Andy Lydic - the unofficial U23 Gravel World Chammpion

In this episode, host Craig Dalton interviews professional cyclist Andy Lydic. They discuss Andy's journey in the world of cycling, from his early days in high school to his decision to pursue a career as a professional cyclist. Andy shares his experiences racing for amateur teams in Spain and his transition to gravel racing. He also talks about his participation in the UCI Gravel World Championships and his goals for the future. The conversation highlights the growing popularity of gravel racing and its potential as a pathway to professional cycling.

Episode brought to you by AG1.

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About the Guest(s):

Andy Lydic is a professional cyclist from Boulder, Colorado. He began his cycling journey in high school, transitioning from track and cross country to mountain biking and road racing. Andy joined the Boulder Junior Cycling team and quickly progressed in the sport. He decided to pursue a career as a professional cyclist and moved to Europe to race for amateur teams in Spain. After facing challenges with team closures, Andy shifted his focus to gravel racing. In 2023, he participated in the UCI Gravel World Championships and had a standout performance as the unofficial under 23 world champion. Andy continues to pursue his passion for gravel racing and aims to make a mark in the professional cycling world.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, host Craig Dalton interviews professional cyclist Andy Lydic. They discuss Andy's journey in the world of cycling, from his early days in high school to his decision to pursue a career as a professional cyclist. Andy shares his experiences racing for amateur teams in Spain and his transition to gravel racing. He also talks about his participation in the UCI Gravel World Championships and his goals for the future. The conversation highlights the growing popularity of gravel racing and its potential as a pathway to professional cycling.

Key Takeaways:

• Andy Lydic's passion for cycling began in high school when he transitioned from track and cross country to mountain biking and road racing.
• He joined the Boulder Junior Cycling team and received mentorship from experienced cyclists, which helped him progress in the sport.
• After facing challenges with team closures in Europe, Andy decided to focus on gravel racing as a pathway to professional cycling.
• Gravel racing offers a unique combination of physical and technical challenges, making it an exciting and competitive discipline.
• Andy's participation in the UCI Gravel World Championships showcased the potential of gravel racing and its ability to attract top-level riders.

Notable Quotes:

• "I want to use gravel as my pathway to pro... I want to write the story of what is the future of gravel." - Andy Lydic
• "Gravel racing is a true test of a rider's strength, endurance, and technical skills." - Andy Lydic
• "The U.S. has limited opportunities for young American riders to race in Europe, and gravel racing can provide a unique pathway to professional cycling." - Andy Lydic

Resources:

• BMC (Andy Lydic's bike sponsor)
• It Could Be Me (Andy Lydic's title sponsor) 
• Maurten (Andy Lydic's nutrition sponsor)
• Northwave (Andy Lydic's shoe sponsor)

Don't miss this engaging conversation with Andy Lydic as he shares his journey in the world of cycling, his experiences in gravel racing, and his aspirations for the future. Tune in to gain insights into the growing popularity of gravel racing and its potential as a pathway to professional cycling.

Automated Transcript (please excuse the typos):

[TRANSCRIPT]
[00:00:00] - ():  Craig Dalton: Andy, welcome to the show.
[00:00:04] - ():  Andy Lydic: Thanks so much for having me. I'm stoked to be here.
[00:00:07] - ():  Craig Dalton: I'm excited to get into a little overview of your career and What's in store for you in 2024. I always love to start these conversations by just learning a little bit more about you. I mean, you've been involved in bike racing for a long time since your junior days, but why don't you just say, you know, where did you grow up and how did you originally get into cycling?
**** - (): And we can kind
[00:00:26] - ():  Andy Lydic: of go from there. Yeah, totally. So I'm from Boulder, Colorado, grew up here in Boulder, Colorado, and got into cycling in high school, probably my junior year of high school. I used to run track and cross country, and I used to also be a downhill ski racer previous to that, and I was pretty burnt out on track