CASTELLI Cycling Podcast

Many of you have watched their work evolve over the years, shaping how modern cycling is seen and remembered. I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to that journey.

Today, I’m joined by Ashley and Jered Gruber — a husband-and-wife photography duo and two of the most influential visual storytellers in the world of cycling. From their early years to the biggest races on the calendar, I’ve watched them quietly shape how the sport looks, feels, and is remembered.

This conversation is an honest look into life inside the peloton. We talk about instinct versus technique, creative doubt, missed shots, and the pressure of making split-second decisions when there are no second chances.

Jered and Ashley open up about working together under extreme stress, following the Tour de France for weeks on end, navigating chaos at Flanders and Roubaix, and why even after all these years, they still feel the urge to try something different.

This isn’t just a conversation about photography. It’s about trust, partnership, curiosity, and earning your place — not by being loud, but by consistently doing the work at the highest level.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series. In the episodes to come, we’ll go deeper into how they met, their early years in cycling, full race-day workflows, and what still inspires them today.

Hope you enjoy this one.

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🇮🇹 Breve introduzione
Due dei più importanti narratori visivi del ciclismo moderno si raccontano in una conversazione intima e senza filtri. Ashley e Jered Gruber parlano di istinto, pressione, fiducia e di cosa significa lavorare insieme dentro il caos del gruppo, dalle Classiche al Tour de France.

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🇩🇪 Kurze Zusammenfassung
Ashley und Jered Gruber gehören zu den einflussreichsten visuellen Geschichtenerzählern im Radsport. In dieser Episode sprechen sie über Intuition versus Technik, kreative Zweifel, Entscheidungsdruck im Rennen und darüber, wie es ist, Woche für Woche im Peloton zu arbeiten.

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CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro
05:34 – First Dolomites memories & meeting Igor Tavella
08:45 – Most crazy expensive place they’ve slept in the Tour
10:36 – Their favorite photo
11:37 – The shot they still regret missing
15:27 – Cycling’s most underrated roads
18:06 – Post-Tour exhaustion & recovery
20:25 – Favorite races to shoot
23:09 – Technique vs instinct
27:46 – Koppenberg vs Paterberg vs Kwaremont
32:24 – Gear, lenses & race-day survival
37:38 – Planning locations with moto pilots
40:44 – Graham Watson & early inspiration
44:32 – Explaining their job outside cycling
46:05 – Why documentary photography still matters
47:07 – Ending

CONNECT ⁠
Ashley Norris Gruber
https://www.instagram.com/ashleygruber/

Jered Gruber
https://www.instagram.com/jeredgruber/

Igor Tavella
https://www.instagram.com/igortavella/

Ustaria Posta Hotel
https://www.instagram.com/ustariaposta/
https://www.ustariaposta.it/

– 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

Check out our new collection: Castelli-cycling.com

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 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Laverick was one of the standout British talents through his junior years and earned a place on one of the top development teams in cycling: Hagens Berman Axeon. He spent two seasons there under the guidance of the world-renowned Axel Merckx.

Joe had hoped to make the jump to the WorldTour, but things didn’t fall into place, and he found himself without a contract at the end of 2022 — facing an uncertain future.

Instead of walking away, Joe built something completely different: a one-man privateer project that blends road racing, time trialling and gravel, fuelled by spreadsheets, sponsors, side clients and a serious obsession with marginal gains.

Joe lifts the curtain on:
What it actually costs to race as a privateer (race budget, travel, equipment)
Why you need to be more than “just a bike racer” in 2025
Balancing being a rider, writer, team owner, sponsor-hunter, soigneur and logistics manager
How he uses products like the Castelli Gabba R and new gravel kit – and why honest feedback matters
The learning curve of gravel: tyre pressure, technical skills and why it’s an “untapped jigsaw of performance”
200+ days on the road in the US gravel scene, host housing, burnout, and finding balance
Why enjoyment is the ultimate performance metric, and his advice for young riders choosing between the pro pathway and privateer life
We wrap up with Joe’s dream Girona loop over Sant Hilari and Montseny – a 6.5-hour, 180–200 km that he still calls one of the best rides in the world.

