Cav’s final win, $50m for Tadej, Final Life Time GP Thoughts, a new 50-mile record holder, Smart Zipp wheels, and more…
👋 Good morning and happy Friday! Welcome to the Front Pack newsletter, your source for all things endurance. Click here for the full version.
First. Would be rude for me to not say, thank you to all the veterans out there. I come from a big(ish) military family and always appreciate everything they’ve done. Fun fact. I tried to be a rescue diver post college but alas, the military does not like people who are color blind. And hey, Texas schools, how are you going to give random days off but then on Veteran’s Day, schools are open?!? Make it make sense!
Second. Its a wrap for Sir Mark Cavendish. Last weekend was his “final, I swear!” professional race. So what can we expect from him moving forward? I’d love to see him and his personality make cycling even more mainstream and popular. He feels perfect for TV, pods, and creating conversation around the sport. Regardless of your thoughts on him as a person, there is no denying his impact on the sport. It was awesome to witness. If you haven’t, dive into his documentary, Never Enough on Netflix. I thought it was great.
Hope you had an amazing week and did something special.
Stay moving…✌🏼 – Scott
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EP. 9 – Front Pack Podcast
The podcast was back this week and we sat down with pro-cyclist Chase Wark to discuss his 2024 season, racing in the Life Time Grand Prix, and the tactics and strategies he uses. We also talk his love for his Minnesota cycling community and the best ways to kickstart your own gravel races!
Headlines
Top news, races and results you may or may not have been paying attention to…
50-Mile World Record: American Courtney Olsen continues to make her mark on ultrarunning history, this time provisionally setting a women’s 50-mile world record of 5:31:56 at the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile in Vienna, Illinois, on November 9, 2024. The previous record of 5:40:18 was set in 1991. Olsen’s performance, represents an average pace of 6:39 per mile (4:08 per kilometer) over 50 miles (80.47 kilometers). Wow! Read more…
Fowler Dominates Arizona Trail: Nick Fowler set a new men’s self-supported and men’s overall fastest known time (FKT) on the 817-mile Arizona Trail. Over the course of that distance, he covered about 118,000 feet of elevation gain. This works out to an average distance traveled of just over 64 miles per day. Read more…
Lagerstrom Takes the Rock: Pro Triathlete and That Triathlon Life co-founder dabbles in a lot. He’s spent time doing XTERRA, Mtn bike racing and now spent the last few months training for the Run The Rock 50k in Smith Rock State Park near Bend, Oregon. It paid off as he not only took the win but he also bagged a new course record, covering the testing 50k in three hours and 38 minutes. Read more…
Fairytale Finish: At the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criteriumn, it was Sir Mark Cavendish crossing the finish line first – a fitting end for the knighted superstar. Prior to the event, Cav confirmed this would be his last professional race. Read more…
Challenge Complete: Think IRONMAN but the rest of the world. After a year of racing, it was Jack Moody (NZL) and Alanis Siffert (SUI) now confirmed as unbeatable for 2024, becoming this years champions after last weekends Challenge Xiamen. Read more…
Meanwhile
Other happenings in the world of endurance.
Canyon Recall: If you’re a Canyon Stan, check out this self imposed ‘Stop Use’ notice and recall the company put out. These are for Spectral:ON CF & CFR, and Torque:ON CF eMTBs. Read more…
€50 million for six years, €200 million buyout clause: That’s what you get paid if you’re the most dominant cyclist in the world today. Tadej Pogačar will earn €8 million per year under the new deal, plus bonuses for major victories. Read more…
Zipp Smart wheels?: Surprised this took this long actually. Given SRAM has its own app already, the only question remains, how can you put tech in the wheels but not add any extra weight. Read more…
10 Hidden Bucket List Cycling Routes: For those seeking routes that offer a combination of adventure, solitude, and the joy of discovery, these 10 hidden gem cycling routes are great opportunities to enjoy some stunning and lesser-traveled paths. Read more…
Can a $30 MRP Cage Guard Save Your $650 SRAM T-type MTB Transmission Derailleur?: The short of it is yes, be kind to your bike and save yourself long term headaches. Read more…
What to avoid when running a Half Mary: There is a lot of work that goes into finding success as a runner. If you are looking to conquer a challenge, such as a half-marathon, there is a lot of preparation that will need to be done. Avoid these mistakes while training to reach your goals. Read more…
Runner’s World Hath Spoken: The best running shoes, apparel, electronics, and more that you can get right now. Read more…
7 Life Lessons Learned through Running: One girls valuable lessons learned as she tackled and conquered her first race. Read more…
Training Tips
Because training is life.
You Should Be Using Shorter Cranks, Here’s Why: Shorter cranks are the newest trend in performance cycling, but does it actually have any merit? Watch Dylan Johnson look at what the research has to say about how crank length affects power output to determine whether or not you should make the switch.
I Wore 5 Watches at the NYC Marathon. Here’s the Data: Call me data curious. This dude runs with the Garmin fenix 8, Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Series 10, Amazfit T-Rex 3, COROS Pace Pro, WHOOP 4.0, Garmin HRM-Pro Plus. If you have all the money in the world, get the Garmin fenix 8, BUT if you want something really accurate and reasonable, he really dug the COROS Pace Pro, and the Amazfit T-Rex 3 too.
My top 5 gravel bikes of 2024 (I’ve ridden 75+): Ben Delaney rode more than 75 gravel bikes in 2024. If you’re considering getting one for this next season, I always feel like his opinion if one of the best in the industry. Always honest. Always thorough. → Giant Revolt, Canyon Grail, Trek Checkmate, Specialized Crux, ANY BIKE!!!
Rewatchables
Content for long training days inside or just everyday life.
Training for My First 50k as a Triathlete: We highlighted it above but see how Eric Lagerstrom prepared for his 50K win and course record.
THE THIN LINE: Join the SCOTT Running athletes as they prepare for and compete in the world’s most prestigious ultra trail race. The film delves into their personal journeys, months of grueling training, and mental challenges in tackling the 173-kilometer race with 10,000 meters of elevation.
One To Go: Coryn Labecki: Coryn Labecki started racing bicycles at the age of 11 on a dare from a family friend. Over the next 21 years she has collected 74 national championship titles and is the only American to have won Ronde van Vlaanderen. We join Coryn at her last race as a professional, the Bucks County Classic, and recall a lifetime of wins and stories defining the career of an undeniable legend of the sport.
CIRCLE OF MADNESS | The North Face: “Circle of Madness” a film by Christoph Thoresen, follows Markus Eder and Victor de Le Rue as they return to the legendary spine walls of Haines, Alaska, to explore unknown territory in sport—and friendship.
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