2024 has been a landmark year for our team of athletes, filled with unforgettable triumphs and challenges conquered. From enduring 250 kilometers of unforgiving gravel, to pushing boundaries in multi-distance triathlons, and sprinting to glory under the dazzling lights of the USA, our riders have excelled. To celebrate their incredible achievements, we asked them to reflect on their highlights from the year. Here’s what they had to say.
What’s been your favourite ride or event this year?
Ruben: Racing Unbound and Tulsa Tough in the same week. Two totally different races, one with Ribble Rebellion and the other one with the Ribble Collective. Two really awesome groups of people. A lot of similarities but completely different. A massive shock to the system going from a sub 10h bike race to three days of racing just over an hour.
Maddy: Tough question! This year has been filled with some epic races. I’d say Safari and Migration gravel race's do stand head and shoulders above the rest though.
Amelia: Traka! Despite it not being a great race for me personally, the atmosphere in Girona was awesome. The town was jam packed with cyclists, both gravel and roadies, and the gravel terrain is superb. I can't wait to go back!
Lewis: Ironman Mallorca 70.3. It was my first visit to the island and it didn’t disappoint. The roads were fantastic and there was a little bit of everything. Fast and flat, as well as hilly and technical aspects in the mountains. I can see why it’s the mecca for all things road cycling. I achieved one of the faster bike splits and felt really good going into the run, which isn’t normally the case. Although I didn't achieve the overall time I wanted, it was great to experience and is certainly a race people should add to their bucket list.
Tom: To win a race by attacking from the gun has to be the best feeling. Winning this years Battle on the Beach has to make it one of my favourite events, especially when the conditions were awful yet made for an even more epic event. It’s not only the racing but the whole atmosphere surrounding events such as this which make them so fantastic. I’ve been loving the gravel riding and racing this year and can’t wait for more of this in 2025.
Joe: Redlands and Speedweek. Racing to win with friends. It was more than just a bike race, it was great fun.
Metheven: There have been so many great adventures this year. From riding the Rapha Pennine Rally with Tom through the heart of Britain, to racing around an Icelandic Volcano during the Rift. But my surprise highlight was bikepacking 700 km across the Pyrenean foothills the day after the Gravel Earth Final in Spain.
Any personal cycling goals or milestones you've hit?
Ruben: My main goal was to discover the world and have a lot of fun. I saw a lot of new places all across the world and had a whole lot of fun whilst doing so.
Maddy: Winning a UCI gravel race! It was never a goal because I didn’t think it was feasible for me, but I'm so happy to have achieved it.
Amelia: A podium at the Nationals was pretty awesome and to have the opportunity to represent GB at Worlds was always going to be a highlight of the season! Overall I would say, to have the opportunity to compete in so many races in the EU and America has been an incredible experience, particularly getting a taste for racing stateside and Unbound.
Lewis: I really wanted to achieve a top-10 position overall in all the UK races that I entered this year. I managed to achieve this ambitious milestone and targeted harder races this year (I was ill for Dorney lake but did manage 3rd in my category). The two races I was most proud of were Cardiff and Bala, where I was competing against some seriously fast elite racers. In addition, I wanted to produce more meaningful content for my socials, where I can help grow the sport of triathlon and motivate others to push their boundaries. Growing the sport is something I’m really passionate about. Becoming a British Triathlon & Welsh Triathlon ambassador this year has been an honor and privilege to be a part of.
**Tom: ** A big goal of mine this season was to go back to basics. Racing weekend after weekend can be tough and the fatigue from both the racing and travelling can really add up. With that in mind, I wanted to do at least one adventure ride where the focus was far more on the journey rather than the race. This years edition of the Rapha Pennine Rally allowed me to do precisely that. Totalling 500km over three days, my first event of this kind, was both challenging but extremely enjoyable. It gave me an immense appreciation of the capabilities a bike can give you and would highly recommend to anyone else.
**Joe: ** Podium at Redlands GC.
Metheven: This year I set out with the goal of securing one of the UK’s FKTs (Fastest Known Times). And I did exactly that, securing the FKT for the Traws Eryri with a time of 9 hours 9 minutes for the 195 km route.
