When Australia became one of the early arrivals on the scene with a national championships, in what was then largely an informal and grass roots discipline, there was little chance to show off the gravel jersey and even less of a pathway to bigger things. The growth in the arena, however, has changed all that.
That is why claiming the top step of the podium during the Australian Gravel National Championships at the Devil’s Cardigan event on a chilly Tasmanian winter’s day in June, 2023, delivered somewhat of a crossroads for Connor Sens.
Gravel became another cycling avenue with serious potential for the rider from Bendigo, who had previously been more focussed on the road in a racing journey which seriously took hold when Sens was on a family holiday to Europe. The local racer, who was still in the junior ranks at that point had dragged along his bike and tried out the Belgian and Dutch racing scene. From then, racing on the road at home in Australia, as well as Asia and Europe, became a regular fixture.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and restricted travel and racing for Australian based riders, a new cycling interest started to germinate.
“Just when it (the pandemic) all started I bought a gravel bike … and through all the lockdowns I was just going for big long rides, finding new spots and doing a lot of bike packing, because there wasn’t a lot of work happening either, and I developed a love for it,” said Sens.
The gravel exploration had started, though for some time the road racing still remained the focus, with Sens again heading over to Europe to take on a series of UCI races in both 2021 and 2022, Still he never took his eye off the potential that the growing pathway of gravel could hold.
“I always had it in the back of my mind, even when I was in Europe, that I loved the idea of what the gravel privateers were doing… I loved the idea of attracting financial sponsors, choosing a calendar, choosing your races, where you travel and working with all the brands that you like and running the set up that you want to ride.”
Sens first race in the discipline was the Harcourt North Gravel Classic in 2021. That race at the Bendigo District Cycling Club – a popular event, with a solid field at an active club which has spawned a number of World Tour riders – was just the beginning of his build in gravel momentum.
Carving out a life as a gravel privateer
The 24 year old, who this year has raced with St George Continental…
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