Lauren Stevens had mixed fortunes this year, but they said the Americans signed a new contract with the US-based Continental team Cynisca, Gravel Racing

Stephens' long-standing road team, Silicon Valley Bank failed, TIBCO ended the sponsorship and EF Education became the men's World Tour team. It came to an end after the team moved to a new women's team owned by the same parent company as the team. Stevens was not among the snatched riders, even though she is still at the top of her game at the age of 36, and the timing was bad for a rider with an ambition to make an American team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, when she looked for a team. It was.

Until now the silver lining has been her foray into gravel racing. She quickly won the "Gravel World" (unofficial) and the first USA Cycling Gravel National Championship in a row, and thanks to her victory in the latter, she won a cool$12,000 and a full ride to the UCI Gravel World Championship, which will be held on Saturday in Veneto, Italy.

"When they announced it, it was a big motivation," Stephens tells Cyclingnews of the Federation's support for the world. Last year, she paid her own way, and she and her partner provided each other with mechanical support. This year, she covers soigneurs, mechanics, and travel expenses.

"I had my husband there with me last year, but then he was racing the next day. So he had to sacrifice - he was there helping Emily Newsom and me, taking care of us, and overnight we took the place We were still there and helping each other, but there are more people around, so I don't have to think about everything completely. I don't know."

Support can handle many logistical headaches and keep riders focused on the race. "With gravel, we don't know which tires to run if we need sealants or something else in case something goes wrong. It's really nice to know that you have a support team out there. And they've actually opened up support to all the riders on the team, and that's great."

Cash came at a welcome time as Stevens Fields was about to sign a contract for the 2024 road season. Women rarely get five-digit awards, and in the national championship it is even more rare.

"We don't even have a prize in the Road National Championship. Before the Coronavirus, we had like a small amount of prize money for the public, but we haven't had anything since. So, will they be able to spread this among other areas?

The Gravel World Championship Course was modified at the last minute by replacing the original organizers, who shifted the route further north to add more climbing after last year's road-friendly course won by Paul Inferamplevo and Gianni Vermersch. It was a great experience.

"I was really excited when they changed course and saw it heading further north. Even before they released the GPX, I raced in the area at the Giro, so I knew there was definitely more potential if they were going north or not. Having a hill towards the end, I think it can come down to a lot of teamwork. It is important to have a team in those apartments. And yeah, when we start getting into funky stuff, it's going to be like classic style lace, I think."

Stevens wants to have a better time this year than he did when he entered the 2022 inaugural edition after getting sick in the lead-up.

"I ended up with a main withdrawal, but at 30k I ended up with a whole body spasm. The race didn't go crazy for long - the answer to why it happened to me, except that I got sick and my body wasn't ready, it was pretty disappointing. I've never been in a withdrawal situation where I couldn't pull. They were all screaming at me and I'm like, "I'm not faking promises." Finally, we went around the cramped steep switchback section. I just ended up nursing myself and I think I ended up in the top 20."

When Cyclingnews spoke to Stephens, she was working non-stop to find a new team after being "a little lost" following the news that the current team would end after a decade of racing with them.

"I can't believe I've been on almost the same team throughout my career as a professional rider. I definitely experienced a little lost feeling as it has been my home for the last 10 years.

"There are some options, but I'm trying to figure out what is the best option for me - if I stick to the road and still do gravel with the road being preferred or I go full gravel, privateer. These are 2 main options."

Option One It is a contract at Cynisca and her hopes for the Olympics come after some solid results this season. At the National Cycling Championships, she won silver in the 23.2km time trial with just 9 seconds behind Chloe Diggert, and just 5 days after the 130・mile Gravel World, she was in 4th place in the Chrono de Gatineau.

"That's the main reason I want to stick to the road after finishing second place in TT at the Nationals this year. I think it showed that I have the opportunity to go to the Olympics and the road team is to provide that support in preparing for the time trial and the time trial will be the road to the Olympics and if I'm chosen for TT, I will do the road race."