Is YOLOmites 5000?
16:35 – The Crazy Idea That Started It All
19:13 – Discovering the Hidden Roads of the Dolomites
20:30 – Road Bikes, Rim Brakes & 25mm Tyres
23:38 – How the Bikes Changed the Ride
25:35 – Why People Keep Coming Back
26:16 – What Makes the Dolomites So Special?
29:31 – How to Survive 5,000 Metres of Climbing
32:26 – Designing the Route: 120km, 5,000m & Counting
34:51 – The YOLO Mini: The Escape Route
36:34 – Food, Lunch Stops & Fueling the Ride
40:37 – What Happens When the Ride Gets Really Hard?
44:22 – Riding, Shooting & Surviving: A Photographer's Perspective
48:02 – Why Riding Together Makes the Impossible Possible
52:18 – Who Is YOLOmites Really For?
53:17 – Why Is It Still Invitation-Only?
58:15 – How Can You Get Into YOLOmites ?
1:00:30 – The Ultimate Bike Setup
1:05:31 – What to Wear in the Dolomites in September
1:08:37 – Bags, Pockets & Carrying Everything You Need

LINKS
⁠2026 Route⁠
2025 Route
⁠2025 Anniversary Video Recap⁠⁠
Castelli Story and Gallery⁠
⁠Pralongià Route⁠⁠
Hotel Ustaria Posta ⁠

CONNECT
⁠Jered Gruber
⁠⁠Igor Tavella⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We caught up with Paul Magnier at Soudal Quick-Step’s altitude camp in Tignes at the end of July to go behind the scenes of his sprinting, training and the technology helping him find another level.

We talk aero testing and wind-tunnel development, the Castelli Sanremo 8S Veloce speed suit, lead-out trains, sprint positioning, gym work and explosive power, as well as the technology being developed to improve rider safety, including airbag systems.

At just 22, Paul has already racked up 32 professional victories, including three Giro d’Italia stage wins, the Ciclamino jersey and a WorldTour one-day victory. But he’s not stopping there – his ambition is to reach 100 career wins and, one day, become world champion.

We also look back at his breakthrough Giro experience, what it’s like going head-to-head with the fastest sprinters in the world, and how his confidence, instinct and understanding of the sprint have evolved.

Because at this level, winning isn’t just about producing more watts. It’s about finding speed everywhere.

You don’t want to miss this one. It’s a great conversation about speed, confidence, technology and the relentless pursuit of the perfect sprint.

We hope you'll enjoy this one!

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
05:21 Quick-fire: Paul Magnier on sprinting, instinct and speed
08:36 Beating some of the world’s fastest sprinters
10:00 Recon, Finding the fastest line, Race instinct vs. data
11:26 The dream lead-out: Jasper, Dries & Fabio
16:10 Building more explosive power for 2026
17:00 Box jumps, gym work and the sprint “kick”
17:59 The Giro’s special 150-year Castelli jersey
19:01 Developing Paul’s prototype sprint aero suit
22:17 Why Tim Merlier raced in "Paul’s" suit
23:14 Sprint position, handlebars and aerodynamics
25:02 The surprising science of aero fabrics
27:40 What could the future of cycling technology look like?
28:16 Inside the new cycling airbag safety project
31:15 WorldTour wins, the Classics and 100 career victories
33:33 Pure sprinter or future Classics rider?
34:57 Growing up in Grenoble, MTB
38:24 Seven hours and 5,000m of climbing… tomorrow?!?
40:00 The Sanremo 8S Veloce: built and made with pros!
41:50 Post-recording update: Paul’s race program

– LINKS –
Other podcast episode with Paul Magnier:

Sprint Power & Classic Dreams (2024)
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000699990338

The Rise of the French Powerhouse (2025)
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000735689566

Sprint Secrets (2025)
https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/castelli-cycling-podcast/id1669906821?l=en-GB&i=1000736461228

CONNECT ⁠
⁠Paul Magnier Instagram⁠

– 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

Video and Photo credits:

Ashley & Jered Gruber:
https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber
https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber

Sam Bauget:
https://www.instagram.com/sam_has_a_camera

Wout Beel:
https://www.instagram.com/wout.beeld
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kim joins us to discuss the incredible highs and difficult setbacks that followed her breakthrough 2025 season.

From winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège and becoming the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, to recovering from a fractured wrist after a devastating spring of crashes, Kim opens up about pressure, self-doubt, resilience, and returning to the biggest race of the season with even bigger ambitions.

Whether you're a cyclist, an athlete, or simply someone fascinated by resilience and high performance, this is an honest conversation about what happens after success, and what it takes to come back even stronger.

– LINKS –
Previous episode:
⁠Kim's Journey into cycling, Chasing Dreams⁠
⁠Kim's Instagram⁠

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:58 Catching up in Tignes before the TdFF
02:03 From promising talent to breakthrough season
04:48 Steep Learning curve, winning Liège & becoming the first African rider in yellow
08:11 Hunger of winning, Living with pressure, expectations & self-doubt
11:49 Representing Mauritius on the world stage
14:10 The crashes that changed everything & Recovering from injury
21:44 TdFF ambitions: yellow, stages & GC
23:50 Why teamwork matters more than results
26:05 Looking beyond the Tour: World Championships & the future
28:25 Final thoughts

________

After a breakthrough 2025 season that saw her win Liège–Bastogne–Liège and become the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, Kim Le Court Pinaar returns to the Castelli Podcast for an honest conversation about what came next.

Recorded during AG Insurance–Soudal's altitude camp in Tignes, just two weeks before the Tour de France Femmes, Kim reflects on the pressure that follows success, recovering from a fractured wrist after a difficult spring of crashes, and the resilience needed to return to the sport's biggest stage.

We also discuss representing Mauritius, overcoming self-doubt, the importance of the team's "Wolfpack" mentality, and why true success is about far more than results. As Kim prepares to chase yellow once again, she shares the mindset that's driving her into the biggest race of the season.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kim joins us to discuss the incredible highs and difficult setbacks that followed her breakthrough 2025 season.

From winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège and becoming the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, to recovering from a fractured wrist after a devastating spring of crashes, Kim opens up about pressure, self-doubt, resilience, and returning to the biggest race of the season with even bigger ambitions.

Whether you're a cyclist, an athlete, or simply someone fascinated by resilience and high performance, this is an honest conversation about what happens after success, and what it takes to come back even stronger.

– LINKS –
Previous episode:
Kim's Journey into Cycling – Chasing Dreams
Kim's Instagram

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
03:25 Catching up in Tignes before the TdFF
04:10 From promising talent to breakthrough season
07:05 Winning Liège & becoming the first African rider in yellow
10:35 Why winning is the only goal
11:50 Living with pressure, expectations & self-doubt
14:25 Representing Mauritius on the world stage
16:35 The crashes that changed everything
20:30 Recovering from injury & learning resilience
21:50 Returning to racing at the Tour de Suisse
23:50 TdFF ambitions: yellow, stages & GC
25:55 Why teamwork matters more than results
28:40 Looking beyond the Tour: World Championships & the future
31:20 Final thoughts

________

After a breakthrough 2025 season that saw her win Liège–Bastogne–Liège and become the first rider representing an African nation to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes, Kim Le Court Pinaar returns to the Castelli Podcast for an honest conversation about what came next.

Recorded during AG Insurance–Soudal's altitude camp in Tignes, just two weeks before the Tour de France Femmes, Kim reflects on the pressure that follows success, recovering from a fractured wrist after a difficult spring of crashes, and the resilience needed to return to the sport's biggest stage.

We also discuss representing Mauritius, overcoming self-doubt, the importance of the team's "Wolfpack" mentality, and why true success is about far more than results. As Kim prepares to chase yellow once again, she shares the mindset that's driving her into the biggest race of the season.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.