Tiffany Cromwell is bringing the US gravel vibes to Europe 🇫🇮🍻
And yes, we absolutely want to go to Finland now ✈
Hello lovely subscribers! ✨
This week we have an interview with cycling one of cycling’s most experienced racers — and prolific multi-hyphenate — Tiffany Cromwell.
Tilda spoke to Tiff about the gravel race she and her partner, F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, have set up, what it means to transplant some of the US gravel scene in Europe, and her myriad post-career options.
Enjoy!
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Riding into the evening sun. Post-race beers. Saunas at the finish. If you described FNLD GRVL to me like this, I’d safely assume you were talking about a North American event - where good vibes and a fun experience are paramount - not a race in Europe, where the scene is decidedly different.
This importation of the American way is no accident though. FNLD GRVL, the new event that is the brainchild of Tiffany Cromwell, F1 driver Valtteri Bottas and the team behind SBT GRVL in Colorado is decidedly trying to bring a bit of the US scene to Europe. The event, taking place in Lahti, Finland in June promises a focus on the experience, not just in designing an enjoyable and beautiful course - which for most will be a ride more than a race - but in creating a whole event around it: post-race beers and meals, recovery ride-outs, concerts in the town, prizes for all the different categories, and floating saunas (seriously, all the talk of saunas has me wanting to take up gravel immediately).
The UCI Gravel World Series can do its thing, with more points and rankings than beers and afterparties, but the FNLD team are keen to show that a more relaxed version of gravel can exist over here in Europe.