I’m excited to introduce you to Project NICE by GRVL Magazine editor James and to be a small part of it with HRSH Apparel. What’s it all about? I’ll let James explain. Over to you, James:
Can an average rider like me manage to qualify for the GRVL World Championships?
Let me introduce you to GRVL Magazine’s latest project – Project NICE!
Over the next nine months, I’ll try to get in shape to qualify for the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nice, France. Along the way, I’ll document everything in the magazine – with blogs, vlogs, and content on our social media channels. It won’t be easy, but hey, nothing worth it ever is, right?
Everyone who rides a bike – whether it’s racing your mates to the next street sign or pinning on a race number – has probably dreamed of competing in a world championship. But not everyone makes it. Life gets in the way: we don’t have time to train 30 hours a week, or we don’t even know where to start. That got me thinking: what could a normal rider with little time and the right support achieve? Could I qualify for the Gravel World Championships?
Every week, I’ll share updates on the different aspects of my training: nutrition, equipment, strength training – and of course, how I’m feeling and progressing. There’ll also be interviews and training days with GRVL pros so I can get tips and tricks from the best in the business.
There are a few limitations, though.
Like many of you, I have a family, work, a dog, and about 100 other things going on in my life. So, the training has to fit into my life – not the other way around. I’ve got a maximum of 10 hours a week to train, and not every week will even allow for that. Sometimes it’ll be less. The training needs to be flexible and adaptable. It has to be realistic and fit into a “normal” lifestyle – otherwise, it just doesn’t work. And hopefully, that will make it easier for you to apply these methods to your own training to achieve your goals, whatever they might be.
But I’m not doing this alone.
I’ve enlisted the help of Toms Flaksis, a World Tour coach. Toms is bringing years of experience to my cycling and strength training. He’s the head coach of the Latvian national team at the World Championships and the Olympics, and he’s coached World Tour riders to success. With his company TF Coaching, he’s helped many amateur riders like me turn into success stories. Toms will not only create my training plan but also provide valuable insights into my progress and guide me through both the highs and lows.
Also joining the team is Kate Macleod, an elite gravel racer and top nutritionist. Kate has been racing bikes ever since her rowing days and has gone from strength to strength, representing Great Britain at this year’s Gravel World Championships. Alongside her racing, she runs KM Health and Lifestyle, helping athletes improve their performance with practical, real-world nutrition advice. Kate will keep an eye on my diet, guide me from the onboarding phase to regular updates, and make sure I’m fueling my training properly. Oh, and yes, she says cake is allowed! 
I’ve also got some amazing partners on board.
HRSH Gravel Apparel is providing me with their fantastic racing kit. It’s handmade in Italy from European fabrics, looks awesome, and is ethically and sustainably produced. As part of their support, HRSH is offering all our readers a 20% discount with the code James20.
Wahoo is helping me take my training to the next level with their cycling electronics. They’re supporting the project with their Elemnt Range, so I can seamlessly transfer my training plan to use it on the road.
So, follow along and cheer me on – you might even pick up a few tips along the way.
If I can do it, then you can too! 
More information can be found at https://grvlmagazine.com/
