Laurens ten Dam wins Gravel Locos in run-up before Unbound Gravel: "We're road tripping and having fun on the bikes. That’s what it’s all about"
Cycling
Laurens ten Dam, winner of Gravel Locos in 2021, returned to the US this week to race La Loca in Hico, Texas. It was the first of two American adventures for the Dutchman who has his eyes set on Unbound Gravel. The biggest gravel event of United States scene will take place on June 3.
Ten Dam won the Texas gravel grinder after a solo effort, 34 seconds ahead of Colin Strickland, who came second and nearly three minutes ahead of Adam Roberge (former CT rider for Elevate - Webiplex). Many Unbound Gravel favourites finished more than 15 minutes behind ten Dam, including the likes of Peter Stetina, who finished 19:28 down on winner.
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“This year I opted for two or three American trips. I did one in April, I do this one, and maybe one in the autumn. Basically, Unbound is my big goal. I can train like a pro for the next few weeks leading up to Unbound. Then I’ll be more mellow at home, you know, and do stuff with my kids," ten Dam tells Cyclingnews.
It has been two years since ten Dam charged onto the endurance scene of pro gravel racing, winning the inaugural Gravel Locos and then finishing second at Unbound Gravel 200.
“When I see all those crashes and also the rain, I don’t regret being retired from that part of riding. Crashing is the worst part of cycling. It seems to be worse in the WorldTour, but maybe because I’m retired. Gravel is a pretty safe sport for me now,” ten Dam observed.
"There’s no regrets. It’s not that I’m still chasing a dream to become a pro or whatever. I’m still enjoying and having fun. For example, I’m here with Thomas Dekker in the car and we go back a bit, since he was 14 and I was 16 years old. Here we are 25 years later and still road tripping and having fun on the bikes. That’s what it’s all about"
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