– LINKS –
Joe Laverick
https://www.instagram.com/joe.laverick/
https://www.strava.com/athletes/7026027

Sant Hilari Ride
https://www.strava.com/activities/10469253051

Castelli SOG
https://www.castelli-cycling.com/spirit-of-gravel

Men’s Unlimited Gravel Collection:
⁠https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Men/Collection/Unlimited/c/Man-Col-Unl⁠

Women’s Unlimited Gravel Collection:
⁠https://www.castelli-cycling.com/IT/en/Woman/Collection/Unlimited/c/Wom-Col-Unl⁠

Castelli's Xmas Ride, Nov 29:
Overview | ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/66959⁠
Italy | Signup form: https://www.castelli-cycling.com/castelli-unlimited-christmas-ride-2025

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro, Castelli Christmas Gravel Ride & Spirit of Gravel Cabal
02:00 – Who is Joe Laverick? Beating Remco & Girona life
04:00 – Quickfire round: fashion crimes, coldest rides & junior chaos in Belgium
09:10 – Contracts dry up: Tour of Alsace, injuries & the decision to go privateer
14:30 – Building “Joe Laverick the brand”: writing, sponsors, and race budget reality
18:30 – Gear geek: equipment choices, spreadsheets, and why the Gabba R blew his mind
22:00 – Influencer vs athlete: social media, honesty and choosing the right partners
27:20 – 200 days on the road: US gravel, burnout and learning to say “no”
32:30 – Gravel as an “untapped jigsaw”: tyre pressure, skills and doing more with less budget
44:40 – Joe’s favourite Girona mega-loop & how not to bonk
47:00 – Advice to young riders: pro vs privateer, happiness and why fun has to come first
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of our conversation with French powerhouse Paul Magnier of Soudal–Quick-Step — one of the brightest young stars in professional cycling — we dive deep into the art of sprinting.

Paul pulls back the curtain on the final 1,000 meters: how to read chaos, trust the lead-out, and time the winning move.

We dig into aero gains — from wind-tunnel insights and bar-width experiments to 56×11 gearing and 105–110 rpm cadence — and why he practices seated accelerations at 800–1,000 watts. He also unpacks the Wolfpack mentality that trades pressure for confidence.

Paul shares how he mentally reset after a heavy crash, what separates good from great sprinters, and his race-day routine. Plus: his go-to Castelli kit — the Sanremo S8 speed suit, Perfetto, Gabba, and Gavia jackets for rough weather — and why Castelli’s no-logo Pro Shop pieces have become a peloton secret.

If you’re chasing faster finishes in crits or road races, you’ll love Paul’s practical sprint training cues and energy-saving tactics.

🎧 Listen now to get smarter — and faster!

– LINKS –
Podcast episode with Paul ahead of the 2025 season:
https://youtu.be/ClivP8jdPlE

CONNECT ⁠
⁠Paul Magnier: https://www.instagram.com/paul_magnier_/

CHAPTERS
0:00 — Intro
2:21 — Big goals: Monuments, Worlds & green jersey
3:30 — Finding rider type with the coach
4:19 — Handling pressure when the team backs you
5:20 — Wolfpack culture: confidence over pressure
7:18 — Resetting after crash & Omloop near-miss
13:12 — Inside a sprint: feel vs pain; favorite race kit
14:31 — Aero gains: position, wind tunnel & bar width tests
16:20 — Full aero system & no-logo Pro Shop gear
19:06 — Recon & visualizing the last 3 km
22:16 — Race-day routine & playlist
23:16 — Training to sprint: torque, short efforts, seated kicks
25:26 — Five-minute power & saving energy to the line
28:24 — Stage-race survival: fueling, grupetto, recovery
29:28 — Gearing & cadence: 56×11 today, 58T tomorrow?
30:12 — Marginal gains vs mental load; knowing your body
34:09 — Cold-weather kit essentials & layering
38:18 — Cooking, bus food & home life
41:05 — Paddle board, jet-ski dreams & Grenoble roots
44:00 — Outro
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strap in — because today’s episode is an absolute sprint-finish thriller!

We’re joined by one of the most exciting young riders in world cycling: Paul Magnier of Soudal–Quick-Step — a 21-year-old French powerhouse already rewriting what’s possible in the pro peloton.

In just two seasons, Magnier has exploded to the top tier of world cycling with 24 victories, making him statistically the most successful rider of his generation, ahead of Evenepoel, Pogačar, van der Poel, and Sagan at the same age.

