I Raced a UCI Gravel World Qualifier and Got Emotional

I am talking about my experience at the inaugural OG Classic—a UCI Gravel World Championship qualifying event held in the Ottawa/Wakefield area. From burning too many matches at a lightning-fast start to an emotional, nostalgic mid-race breakdown in Lac-Sainte-Marie, this race had it all. It was a 122 km suffer-fest with 1,680 meters of elevation gain, massive post-storm washouts, and some incredible encounters with viewers of the channel! In this video, I break down how the race went, the amazing community vibe, the pro riders I spotted (shoutout to Ted King and Mike Woods!), and why I'm ultimately proud of smashing my main goals for the day. I also dive deep into my exact bike setup, tire choice, and key lessons on nutrition, bike fits, and tire pressure that you can use for your next big event. If you enjoy the video, please Like, Share with your riding buddies, and Subscribe to the channel—it’s free for you and does wonders for Terror Riders! Let me know in the comments: Have you ever raced a UCI gravel event? 🛠️ BIKE & GEAR SPECS Bike: Trek Checkpoint Gen 3 SL5 (Size Medium) Rider Stats: 5'8.5", 215 lbs Tires: Specialized Pathfinder 45mm (Measuring 46mm on 30mm internal carbon wheels) Tire Pressure: 32 PSI (Front) / 34 PSI (Rear) Drivetrain: 40T Chainring / 10-52T Cassette Cockpit: Redshift Suspension Stem (60/70 hardness), Easton EC90 ALX Bars, Fizik Supacush 3mm Bar Tape Saddle: Specialized Romin Mimic (168mm wide) Electronics: Garmin Edge 530, Trek CarBack Radar/Light Bags: Trek Adventure Top Tube Bag & 2L Frame Bag Pedals: OneUp Components SPD Pedals Kit: Van Rysel Helmet & Photochromic Sunglasses, Steinn Jersey/Bib/Socks, Ride Concepts SPD Mountain Bike Shoes with Specialized Arch Support Insoles Bottle Cages: AliExpress Titanium Cages 0:00 - Intro to the OG Classic (Organization & Course Specs) 0:50 - The "Slow" Start That Went Fast (Lead Group Reality Check) 1:28 - Meeting Viewers out on the Course! 2:20 - Bombing the Downhills & Passing 30 People 3:06 - The Brutal 4.5km Climb (Gravity vs. Me) 4:08 - Post-Storm Road Washouts & Staging 5:04 - The Rough Washboard Descent & Dropping Bottles 6:04 - Emotional Return to Lac-Sainte-Marie 💔 7:41 - Getting a Second Wind & Riding with Molly and Andre 8:44 - Specialized Pathfinder 45mm Tire Review 9:37 - Full Trek Checkpoint Gen 3 Bike & Component Breakdown 14:33 - 4 Key Lessons Learned (Fueling, Bike Fit, PSI & Fun) 16:33 - What Surprised Me (Spotting Pro Riders!) 17:40 - Did I Hit My 3 Race Goals? 18:18 - Wrap Up & Subscribe! Enjoy the thrill of your rides! 👋 Aliexpress description of the bottle ZTTO titanium bottle cages ZTTO Bicycle Water Bottle Holder Bracket Titanium Alloy Cage Bike Kettle Rack Riding Lightweight For Cycling Fits Any Bike Terra riders is a Gravel cycling channel that gives real world reviews of bikes, tires and accessories. The goal is to help a gravel cyclist find the perfect gravel bike, gravel tire or accessories for their gravel rides. We showcase entry level gravel bikes all the way to high end gravel bikes. #GravelRacing #UCIGravel #TrekCheckpoint #SpecializedPathfinder #GravelBike #Cycling