Lydia Iglesias Bares
- 26 years old
- Based in Spain
- Nurse
- Cross country ski champion - Cheese lover
- Victory at The Traka (200km) 2022
How did you get involved with the team?
After a really good ski season I went to race La Traka. And I won that race. I met some of the team there. I was having a coffee with some friends in Girona and Thomas and Maria (from Iceland) were doing an interview and asked me ‘what is Gravel?’ And I remember saying ‘Gravel is fun.’ Thomas was smiling as he filmed, and I thought ‘I like these guys.’ Then after the race someone from the team wrote to me and asked me if I wanted to join the team at The Rift in the USA. Of course, I said yes.
Best memory from the 2022 season?
I have a lot of good memories, but if I had to choose one I think Unbound, the race in the States. It was my first race with the team, and everything was super relaxed, we travelled in a massive camper van and the race and the whole event was super fun.
And the best race of the season?
I would say it was Iceland, The Rift. It was not for the results at all. I didn’t have good legs, I suffered a lot, but the experience and landscape was amazing. That’s what I like about gravel the most, it’s not always about the results, or how fit you are, it’s what you get to see.
What are your goals for the 2023 season?
This year I’m really trying to prepare myself a little bit more. Not training like when I was a pro because I don’t have time. But this season I want to be more prepared, fitter, and enjoy races more, and just keep enjoying Gravel.
How do you prepare and train in winter?
Where I live, in Spain, we have a lot of snow so it’s the perfect place for skiing. I also ride my gravel bike, do indoor training, and use the gym. I try to do as much sport as I can before the season begins.
What advice might you have for women getting into gravel riding?
I got into cycling super-late, and never thought about getting on a bike until I saw some girls racing on the TV and thought ‘I want to do that.’ I had finished competing in cross country skiing and my parents got me a road bike and I think it’s the best thing I ever did. You just need to find your level, find your group whether it’s men or women or both and go for it. Gravel is supposed to be fun. I think there’s still a lot to do. But I’d like to see more girls not only racing, but gravel riding and bike-packing and things like that.
Any messages for Lydia from Lydia this season?
Don’t crash! Also, gain more experience and make the most of the races, meet new people and keep enjoying gravel.
The Rift
Its topology of Iceland is unique, consisting of active volcanoes. If there is one Gravel race not to be missed for the beauty and power of the landscapes it offers, it is The Rift.
Unbound
In terms of Gravel racing there is Unbound, and then there is the rest. For Gravel enthusiasts, Unbound is more than a race, it's a pilgrimage, a baptism of dirt and fire that every follower dreams of one day living.
Team Spirit in Monsterrato
Gravel, more so than other cycling disciplines, prides itself on its pioneering spirit. It is apt, therefore, that it puts both genders on equal footing.
