Inno Runner-Up at Gravel Worlds on Extralights
Congratulations to Inno Zavyalov for a stunning 2nd place at Gravel Worlds in a star-studded field, riding on Rene Herse 700C x 44 Snoqualmie Pass Extralight tires. Here is his report:
Gravel Worlds 150
Lincoln, Nebraska
5:55 am start
High index 105
Wow. I’m still processing exactly what happened yesterday. I’ll be fully transparent and say that going into this race, knowing my VERY limited training this whole month I was not expecting very much. But sometimes less is more. At every other pro race this year I was really on the back foot, struggling, hurting, hanging on. Racing like that puts you in a “survival” mindset versus a winning mindset and that is the risk of racing undercooked over and over.
As the race went on, I kept feeling decent, even good at times (a rarity in gravel racing), and it seemed too good to be true. The money on the line for top 5 spots was very enticing. I don’t race solely for money, but for me a few grand goes a loooong way. (No rich daddy!)
As is normal, this morning I’m overcome with thoughts of how I could have played the last few hours differently, but it came down to me not racing for the win. Earlier in, I was not willing to risk a chance at 5th place, so I worked and pulled to get back to the break. And as we got closer to the line, I was more defending a top-2 position than racing for “1st or nothing.” And honestly, with the year I have had, I’m satisfied with that decision. Goals need to be achieved in manageable sizes.
Strategy in racing can be so tricky. How much do you gamble? Do you attack when you are already starting to cramp, knowing others are, too? How many skipped pulls becomes bad sportsmanship? Etc.
I feel a deep gratitude to some of my fellow racers who have been really supportive and congratulatory, even though we are fierce competitors! That really shows that this “Gravel Family” is a strong community, bonded by more than mere results and self-interest. You all are incredible and dedicated humans, and I look up to you guys.
Thank you again to the Gravel Worlds crew. This race will keep growing and getting bigger and better. The live video coverage was the best I’ve seen yet in gravel racing. If you missed the race head to the Gravel Worlds YouTube page. Thank you to Dan Hughes for these beautiful photos. Thank you to the Mazda Orange Seal team for the support the whole weekend.