What gear or tech upgrades have stood out for you?
Ruben: Just vibes, my main tech upgrade was vibes. Just enjoy everything you are doing.
Maddy: My aero gravel wheels made a huge difference in the latter part of this year. That was a cool change to my setup.
Amelia: Using decent sealant does in fact make a difference.
Lewis: The Ribble Ultra-Tri has been a ‘game changer’ for me in 2024. Prior to this season, I was using a modified road bike for all my races, which comes with it's own limitations. The step-up to a specialist Triathlon / TT bike has been incredible. My bike splits have certainly improved thanks to the Ribble Ultra Tri, allowing me to achieve faster overall times at all my triathlons this year, having PB’d all distances I entered. An honorable mention goes to the Ribble Ultra SL R. You can really tell the amount of Innovation and research which has gone into it to make it one of the fastest road bikes on the planet. I have ridden over one hundred road bikes while testing for multiple brands over consecutive years, nothing comes close to the aerodynamics of the SL R.
Tom: 2025 was the first year I’ve used SRAM for racing and I’ve been completely blown away. I'm now wishing I had made the switch earlier. Previously I’d always been a dedicated Shimano user but after switching to SRAM aboard my Ribble Gravel SL, I wouldn’t go back. What stands out most for me is the ability to run such a large gear ratio, giving you so much capability both on and off-road.
Joe: Honestly, none that we can really talk about!!
Metheven: Moving to SRAM AXS this year has been a big game changer for me. I much prefer the gear ratios and range for racing, and the paddle shifting simplicity is so much easier when riding off-road.
Any memorable or unexpected moments from this year?
Ruben: Just this whole year. It started in Australia and went all over Europe to continue in the USA. I wasn't really sure what to expect. But it was awesome.
Maddy: I actually loved supporting the collective riders in Iceland at the Rift, even though I couldn’t race myself. There was something special about being on the other side of the race for a change.
Amelia: Riding with Maddy for 5 hours at Dirty Reiver. It was our first event together as part of the Collective, and so it was nice to find ourselves at the front of the 'race' working together and sharing jelly babies to keep motivation high. It was a very long, cold and hilly day out, so it was a real bonding experience!
Lewis: My most memorable moment for the 2024 season was representing Team GB in my age group at the European Championships in Vichy. Not only did I represent for the Sprint, but also for the Standard distance. A double-header weekend that certainly pushed me both mentally and physically. The competition and the talent in both races was something I hadn't faced before, and was a good reminder that I still have a long way to go. I am incredibly proud of both my results and gained an understanding of my strengths as well as weaknesses in both distances. In hindsight, my results would have been much better if I had focused on one distance. But having only been in the sport for three years after transitioning from elite mountain biking (with no running or swimming background), I am still extremely proud of these achievements and representing my country. I have nothing to complain about this season, my goals were realistic while holding down an incredibly stressful job within the NHS, moving into my first home with my fiancée and achieving my triathlon goals in the procress.
Tom: Every year you hope to be racing for the wins, but in gravel racing there are so many uncertainties and so to look back at such a successful season it’s certainly memorable. From podiuming at The Traka, to defending my title at The Gritfest as well as winning Battle on the Beach has certainly made it a successful one!
Joe: Cole winning up Onyx Summit.
Metheven: Riding a Gravel endurance event up in Scotland called Aberfoyle 10. It consisted of riding laps around some of Aberfoyle’s premium gravel to see who could ride the furthest in 10 hours. As if that wasn’t brutal enough, it rained all day and the course became so muddy it looked more like a rugby match than a bike race. I even had to help pull someone out of a ditch. On paper it should have been a grim day out, but in reality everyone was in it together, and it just proved a real good laugh.
As we reflect on the incredible achievements of 2024, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our riders for their unwavering dedication, grit, and passion. Every mile ridden, every challenge overcome, and every podium reached is a testament to their hard work and determination. Congratulations on an unforgettable year! As we turn our sights to 2025, we’re excited to see what new adventures, triumphs, and breakthroughs await.
