Looking for expert tips on gravel biking? Former Belgian pro cyclist Jan Bakelants shares his experiences and offers advice for new riders. From essential gear to improving your performance, don’t miss Jan’s insights in this exclusive interview.
What drew you to gravel biking after your career in road cycling?
Jan: “I rode my road bike for 15 years as a professional. Before that, I did all the youth categories. So, I think the unique selling proposition of gravel is that it’s a pretty adventurous sport. It gets you in contact with nature. And obviously, I trained a lot on roads near where I live, so there was nothing new to discover, while in the forest, out on the gravel roads, it’s always surprising how many unexplored gems there are near my home. So for me, that’s definitely a reason why I started and continue to ride my gravel bike.”
What is your all-time favorite place to gravel ride?
Jan: “I think gravel riding can be done all over the globe and will always bring its specific challenges depending on where you are, so it’s hard to pick one favorite place. But Italy is always a safe pick.”
How will you prepare for the World Championship Gravel? Are you looking forward to it?
Jan: “I’m doing my preparations in Belgium, which is where I train most of the time. Sometimes I also train abroad. The last preparation race will be the Sea Otter Europe in Girona, Italy. I think my preparation is going quite well. Obviously, there are other favorite riders participating with more chances to win this race, but I think I will have a decent level. My legs are responding well to the increased training load. It’s exciting to feel that my body hasn’t forgotten how to adapt to training stimuli.”
What is the most challenging aspect of training?
Jan: “There are always various challenging aspects in training. One of the biggest challenges would have to be the weather. Nice weather conditions are essential. Where I live in Belgium, it’s hard to find courses that are tough enough to do high-intensity training. I’ve become pretty good at doing my intervals on flat roads. I don’t think this will be a disadvantage for this year’s World Championship, as it will be held between Halle and Leuven. The course is going to resemble a Belgian Classic, and I think you can only prepare for this in Belgium.”
What is your ultimate goal as a gravel rider?
Jan: “Well, it sounds pretty cliché, but I had a professional cycling career for 14 years, where performance was always the priority. Nowadays, I’m still quite competitive, but the most important thing when finishing a gravel race is whether I had fun or not. Fun is key in what I do in gravel now, more than the pure performance outcome. Those days are far behind me. I think now it’s time to really enjoy riding, and gravel riding is the perfect way to do this.”
What are your top three tips for someone just getting into gravel riding?
Jan: “My top tips would be, first of all, enjoy it, go out, explore. Start close to home because it’s easy to get back, and this enables you to find those hidden gems close to where you live. Then gradually, which is tip number two, increase your distance and build an endurance base. My third tip is to learn to read the terrain and make tire choices accordingly. You’ll probably experience soon enough that when it rains, you’ll need a rougher tread than when it’s dry. It’s interesting to play with different tire profiles to see how you can get better grip. I think you have to learn this through trial and error.”
Which PEARL iZUMi products do you rely on the most, and why?
Jan: “I use a vast array of PEARL iZUMi products during my gravel rides. My preferred product would have to be Expedition Bib Shorts. This was actually their first product when PEARL iZUMi was founded. Cycling shorts are the main point of contact with your bike, so obviously, they are the most important piece of clothing you will ever wear.”
Why do you prefer PEARL iZUMi gear over other brands?
Jan: “I think PEARL iZUMi has a long heritage of quality products. They’ve sponsored quite a few important cycling teams in the past, such as Fassa Bortolo and BMC. In recent years, they’ve also targeted cycling niches like gravel. I’m happy to have such a renowned brand backing me. Together we form a great team.”
