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From Paris-Roubaix and unbound gravel to the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and everything in between when you>”,”name”:”in-content-cta”,”type”:”link” }}”>join from outside+.
Before the COVID pandemic changed life as we know it, pro triathlete Heather Jackson decided she was going to take up gravel racing.
While it won’t go as planned in 2020, the Ironman 70.3 specialist held fast to her gravel dreams and in 2022 she ran the Unbound Gravel race, finishing 24th out of 46 pro women — not bad for a triathlete.
Connected: Gallery: Heather Jackson’s Unbound Gravel Setup
This year, she’s going back to Kansas, in addition to all the other races in the Life Time Grand Prix series, as a gravel rider with Canyon Cycles.
“After my first taste of gravel racing last year, I know I have the stamina to be competitive on the fast end of even the toughest gravel races,” Jackson said.
The 38-year-old is no stranger to stamina. From 2010–2013 she placed in the top five at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Before becoming a professional triathlete, she spent time on track, winning bronze medals in both the omnium and individual pursuit at the 2009 US National Championships.
read this also, Heather Jackson’s new (off-road) adventure
“I’m working on my strategy in the off-season and I’m looking forward to resuming racing,” Jackson said. “The gravel community has been super welcoming and the support from Canyon has been tremendous – strategy, knowledge, mechanical support, and OMG bikes!”
Jackson’s first race aboard the Canyon Grizzle CF SLX gravel bike will be the Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona event on March 5, followed by The Mid South on March 11. The Life Time Grand Prix begins on April 22 at Sea Otter; There and in other cross-country MTB events, Jackson would race in the Canyon’s Lux Verd Cup CFR.