Fresh off five straight wins at the Tour of Guangxi and a breakout year featuring 19 victories, a podium at Omloop, and his first Giro d’Italia, Paul sits down with us to reveal:

- How he stays calm in the chaos of 70km/h bunch sprints
- The mental toughness needed to perform under WorldTour pressure
- Lead-out strategy secrets and Wolfpack sprint dynamics
- Life as cycling’s next superstar — and staying humble along the way
- Off-season life in Grenoble, MTB roots & why the Gabba is a winter essential

Whether you're a sprinter chasing speed, a cycling fan hungry for behind-the-scenes insight, or just fascinated by the next generation shaking up the sport—this episode is packed with firepower.

If you’re obsessed with sprint finishes, race psychology, or want actionable tips to get faster, this episode is packed with firepower for you.

🎧 Plus: this is Part 1 of a two-episode deep-dive—next week we go all-in on sprint technique, training, gym work, and how YOU can become faster!

Hit follow, leave a rating, and join the Castelli community!

– LINKS –
Podcast episode with Paul ahead of the 2025 season:
https://youtu.be/ClivP8jdPlE

CONNECT ⁠
⁠Paul Magnier: https://www.instagram.com/paul_magnier_/

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro
04:33 – 2025 wrap: 19 wins & GT debut
05:42 – China recap: team bonding
06:23 – Race load: 90 days, 11,685 km
07:06 – 24 wins by 21; Wolfpack support
08:15 – From WC XC bronze medal to Soudal Quick-Step
12:58 – Quick-fire 10 questions
15:11 – Sprint mindset: instinct vs plan
17:18 – Lead-out roles
19:08 – Sprint power & Merlier comparison
20:05 – Fighting for the wheel & positioning
21:03 – Building the perfect lead-out; inside the Flamme Rouge
25:01 – Training lead-outs: races vs camps; staying calm
29:07 – Reading rival trains
30:44 – Final 200 m: speed, aero, seated sprint
34:47 – Strength work: in-season gym & velocity focus
38:20 – Life off the bike: friends, balance, humility
40:48 – The French wave: peers & momentum
42:15 – Role-model mindset & clean racing
43:46 – Home life: Grenoble → Nice; travel perks & weather
48:38 – Big goals: Monuments, Worlds, Tour green
50:13 – Outro

Credits: Play Sports Network / Eurosport, GettyImages
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strap in — because today’s episode is an absolute sprint-finish thriller!

We’re joined by one of the most exciting young riders in world cycling: Paul Magnier of Soudal–Quick-Step — a 21-year-old French powerhouse already rewriting what’s possible in the pro peloton.

In just two seasons, Magnier has exploded to the top tier of world cycling with 24 victories, making him statistically the most successful rider of his generation, ahead of Evenepoel, Pogačar, van der Poel, and Sagan at the same age.

Fresh off five straight wins at the Tour of Guangxi and a breakout year featuring 19 victories, a podium at Omloop, and his first Giro d’Italia, Paul sits down with us to reveal:

- How he stays calm in the chaos of 70km/h bunch sprints
- The mental toughness needed to perform under WorldTour pressure
- Lead-out strategy secrets and Wolfpack sprint dynamics
- Life as cycling’s next superstar — and staying humble along the way
- Off-season life in Grenoble, MTB roots & why the Gabba is a winter essential

Whether you're a sprinter chasing speed, a cycling fan hungry for behind-the-scenes insight, or just fascinated by the next generation shaking up the sport—this episode is packed with firepower.

If you’re obsessed with sprint finishes, race psychology, or want actionable tips to get faster, this episode is packed with firepower for you.

🎧 Plus: this is Part 1 of a two-episode deep-dive—next week we go all-in on sprint technique, training, gym work, and how YOU can become faster!

Hit follow, leave a rating, and join the Castelli community!

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro
01:45 – 2025 snapshot
04:51 – Guangxi, High-Five, and season wrap
06:26 – Race load and rise, 24 wins in only two seasons
08:27 – From MTB to WorldTour; Wolfpack confidence
10:32 – Off-season reset and home base
13:02 – Quick-fire: 1700W, favorite kit, dream wins
15:25 – Sprint craft: instinct, lead-outs, launch at 200 m
24:45 – Race reps, staying calm, reading rival trains
31:21 – Aero at 70+ km/h; Merlier mentorship; strength work
38:30 – Staying grounded, French wave, goals and Part 2
50:25 – Outro

– LINKS –
Podcast episode with Paul ahead of the 2025 season:
⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠
⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

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 ⁠
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjensen77/

Credits: Play Sports Network / Eurosport, GettyImages
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.